[BTCC] 2014 BTCC speculation, rumours and news

[medius]

Originally Posted by andy97

Seems a bit of a waste to me. You'd think there would be scope for some one to run a support or secondary series for the S2000 cars - 2 classes: N/a engines and the NGTC engine, maybe even as part of something else.

They still cost a fair chunk to run and maintain. Look how Super Tourers have only lately become remotely affordable for privateer/clubmen racers. I can think of just the one BTC-spec car running these days and that doesnt have the original engine and gearbox. N/A S2000 cars can be raced in a few championships but they have always been silly money, hence why NGTC was created.

[robhollyman]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Lets revise those numbers for Knockhill with the usual

We can't afford damage...Knockhill is no worse than anywhere else for damage
It's too far to travel, we'd rather go to Belgium, Holland or France and test ahead of the rest of the season.
A couple of genuine crashed at the previous round and not repaired in the 3 weeks since Snetterton
And a couple of the kids in the Ginetta's realising that the Gradients are a lot steeper than their video games suggest during testing on the Friday and not getting repairs done in time - especially so if there is a reasonable number of them

So less than 10 FFs
more than 10 Porsches in each race would be novelty
Clio's just happy to see Renault remembering that Knockhill exists
Ginetta supercup actually ran 15 cars last year so credit where it's due
Only 11 ran last year, so really must improve

so maybe Knockhill should be dropped altogether and they go to Spa?

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Originally Posted by robhollyman

so maybe Knockhill should be dropped altogether and they go to Spa?

Yeah drop the track that the current champion's father-in-law owns. not to mention the only track out side England when it's a British championship.

Perhaps you forgot to add a smilie, as I do hope you were being sarcastic

[psq43]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Yeah drop the track that the current champion's father-in-law owns. not to mention the only track out side England when it's a British championship.

Perhaps you forgot to add a smilie, as I do hope you were being sarcastic

Current champion?

Im sure you meant current runner up and 2012 champion

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Mixing my years up but point remains

[TimRTC]

Originally Posted by robhollyman

so maybe Knockhill should be dropped altogether and they go to Spa?

I'd love to see them at Spa and for teams based in the south, it would probably be cheaper than going to Scotland. I asked Alan Gow a while ago if he was planning any foreign rounds but he ruled it out, even though the drivers would be up for it, generally the teams and most importantly the sponsors wouldn't be interested.

Given the big market share that Knockhill pulls in, the sponsors are always going to be in favour of it. If anything I would imagine that Snetterton would be first to go, perhaps to the maybe-maybe Welsh Valleys track.

[VIVA GT]

I thought that the BTCC regularly held races at Spa?
(I am of course referring to the Belgian Touring Car Championship..)

[robhollyman]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Yeah drop the track that the current champion's father-in-law owns. not to mention the only track out side England when it's a British championship.

Perhaps you forgot to add a smilie, as I do hope you were being sarcastic

no sarcasm here.

you wrote a great business case for not bothering to go to knock hill. with lots of drivers and teams no bothering to go already.

[Craner Curves]

Did this can of worms need opened? No. And that's coming from a Scottish resident.

[CarsCarsCars]

Originally Posted by robhollyman

no sarcasm here.

you wrote a great business case for not bothering to go to knock hill. with lots of drivers and teams no bothering to go already.

Well, from this year onwards, you HAVE to go. If you dont you lose your TBL

[EastonNeston]

Perhaps holding the Knockhill tound in June or July would be better, as hotels wouldn't be under such demand, and charging inflated prices because of teh Edingboro festival.

[Sodemo]

I personally would like to see the Brands Indy round moved to more of a summer slot. Brands Indy is probably the best spectator experience you can get, yet its positioned right at the start of the season, when the weather is usually still very cold and miserable. Moving it to mid season would be so much more preferred. You could stick Silverstone or Rockingham as the first round(s), two events which have large, (free) grandstands to fill up.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by medius

Look how Super Tourers have only lately become remotely affordable for privateer/clubmen racers. I can think of just the one BTC-spec car running these days and that doesnt have the original engine and gearbox. N/A S2000 cars can be raced in a few championships but they have always been silly money, hence why NGTC was created.

