Any BTCC fans on here?

[Mr Tidy]

I've watched it since the 90s and the era of John Cleland, Steve Soper, Alain Menu, Matt Neal, etc. and it has always been entertaining, even if some aspects like ballast, hybrid and reverse grids have seemed a bit contrived.

But today was a great day for BMW fans as BMW's won all three races albeit with three different drivers, but two of them got their maiden wins. :roundel:

 

[john-e89]

For me the RS 500 days were the peak of BTCC Mr Tidy, way too much power for a tail happy Sierra, :lol: Rouse and Gravett going at it, Cleland and Frank Sytner being best buds…. :lol: Texaco cars etc, etc, enjoyed the 2.0 class that followed but lost interest after about 2005, not sure why really but….

 

[buzyg]

Matt Neil and his original team racing the Primera Gt and wining the £100k prize for beating all the works teams. That was some race season. :driving:

 

[Pondrew]

I watched some of it yesterday, for a change. I find it a little dull TBH. The cars are so slow!
Must say the Caterhams were very watchable, though.

One thing I did notice with the BTCC cars was that many were 'old model' cars. The Focus' are pre-2021 and the Civics are FK8s which were changed in 2020. The Hyundais look quite old models aswell. The BMs are G series, which are current, though. :?

I would have thought that, seeing as the manufacturers want to sell the cars off the back of the BTCC, they would use bang up to date models.

 

[buzyg]

I watched some of it yesterday, for a change. I find it a little dull TBH. The cars are so slow!
Must say the Caterhams were very watchable, though.

One thing I did notice with the BTCC cars was that many were 'old model' cars. The Focus' are pre-2021 and the Civics are FK8s which were changed in 2020. The Hyundais look quite old models aswell. The BMs are G series, which are current, though. :?

I would have thought that, seeing as the manufacturers want to sell the cars off the back of the BTCC, they would use bang up to date models.

They are race cars. So little of the original is in there. Just there appearance, thought the basic layout makes such a difference. The BMs have always seemed to eat their rear tyres and slowed toward the end of a stint. Good to see they can now win. It's all down to who can get around the regs best of course. So yes, it is a bit strange that the shells do not reflect the current models.

 

[Beerman]

I watched some of it yesterday, for a change. I find it a little dull TBH. The cars are so slow!
Must say the Caterhams were very watchable, though.

One thing I did notice with the BTCC cars was that many were 'old model' cars. The Focus' are pre-2021 and the Civics are FK8s which were changed in 2020. The Hyundais look quite old models aswell. The BMs are G series, which are current, though. :?

I would have thought that, seeing as the manufacturers want to sell the cars off the back of the BTCC, they would use bang up to date models.

Hardly any manufacturers are involved with teams now.

Back in the 90s the budgets and manufacturing backing was huge. There used to be huge hospitality marquees from all the manufacturers.

It's still a good fun series, but it's not to the scale it was before.

 

[SV8Predator]

Any BTCC fans on here?

Yes, very much so. Been heavily involved with one of the teams since 2014. It's been a long (and sometimes complicated) ride!

Contrary to the naysayers, and "experts" that knock the BTCC, it's (as far as the top teams are concerned, anyway), a very professional series. That's why it costs so much to run a successful team.

But it's great fun, nerve-wracking, and the atmosphere trackside is worth it all.

I would have thought that, seeing as the manufacturers want to sell the cars off the back of the BTCC, they would use bang up to date models.

The manufacturers have no involvement or interest in the BTCC.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Pondrew wrote: Mon May 12, 2025 10:22 am
I would have thought that, seeing as the manufacturers want to sell the cars off the back of the BTCC, they would use bang up to date models.
The manufacturers have no involvement or interest in the BTCC.

There's no point when firms like Ford only make SUVs - they'd never be competitive!

 

[Pondrew]

There's no point when firms like Ford only make SUVs - they'd never be competitive!

I give you......a 2025 road-going version of the BTCC Ford Focus with adjustable coilovers and everything (although they are finishing production any day now TBF)

 

[DonDon]

My favourie was Volvo running the T5 estate :lol:

 

[flimper]

Very pleased for Daryl DeLeon, spoke to him last year at the motor show before anyone had heard of him and he was a really nice lad. With reference to the success of the BMWs, my first thought was to how Colin Turkington must be feeling after losing the drive this year

 

[Mr Tidy]

With reference to the success of the BMWs, my first thought was to how Colin Turkington must be feeling after losing the drive this year

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[SV8Predator]

With reference to the success of the BMWs, my first thought was to how Colin Turkington must be feeling after losing the drive this year

We tried very, very hard to secure Colin's drive, but with the withdrawal of the BMW support, and the fact that Colin has relied on this for a number of years now, it wasn't going to happen.

BTCC is all about money. If you haven't got the money yourself, or you cannot procure the money through substantial sponsorship, you don't drive. Admittedly not to F1 levels, but you do need rather a lot to secure a BTCC drive.

 

[Mr Tidy]

BTCC is all about money. If you haven't got the money yourself, or you cannot procure the money through substantial sponsorship, you don't drive. Admittedly not to F1 levels, but you do need rather a lot to secure a BTCC drive.

Money was probably behind Rob Collard's exit from BTCC as well. Motorsport is an expensive hobby!

 

[SV8Predator]

Money was probably behind Rob Collard's exit from BTCC as well.

Money was probably behind Any Driver you care to name's exit from BTCC as well.

 

[Mr Tidy]

(although they are finishing production any day now TBF)

Exactly. You don't promote a car you are putting out of production!

 

[flimper]

On a side note with the coverage this year, it's going to be very strange when Steve Rider hangs up the microphone mid season. I really hope they get someone who is suitable to take on the role

 

[buzyg]

Money was probably behind Rob Collard's exit from BTCC as well.

Money was probably behind Any Driver you care to name's exit from BTCC as well.

And there was me thinking it was all about entertaining the punters. :roll: :evil: :wink:

 

[Pondrew]

BTCC is all about money. If you haven't got the money yourself, or you cannot procure the money through substantial sponsorship, you don't drive. Admittedly not to F1 levels, but you do need rather a lot to secure a BTCC drive.

Explains why Nick Hamilton runs around at the back year after year. I am guessing his brother is funding him? :?

 

[flimper]

Apparently Nick arranges all the funding himself