1244 replies to this topic

[f1paul]

Can't wait for the 2019 season to start! 

 

Only 158 days to go! (definitely not counting) 

[midgrid]

Autosport's Top Ten drivers:

 

1. Ash Sutton

2. Tom Ingram

3. Colin Turkington

4. Josh Cook

5. Andrew Jordan

6. Jack Goff

7. Tom Chilton

8. Adam Morgan

9. Dan Cammish

10. Rory Butcher

 

25 drivers in the 2018 BTCC field rate each other:

 

1. Tom Ingram

2. Colin Turkington

3. Ash Sutton

4. Josh Cook

5. Tom Chilton

6. Jack Goff

7. Andrew Jordan

8. Adam Morgan

9. Matt Neal

10. Rob Austin

[DS27]

Hard to argue with that.

[midgrid]

Mini Challenge team Excelr8 will join the grid next season, having bought the MGs and their TBLs from AmD.

[midgrid]

Carl Boardley is stepping up to the BTCC full-time with Team HARD.

[midgrid]

Gordon Shedden will remain in the WCTR in a WRT Audi.

[midgrid]

Success ballast levels will be reduced for 2019, and some other regulation changes.

[LBDN]

Success ballast levels will be reduced for 2019, and some other regulation changes.

I think this is probably a good alteration. Tiny enough so as not to have a huge influence.

Watching the season highlights on ITV4 it's safe to say the BTCC is probably one of the best and healthiest series out there right now.

Credit to Alan Gow and the teams and drivers.

[DS27]

 

I must admit if it was down to me I would trim the ballast down slightly to something like:

 

1st: 55kg, 2nd: 50kg 3rd: 45kg, 4th: 40kg, 5th: 35kg, 6th: 30kg, 7th: 25kg, 8th: 20kg, 9th: 15kg, 10th: 10kg

 

 

 

Success ballast levels will be reduced for 2019, and some other regulation changes.

 

Spookily close  

[PayasYouRace]

Given how competitive the series is now the reduction in ballast should be a good thing.

[LBDN]

Given how competitive the series is now the reduction in ballast should be a good thing.

The key thing is the BTCC is master of its own destiny.

If something doesn't work then the rules can be tinkered with each season or if one car is too dominant for whatever reason the engine can be tweaked to keep it competitive.

Compared to F1, it would be easier to move the moon than get anything changed quickly in F1 for the good of the sport due to all the agreements from teams required and them only caring about their own interests.

[midgrid]

Ginetta Am-class champion Michael Crees has taken the final Team HARD seat for 2019.

[Pete_f1]

The BTCC app is now out. Not sure if it's both Apple and Android but should be

[BRG]

It remains a perennial mystery to me why Paul Rivett - multiple Clio champion - has never got into the BTCC.  He is 40 now, so perhaps left it too late, but why did no-one recruit him?  There seems to be no shortage of less talented drivers reaching BTCC.  Maybe Rivett just wasn't interested.

[PayasYouRace]

https://www.autospor...cially-wound-up

Triple 8 is now officially BTCC history.

[JHSingo]

https://www.autospor...cially-wound-up

Triple 8 is now officially BTCC history.

 

Sad to hear. In the early 2000s, they were the Ferrari of the BTCC. Those red and white Vauxhalls have become a defining image from that era - and what a fantastic resume of drivers they had over the years too: John Cleland, James Thompson, Jason Plato, Yvan Muller, Fabrizio Giovanardi, Matt Neal...and I'm probably missing some others.

 

Writing has been on the wall for some time with this, but still sad nonetheless. I guess WSR is the oldest team still on the BTCC grid?

Edited by JHSingo, 20 November 2018 - 21:10.

[midgrid]

Mini Challenge driver Rob Smith will join new team Excelr8 in graduating to the BTCC for 2019.

[midgrid]

Clio Cup racer Dan Rowbottom will line up alongside Adam Morgan at Ciceley next season.

[Silverstone96]

Don’t understand BTCC, they hype two big announcements for today and they end up being for drivers most people would have never heard of.

Judging by the responses on here or lack of it hardly set the world alight.

Meanwhile Turkington, Sutton and Goff still don’t have drives announced as it seems their futures may lie elsewhere.

Edited by Silverstone96, 21 November 2018 - 20:40.

[F1matt]

Don’t understand BTCC, they hype two big announcements for today and they end up being for drivers most people would have never heard of.

Judging by the responses on here or lack of it hardly set the world alight.

Meanwhile Turkington, Sutton and Goff still don’t have drives announced as it seems their futures may lie elsewhere.

 

 

Always nice to see drivers from the TOCA tour promoted to the BTCC so good luck to them, not sure people really expect any big names to join the BTCC anymore. Out of Turkington, Sutton, and Goff I think at least one will be on the grid in 2019, though it doesn't reflect bad on the series if drivers are good enough to get seats in other series, there is enough talent in the BTCC to take their place. 

