BTCC 2010 rumour mill - Page 17

GroupOfOne · 17 Dec 2009, 11:24 (Ref:2601247)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

As of so far, we only have 4 cars confirmed! The two Forster BMWs, Andy's Vauxhall and Pinkney's Vauxhall. Wouldn't say that's "strong" at the moment!

Well to be fair none of those are confirmed until the BTCC release an official entry list, so you're going to have some time to wait until anyone can speak of a confirmed entry!

Think Forster only have the one BMW so far, they've certainly only been testing with one 3-Series thus far. The original stories said the second car was budget dependent.

You've also got Lea Wood who has bought the ex-Howell Integra and announced he intends to run in the BTCC in 2010, so that should really go with other 'confirmed'/announced plans for now.

redshoes · 17 Dec 2009, 13:42 (Ref:2601301)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

Wouldn't say that's "strong" at the moment!

I was going to post the same until I started making a list.

Pirtek Racing - Vauxhall Vectra (Andy Jordan)
Pinkney Motorsport- Vauxhall Vectra (David Pinkney)
Both with NGTC turbo engines

Foster Motorsport - BMW 320 (Arthur Foster / Martin Depper)
Have been testing the ex-Mat Jackson BMW, second car still to be purchased

Lea Wood - Honda Integra
Announced a few months back, heard nothing since

Matt Hamilton - Honda Civic
Wants to continue after toe-in-water last year. Dependent on sponsorship.

Bamboo Engineering - Chevrolet Lacetti (Harry Vaulkhard / TBA)
Another attempt to run two cars (is this the third year running they've said that?)

Arena - Ford Focus (Tom Chilton? / TBA)
Mike Earle has said they will be back and maybe running 3 cars. Rumours that AON may have walked or reduced funding, if so what does that mean for Chilton?

Motorbase Performance - BMW 320
Hit by pull-out of title sponsor but assume they will be back with a pair of cars again. Many drivers tested so no guess yet as to the line-up

Team Dynamics - Honda Civic (Matt Neal? / Johnny Herbert?)
Usual Steve Neal 'blue sky' rumours of running semi-works and 2 separate two-car teams. Expect Matt Neal to be back with family team plus maybe Herbert.

West Surrey Racing - BMW 320 (Colin Turkington / Stephen Jelley?)
No word from the defending champs yet. Rumours last season that '09 was the last year of RAC sponsorship deal, although assume that's been extended again.

RML - Chevrolet Lacetti / Cruize
Have said they would like to return but dependent on finding commercial backing.

Thorney - Vauxhall Insignia
Developing NGTC car for 2011. Possible late entry for final rounds but too many 'ifs' and 'buts' to count on that just yet.

Anyone I've missed?
Still a lot of TBAs and maybes. No real big-name announcements but then with Vauxhall gone that's not surprising.

GroupOfOne · 17 Dec 2009, 14:31 (Ref:2601328)

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshoes

West Surrey Racing - BMW 320 (Colin Turkington / Stephen Jelley?)
No word from the defending champs yet. Rumours last season that '09 was the last year of RAC sponsorship deal, although assume that's been extended again.

Anyone I've missed?

Don't forget Andy Neate having tested for WSR and the Ceravision link, the latter being something especially of interest as a couple of times we've seen mentions of WSR needing extra sponsorship for 2010.

mark_l · 17 Dec 2009, 17:06 (Ref:2601402)

Can Dynamics afford to run both Matt and Herbert, neither of whom bring sponsorship with them (Dont start about Matt and Rimstock, it is all the same funding source), David Pinkney was basically paying for Herbert to race with the team and now he has gone off to restart his own team, it seems most of the Dynamics funding has left.

redshoes · 17 Dec 2009, 17:51 (Ref:2601441)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroupOfOne

Don't forget Andy Neate having tested for WSR and the Ceravision link, the latter being something especially of interest as a couple of times we've seen mentions of WSR needing extra sponsorship for 2010.

I was discounting Neate. His test was more about seeing how recovered he was after his accident and not a serious attempt at running a third car. Ceravision logos have been on the WSR cars for a few years now even without Neate driving.

GroupOfOne · 17 Dec 2009, 18:43 (Ref:2601495)

Yeah I think that's fair enough, I seem to remember the story in Autosport or Motorsport News indicated (maybe even quoted) there was a possibility of a drive. But reading his quote on the btcc.net forum it does seem to be more in line with your thoughts.

**FIRE** · 20 Dec 2009, 11:11 (Ref:2602665)

Quote:

Alex MacDowall has set his sights on a British Touring Car Championship drive with RML after testing one of the squad's Chevrolet Lacettis at Jerez.