I don't think Super Tourers are cheaper to run than what they have been in the past. After all a decent number have always turned out in the likes of Euro Saloons, Classic Thunder and Formula Saloons. I think the reason for the resurgence of Super Touring racing is due to a championship dedicated to these cars with a decent calendar being launched.

[mattt]

if they get an additional track to race at in future years, surely the simple solution is to get rid of one of the Brands hatch rounds or add an 11th round to the series.

Personally i like the fact that Knockhill is at the time of the edinburgh festival as it means i can make one trip and do both things which i did last year and will be doing again this year.

[TimRTC]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I personally would like to see the Brands Indy round moved to more of a summer slot. Brands Indy is probably the best spectator experience you can get, yet its positioned right at the start of the season, when the weather is usually still very cold and miserable. Moving it to mid season would be so much more preferred. You could stick Silverstone or Rockingham as the first round(s), two events which have large, (free) grandstands to fill up.

Make it a summertime event and they might seriously have to turn people away. I went to the 2012 DTM race on the Indy circuit and nearly every inch of usable viewing space was filled there, I can't imagine how many would come to Brands in the middle of summer. They might have to use the bad weather to keep people away.

[rich07]

I'm not from the UK so I probably am missing a point the locals realise but why would it be cheaper for teams to go to Spa instead of Knockhill?

I've never really understood why teams find it hard to make the trek north to a track in the same country.

Here in Oz we have v8 races in every corner of the country which quite a lot bigger then the UK and no one complains.

Could someone please expand on why teams miss Knockhill?

[maranello48]

Most teams are based in the south of the country, so a trip to dover/folkestone, the short trip across the water and the relatively short trip the otherside to spa/zolder is actually cheaper and easier to do i believe.

[Bramzel]

But then again, you know from the start that Knockhill will be on the calendar. So you just calculate the costs into your budgets?

[auroan]

Originally Posted by maranello48

Most teams are based in the south of the country, so a trip to dover/folkestone, the short trip across the water and the relatively short trip the otherside to spa/zolder is actually cheaper and easier to do i believe.

Lets put this myth to bed shall we....

Using Silverstone as the base;

Spa
Drive via E40 · 405 mi 6 h 40 min

Knockhill
Drive via M6 · 379 mi 5 h 58 min

And Ferries/Eurotunnel isn't cheap for the trucks and other vehicles for each team.... Not to mention getting the Dunlop and TOCA kit over there.

From what I understand only WSR, AMD and Motorbase further a lot further south than Silverstone anyway.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by maranello48

Most teams are based in the south of the country, so a trip to dover/folkestone, the short trip across the water and the relatively short trip the otherside to spa/zolder is actually cheaper and easier to do i believe.

I just don't understand how difficult it is for a team to load the truck up and point it north as opposed to jumping on a ferry or whatnot and crossing the seas.

If you test overseas before the season starts and then say you can't afford to go to Knockhill which is in the same country mind you then you don't have any excuse as far as I'm concerned.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

But it's not just the main series, it's the support series that I made my initial observations about. Perhaps suggesting Spa for a test was a bit much, but the point remains year on year the support races have smaller grids at Knockhill than other venues.

The new licence thing will ensure a big grid of TCs, perhaps TOCA need to set minimum grid levels to get on their package. Given Knockhill and Brands Indy have a max capacity of 32, the min grids should be 15 or 16.

[andy97]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

perhaps TOCA need to set minimum grid levels to get on their package. Given Knockhill and Brands Indy have a max capacity of 32, the min grids should be 15 or 16.

Difficult to force people to race. Perhaps the answer is to not have a "package" at all - let each existing series do its own thing and invite support races from successful series around the clubs for one or two off appearances.

[auroan]

AFAIW TOCA don't run the supports anyway...

Clio cup was SRO, but now BARC
FF is BRSCC
and Ginetta is Ginetta.

[davyboy]

Even the Scottish posters here would have to acknowledge that Spa is a better circuit than Knockhill... but in terms of the BTCC, personally I'd like to have both on the calendar. If we had to sacrifice something, then I'd opt for the Brands Indy round.

[Craner Curves]

I'd sacrifice the grand prix over the indy. I'm not a fan of the grand prix, mainly because it takes away one of the few overtaking opportunities at clearways.