[midgrid]

Speedworks have secured manufacturer backing from Toyota; Tom Ingram will race the new model Corolla next season.

Edited by midgrid, 28 November 2018 - 08:27.

[king_crud]

Hopefully he won't have a **** paintjob that looks like it's done by a kid who's got a bunch of random stickers from a trade show he went to with his dad

[JHSingo]

Great news to have another returning manufacturer - BMW a couple of seasons ago, and now this. Richly deserved for Speedworks and Ingram. I've had an inkling for some time that this was going to happen.

 

I'll soon have to start the 2019 thread at some point, I guess!

[Silverstone96]

Good to see Toyota back properly, about time although somewhat underwhelming its a 1 car entry for 2019.

 

Along with BMW and Honda that's 3 big works efforts. Has to be question marks over Subaru still.

 

Also kudos to bosses for reducing success ballast. Actually don't think the series needs it anymore but hopefully it will at least give the race 1 winners a fighting chance in race 2.

[midgrid]

HMS Racing have been unable to finalise their programme for 2019 and have temporarily withdrawn from the championship, loaning their licence to another entrant.  The Alfa Romeo will not feature and Rob Austin's plans are unclear.

[JHSingo]

HMS Racing have been unable to finalise their programme for 2019 and have temporarily withdrawn from the championship, loaning their licence to another entrant.  The Alfa Romeo will not feature and Rob Austin's plans are unclear.

 

Damn, that's a shame to hear, particularly as they seemed to be making progress at the end of the season.

[F1matt]

Rob Austin was the Robin Hood of the BTCC back in his Audi days, he would rob the rich teams of results and give it to us poor fans. Since joining up with Simon Belcher he has become more corporate and Tom Ingram has become the people’s champion. I hope we see Rob Austin back at some point!

[midgrid]

HMS Racing have been unable to finalise their programme for 2019 and have temporarily withdrawn from the championship, loaning their licence to another entrant. The Alfa Romeo will not feature and Rob Austin's plans are unclear.

The TBL has been loaned to Motorbase to retain their three-car entry. TOCA are holding two licences in reserve, so the 2019 grid will consist of 30 cars.

[BRG]

That's a shame.  The Alfa was a proper adornment to the grid. 

[f1paul]

    Hope Rob can find a seat on the grid.

[PayasYouRace]

Spotting the Rob Austin fan club at the circuits is a must. They add a lot of passion to the grandstands.

[F1matt]

Tom Oliphant confirmed at WSR for 2019, good move for him. I wonder who he will be replacing.......

[BRG]

I hope it isn't Ricky Collard who made a terrific go at subbing for his Dad.

[JHSingo]

Tom Oliphant confirmed at WSR for 2019, good move for him. I wonder who he will be replacing.......

 

Huh...didn't see that coming. Naturally you'd think Jordan must be the odd one out, given his tendency to switch teams. But it could maybe be for Rob Collard if he has called it a day.

[ezequiel]

Or for Turkington if he is headed to WTCR...

[JHSingo]

Or for Turkington if he is headed to WTCR...

 

Why would he go to a worse series?

 

I think he'll want to stop around and defend his crown - he's often spoken about how disappointing it was not to do so after he won his first title in '09. Geez, is it really soon going to be 10 years ago?!

Edited by JHSingo, 13 December 2018 - 15:24.

[JHSingo]

Confirmation that it is Collard who is leaving WSR:

 

https://www.autospor...r-ahead-of-2019

[Silverstone96]

Because paid drives are few and far between in BTCC whereas internationally there are more and he has a family to think of. He may feel after 3 titles its time for a new challenge too.

[midgrid]

Jake Hill will return to the series, driving one of the Audis now run by Trade Price Racing.

[F1matt]

We really need a 2019 BTCC thread now........

 

Couple of bits of news, Renault Clio Cup will cease to exist at the end of 2019 which is really sad as it gives constant entertainment and has produced some of BTCC's top stars, hopefully the teams can get together and try and keep something going with TOCA's help????

 

Sam Tordoff has signed for AMD to drive a Honda Civic alongside Rory Butcher, be interesting to see if Tordoff can make another title challenge. 

[midgrid]

Perhaps a Renault Zoe cup?

[DS27]

 

Couple of bits of news, Renault Clio Cup will cease to exist at the end of 2019 

 

 

That has spoilt Paul Rivett's Christmas!

[king_crud]

Why are they ending it? Fields seem healthy

[PayasYouRace]

That’s a real shame about the Clios. They were always fun to watch.

[Burai]

Why are they ending it? Fields seem healthy

 

The current car is being replaced in 2020. I'd imagine they put the feelers out and there wasn't much desire to buy all new cars and spares and there's no way Renault would continue to run a series with old cars in it.

 

I've always had a soft spot for the Clios, but the Ginetta series' look like more sense for someone working their way up the tin top/GT ladder. There's a proper progression structure in there.