[BTCC] BTCC Rounds 1, 2 and 3 - Thruxton - 03/04 April 2010

[924nut]

How Neal could even think that was Rob Collards fault is beyond me - I trust the stewards will be giving matt Neal some sort of penalty for a discragceful manouver

[awrb]

Yeah Neal's move was so stupid and it certainly made me angry, especially as it's obvious WSR doesn't have that much money for repairs this year. What made me even more angry though was Neals attempt to blame Collard for the crash. Collard was ahead at all times and was taking his normal racing line through the turn, therefore it was obviously Neals fault, especially as neal could have backed off and avoided it. I hope he gets some sort of penalty for that. And I don't think Collard gets in to that many more accidents than most, he just had a bit of an agressive run a few years back when he was last with WSR and the reputation stuck, I certainly don't think he's a dirty driver.

Apart from all that it was a good weekend. Nice to see O'Neill get some decent results, and good to see Kane win. It may not make that much sense for Turkington to join now, but if someone gets behind him or WSR I don't think Colin would simply not bother.

[Icebaby]

If there is any credability in the rules then Matt Neal should be penalised for that Collard crash, a ban allowing Turkington to take his seat would be appropriate. As per the comments above Neal virtually blamed Collard for being on the track in his way.

Honda signed the wrong driver with Giovanardi, Turkington and Thompson all better to take Honda Racing to a championship IMO.

Paul O'Neill once again proved he is a class act.

[medius]

I think Neal should have straight-lined the chicane instead of what happened. Andy Neate had a very similar moment (coming into the corner too quickly).

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by awrb

It's a shame the Forster cars aren't there, I was looking forward to seeing how they'd do in those cars, it's the first real independent entry with the BMW's, WSR and Motorbase seem a lot more professional and well funded. I'm really disappointed about how WSR have been going, I hope Collard can turn that around in the next race, and i REALLY hope they can get some money and Turkington back in the car next time out, really miss him.

I don't think WSR and Motorbase would consider themselves anything but independent - just Forster are very much a start-up, small, underfunded & inexperienced independent squad. Motorbase has developed over the years into an almost 'works' quality squad, whilst WSR of course is an ex-works team many years back with Honda, Ford & MG...but take a look at the line-up this year, I think that'll show how well funded they are this year.

It'll be great when Forster turn up, but I think it'll thicken out the competition for Pinkney, AmD Milltek & Boulevard only really.

[trebor901]

Reading this page i havent really seen any answers as to where the Forster cars were. I have been there yesterday and today and it only dawned on me at the start of race 2 that they werent there.

Also this Matt Neal and Rob Collard thing, if it had been say Jackson and Giovanardi would you all be making this big deal over it? We all know what Rob Collard and Matt Neal are like, Jason Plato seems to have cleaned up his act a bit but its about time TOCA sorted them out and told them stuff like that wont be tolerated.

Also i was sat at the last chicane and i have never in the time ive been going to motorsport events heard bangs as loud as they were coming from the AON Focuses when they were on the limiter waiting for the lights to go out. Absolutely awesome noise.

Overall typical BTCC weekend, controversy and good close racing (sometimes a bit too close)

[dyewat808]

Also this Matt Neal and Rob Collard thing, if it had been say Jackson and Giovanardi would you all be making this big deal over it?

Oh god. Please don't let this turn into yet another one of those threads. Its always about the people rather than the actual crash, for some reason.

Anyhoo, its the BTCC. I liked it - far more interesting to watch than F1, to be honest.

And trebor901, is Thruxton a good circuit spectator-wise? Been thinking of going there myself, but more convinced by places like Brands Hatch - got the history etc etc.

[trebor901]

Originally Posted by dyewat808

Oh god. Please don't let this turn into yet another one of those threads. Its always about the people rather than the actual crash, for some reason.

Anyhoo, its the BTCC. I liked it - far more interesting to watch than F1, to be honest.

And trebor901, is Thruxton a good circuit spectator-wise? Been thinking of going there myself, but more convinced by places like Brands Hatch - got the history etc etc.

Yeah best place is the complex (cambell, cobb, seagrave) or i'd say after sitter there this weekend the last chicane, get to see some of the cars BMW's especially on the limit and getting a little sideways

[Jon411]

Originally Posted by trebor901

Reading this page i havent really seen any answers as to where the Forster cars were. I have been there yesterday and today and it only dawned on me at the start of race 2 that they werent there.

The engines that were used for Media Day had problems and so both had to be sent back to Schnitzer in Germany. I think the turn around time is 2 weeks - so they simply didn't get the engines back in time to fit them and get the cars down to Thruxton

[trebor901]

ah thats a shame will be good to see them when they get out, hopefully they'll be at Rockingham?

