where is Henry Taylor going (BTCC)

[andy_b]

checking images from Thruxton for the spotters guide, I noticed that Henry Taylor has been replaced by Lewis Carter in the SEAT Cupra's.

Having a closer look I noticed at the end of a pres release that "Henry Taylor has left the SEAT Cupra Championship to compete in the second half of the BTCC"

Anyone know about this?

[cos]

A few weeks ago Motorsport News reported that WSR would have a 3rd MG sorted for Croft with either Pickford, Eaves or Taylor set for the drive, so I guess it's that.

[newoutsider]

it must be nice to have money

[MadCat]

Nice to see another new face enter the BTCC!

Oh to have money like newoutsider says!

[ATF]

Welcome to the forum, MadCat.

If he is WSR-bound, what's he like? Not heard much about him. But Team RAC need a solid driver to backup CT in the title race and take some points off those pesky Hondas!!

[cos]

Off the top of my head think he was 5th in SCC last year - behind the 'big guns' of Ferrier, Boardman, Jackson and Breeze. So... similar level to someone like Blencowe perhaps?

[Invincible]

If it is (and I am presuming) it is - Henry Taylor was a key front-runner in the old Fiesta series and in the first year of the Clio series in 2000 but then he seemed to disappear off the radar after he switched to what was then ASCAR.

Never heard much after that....until Taylor appeared again in SEAT's.

It'll be interesting to see how he does should Henry be the 3rd driver.

[BootsOntheSide]

Ideally I'd have Eaves in that car above Taylor, but another driver is another driver, and seemingly a perfectly capable one in a competitive car in this case. Am I right in thinking he's the nephew of the 60s racer Henry Taylor?

[MadCat]

Originally Posted by ATF

Welcome to the forum, MadCat.

Thanks

I really hope Taylor has the pace to back up CT and sometimes RC ... Anything to keep those Hondas away from the front

[RickP:Clio51]

Hmmm, as an old adversary of Henry's I'd be very very surprised if he's raised the money, he's always struggled with raising budgets and is known for a large number of "optimistic" press releases...
For the record, I am a touch biased as while I found him innocuous enough I found his family grossly unpleasant whenever I had the misfortune to talk to them... had great difficulty believing their precious offspring might have driven himself off the track unaided which resulted in threats of criminal proceedings against me at the final round at Silverstone (Clios 2000) for dangerous driving until someone remembered that there was an onboard camera in my car and they backed down immediately even before the footage was reviewed... (For the record the camera showed I was an innocent bystander and Henry had indeed made another mistake)
I would have Danny Buxton, Matt Jackson or Jim Edwards Jr in the car long before Henry... although as we know the BTCC is populated with those with the cash over those with the talent as Mr Eaves recently discovered...

[newoutsider]

So Rick,

I take it you are not a fan of his then - or am I misreading you?!

[RickP:Clio51]

On his day, he's not a bad driver.... he can be quick, but IMHO he never had the mental toughness to build a Championship run or any consistancy... that would be my main reason for taking one of the others in preference. He never came out of the rough and tumble well but if he could get in front and stay in front he was pretty good. Jim Jr for example would always find his way to the front and regardless of poor luck always seemed able to get his car into the points.
As I said, I have no problem with Henry, pretty harmless character and always pleasant enough, I just thought in the interest of unbiased reporting I should point out that I'd had a couple of run-ins with his family...

[newoutsider]

I see what you mean. It is sometimes a pity that drivers have a family.. I can think of a couple in the same catagory and on the other hand I've been lucky enough to meet some really nice ones - Lewis Hamilton's family (met them when he was still in FR) and Oli Wilkinson's Dad (when Oli was in SCC) come to mind.

[RickP:Clio51]

You only have to look at the MSA magazine at the number of reports of Dad's thumping other Dads and kids at karting events... too many old men living thru their kids getting a bit caught up in the moment!
As I said, Henry's a nice lad, if he has found the budget I wish him all the very best of luck, he'll certainly be quicker than a lot of the rent-a-drivers!
Cheers