The Renault Clio Cup runner-up lapped within 0.4 seconds of the time set by Alain Menu, who was out in a World Touring Car Championship Cruze also run by the squad.
...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80628

Jamesy-18 · 20 Dec 2009, 14:05 (Ref:2602730)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80628

3 car squad again for RML then? Plato/Jackson in Cruzes, MacDowell Lacetti? Interesting..

medius · 20 Dec 2009, 20:42 (Ref:2602879)

I'd bet a few Lacettis are available to be run by RML for whoever has the money, alongside a couple of Cruzes.

trebor901 · 22 Dec 2009, 17:30 (Ref:2603768)

are we finally gonna see the facelift BMW 320si in BTCC next year? really needs it the current one looks old now

Jamesy-18 · 23 Dec 2009, 11:35 (Ref:2604123)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebor901

are we finally gonna see the facelift BMW 320si in BTCC next year? really needs it the current one looks old now

Wouldn't say it looks "old", not compared to some of the cars that have been racing like the Vauxhall Astra! I think the BMW is still one of the most elegant touring cars.

davyboy · 23 Dec 2009, 12:08 (Ref:2604142)

Ya the BMW is a fantastic car, the only proper racing car out there [RWD] and looks great too. Hope there's a few more of them in 2010.

Interestingly, 888 are selling their Vectras for GBP62K a pop in last week's Autosport... GBP50K without engine. Seems awful cheap doesn't it ? You'd struggle to get a 2009 second hand Bimmer for the right side of a ton.

duke_toaster · 23 Dec 2009, 13:48 (Ref:2604201)

Why would you want to buy the engine with it when there's the Swindon turbo lump?

redshoes · 23 Dec 2009, 17:34 (Ref:2604311)

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Why would you want to buy the engine with it when there's the Swindon turbo lump?

Swindon lump is untested and TOCA have yet to finalise how it's going to be equalised with the rest of the field whereas the normal Vauxhall unit is a known quantity.

50K will be just the chassis, you are still going to need a sizeable spares package to go with that.

Craner Curves · 23 Dec 2009, 17:49 (Ref:2604320)

And from what I've been reading elsewhere, 888 are running a skeleton operation now, so no fabrication department in the event of an accident, which with Pinkney involved, is highly likely. Sorry Dave.

duke_toaster · 23 Dec 2009, 18:48 (Ref:2604346)

Speaking of the Swindon equalization, do we have any guesses on how well it'll be equalized? I think it'll be a good engine next year, probably a bit more powerful but it won't need big pegbacks.

davyboy · 23 Dec 2009, 20:25 (Ref:2604374)

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshoes

50K will be just the chassis, you are still going to need a sizeable spares package to go with that.

Don't I know... I run a GBP5K kart and I've GBP20K of spares ! Still GBP50K seems incredibly cheap for a rolling chassis.

V8 Fireworks · 24 Dec 2009, 10:38 (Ref:2604610)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebor901

are we finally gonna see the facelift BMW 320si in BTCC next year? really needs it the current one looks old now

What's the difference

Not being works teams, there is very little incentive to update the bodykits and taillights.

Jamesy-18 · 24 Dec 2009, 17:49 (Ref:2604737)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

And from what I've been reading elsewhere, 888 are running a skeleton operation now, so no fabrication department in the event of an accident, which with Pinkney involved, is highly likely. Sorry Dave.

**touringlegend** · 24 Dec 2009, 18:00 (Ref:2604743)

Spotted an image of a small part of Jordans Vectra on twitter, Pirtek livery is going to look good I think!

Spanner monkey · 3 Jan 2010, 18:33 (Ref:2607719)

Cant wait for the Autosport show to see the new colour & sponsors on the Team dynamics car. Also heard of an extensive test program with the 2nd driver not being decided just yet

Mike Sheraton · 3 Jan 2010, 20:55 (Ref:2607752)

why, what is going to change with the Team Dynamics car???
has there been any news at dynamics as of yet, also regarding honda, and the introduction of matt neal?

**touringlegend** · 5 Jan 2010, 22:18 (Ref:2608624)

Will we see some indication of what WSR will be doing this year at the Autosport show?

Quote:

Originally Posted by btcc.net

The WSR team’s BMW 320si that Colin Turkington steered to title glory in 2009 will be on display throughout. A second WSR car – due to be unveiled by Turkington on the Thursday morning – will also be on show on the central Autosport stage.

http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1782

duke_toaster · 5 Jan 2010, 22:20 (Ref:2608626)

A second WSR car - does this imply it isn't a BMW?

redshoes · 5 Jan 2010, 22:23 (Ref:2608627)

More likely a new/different sponsor.

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