[dyewat808]

Hopefully.

[Jon411]

Originally Posted by trebor901

ah thats a shame will be good to see them when they get out, hopefully they'll be at Rockingham?

Yes, from what I've read, they will be out at Rockingham, sounds like it was just a case of not having enough time.

Shame they couldn't race, I think they may have scored a point or 2 if you consider the number of cars who had problems in the first race etc.

[redshoes]

With a two week turn-around time for rebuilds and seemingly no spare engines it was inevitable they would end up missing at least one meeting this year.

[JamesRamone]

Neal's move was a joke, it was never on. I know Collard has been as bad in the past but I feel sorry for him today. Think he would have won that race otherwise.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Rob gets involved in so many accidents though. So, so many.

I'm not the biggest Rob Collard fan in the world, but I'm tired of your constant digs at him. Give it a rest please. It's even worse than Icebaby's persistant vendetta against Jelley and Pinkney from last year.

I think Neal should realise that being a works driver brings a responsibility to drive a bit better than that.

Giovanardi showed what a class act he is and Plato did well too, I was impressed with how he drove today.

[Sodemo]

Yes, Plato has "mellowed" I think slightly these last couple of years, he doesn't seem to get involved in as many iffy incidents.

[GroupOfOne]

Incident between Neal & Collard will be investigated by stewards before the next meeting at Rockingham.

[awrb]

Originally Posted by Hazard

I don't think WSR and Motorbase would consider themselves anything but independent - just Forster are very much a start-up, small, underfunded & inexperienced independent squad. Motorbase has developed over the years into an almost 'works' quality squad, whilst WSR of course is an ex-works team many years back with Honda, Ford & MG...but take a look at the line-up this year, I think that'll show how well funded they are this year.

It'll be great when Forster turn up, but I think it'll thicken out the competition for Pinkney, AmD Milltek & Boulevard only really.

Yes, this is what I meant, but much better worded! I think it will be interesting to see the BMW's for the first time in a small team, because we've only seen some quite big teams run them in the past.

I agree with the comments on Plato as well, he drove much better this weekend than in the past, I just hope he doesn't ruin it by doing something stupid like when he drove into Turkington at Snetterton last year.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one watching the lasst race today who was just thinking "this isn't going to end well for Collard" when Neal was catching them at the beginning of the race. I could just see something happening when he caught up, and sure enough...

[Alfa Fan]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

I'm not the biggest Rob Collard fan in the world, but I'm tired of your constant digs at him.

Don't read my posts then. Simple.

[gregc]

My thought was, Collard and Neal on the same bit of track? Recipe for disaster. So it proved.. Mind you, I was thinking the same of Plato/Neal in race 2 and hoping for something for Owy and it came to pass (though that, I think, was an actual racing incident). Have to say, even as someone who quite likes Neal, he was completely in the wrong on this one - waaay too ambitious a move that was never going to come off. Sheds on the other hand was very good when he wasn't forced onto an over ambitous strategy...

If I was to have a sneaky fiver on anyone to win it this year it would be Gordon - go Super Sheds, and bring back Tintop Tuesday while you're at it

And someone, please, put Paul in some good S2K or NGTC machinery next year - what he's doing with that Integra is awesome, stick him in something up to date and he would be a championship challenger.

PS - special mention for Shaun in the Golf in race 2 - it was great watching you racing John George through the complex. TV might not have shown it, but from what I saw all you need is a bit more horsepower. The car looks and sounds great, I would have said hello but you guys looked a bit busy...

[trebor901]

Also where was Lea Wood yesterday?

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by trebor901

Also where was Lea Wood yesterday?

He always said he'll be doing the series from Brands Hatch onwards.

[White flag man]

Regarding all the woories about getting away from the circuit, with the BTCC race being the last race, it must have taken me all of ......... 5 minutes!
Must be a record, well done to all involved.

[trebor901]

Originally Posted by White flag man

Regarding all the woories about getting away from the circuit, with the BTCC race being the last race, it must have taken me all of ......... 5 minutes!
Must be a record, well done to all involved.

it took us nearly an hour cos they decided to let all the team trucks for the support races out before the public

[Icebaby]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

I'm not the biggest Rob Collard fan in the world, but I'm tired of your constant digs at him. Give it a rest please. It's even worse than Icebaby's persistant vendetta against Jelley and Pinkney from last year.

.

Afraid your a year out on Jelley as it was 2008 I felt he underperfromed and this was pretty much the feeling of many, 2009 he did well and pleased for him.

Pinkney underperformed in 2009 in a car capable of winning races, 2010 he's off to a solid start although his car livery is not pretty.

I do agree with you on Rob Collard though, he simply finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, he pays alot of money to race and therefore doesn't expect a driver to simply ram him out the way as he said.