[STCC] 2014 STCC speculation, rumours and news

[Speed-King]

The problem is that there are hardly any second hand NGTC cars available and the new ones are rather more pricy than initially expected. If interest in STCC is as low these days as it seems from this thread, I am not sure if there still is enough money in STCC to buy a (semi) full field of NGTCs.

I don't know why - probably been watching too many 1980s BTCC videos lately -, but I'd actually like to see someone try running a top level touring car series with a multi class format. Maybe have NGTC as the top class and then one class for 1.6 liter turbo-cars and one for 1.6l N/A.
Maybe even go back to a format where drivers from the lower classes can become overall champions to encourage the participation of top drivers and eventually manufacturers all the way down the field.

[FIRE]

Multi class format okay for me if you have 40+ cars on the grid but not with 20~25 cars.

[thlbtcc]

There are plenty of S2000 cars with NGTC engines. Combined with a couple of full NGTC cars and that could be okay then a year or two later maybe more NGTC cars.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Multi class format okay for me if you have 40+ cars on the grid but not with 20~25 cars.

It's not just the number of cars, also the quality. If that is actually decent and the classes don't get strung out, 7 -8 cars per class is actually an okay number across a three class structure. Not perfect, by any means, but still very watchable.

There are plenty of S2000 cars with NGTC engines. Combined with a couple of full NGTC cars and that could be okay then a year or two later maybe more NGTC cars.

Because nothing says 'professional racing series' more than running a bunch of five year out of production models

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

It's not just the number of cars, also the quality. If that is actually decent and the classes don't get strung out, 7 -8 cars per class is actually an okay number across a three class structure. Not perfect, by any means, but still very watchable.



Because nothing says 'professional racing series' more than running a bunch of five year out of production models

Yes true, fair comment. But, there were cars in 10/11 not in production, 156 & Accord for example. The STCC has a long tradition of using touring cars 1/2 years behind other series.

[maranello48]

I see this as being one of the benefits of the silhouette racing. It makes it comparatively easy for manufacturers and teams to keep the cars relevant to what's being produced. Whereas traditional touring car would require new cars each year, which is obviously prohibitively expensive.

[Pettersson]

Originally Posted by maranello48

I see this as being one of the benefits of the silhouette racing. It makes it comparatively easy for manufacturers and teams to keep the cars relevant to what's being produced. Whereas traditional touring car would require new cars each year, which is obviously prohibitively expensive.

Very true. But the problem with STCC is that it only has three silhuettes that are actually look-a-likes of exisiting models; Volvo S60, Citroen C5 and SAAB 9-3.

The BMW is called BMW "SR" (Silhuette Replica). It looks like an M3 E92, but apparently it can't be called that. It also took some time before they even could use BMW logos (and the BMW 'kidney' grille) on the car.

The SAAB 9-3 is actually in production today, but it wasn't until just a few months ago.

The "Honda" is based on the Citroen C5 silhuette, but with a front and rear end from a Civic Sedan not even sold in Sweden.

The Dacia is worst. It's a SAAB 9-3 with a front end of a Dacia Sandero and a rear end inspired from a Dacia Logan (also not on sale in Sweden). Ridiculous...

I would say that running cars that doesn't resemble models found at the manufacturers showroom is NOT something suited for a "professional racing series". Maybe in single seaters and sports car racing, but not for something like STCC.

[JohannD]

http://www.polestar.com/en-int/2014/...-stcc-program/

Volvo Polestar Racing is going to run three Volvo S60 in the 2014 Scandinavian Touring Car Champion. Reigning champion Thed Björk continues the fight for the Swedish title together with triple STCC champion Fredrik Ekblom and Prince Carl Philip Bernadotte who starts his second STCC season.

[Speed-King]

That's not really what I would consider being comitted to prop up the series...

[rich07]

They shouldn't be relied upon to prop up the series

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by rich07

They shouldn't be relied upon to prop up the series

They have done it so far, though, and the series seems to be in need of propping up. So them not doing so actually sends some kind of message, doesn't it?

[Marcus666]

My dream STCC calendar would be:

1. Ring Knutstorp (Two races)
2. Jyllands-Ringen (Two races)
3. Anderstorp (One race, 1 hour race)
4. Falkenberg Motorbana (Two races)
5. Göteborg City (Two races)
6. Rudskogen (One race, 1 hour race)
7. ACI (Two races, Using the midnight sun for the races)
8. Karlskoga Motorstadion (Two races)
9. Stockholm - Solvalla *OVAL* (One race, 1 hour)
Using an oval layout instead of the current "put in chicanes to make it a road-course", to promote overtaking.
10. Tierp Arena (Two races)
11. Gotland Ring (One Race, 1 hour race)
12. Mantorp Park (Two races)


/Marcus

[Tiny]

Well.
The STCC i dead.
No intrest and no Buzz.
Pretty much half fields now.

And how would the STCC do to make the series lift of.
NOT buy taking up Rallycross anyways.
FOCUS on what is STCC first.

I like rallycross but the STCC is NOT rallycross.
So let the rallycrossers do that sport and STCC can do the racing.

I have NOTHING to feel about the STCC/TTA cars.
Ugly , wrong and not at all STCC touringcars.
The STCC should have gone the NGTC way.
Yes expensive in the start but TTA was not cheep in starting up either.

No , it will be Another season of watching BTCC downloaded again , sorry to say.

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by thetool

Well if you are looking for NGTC models with existing design work done, you have the following cars to choose from:

Audi A4
Audi S3
BMW 125i
Chevrolet Cruze 4d
Chevrolet Cruze 5d
Ford Focus
Honda Civic
Honda Civic Tourer
Mercedes A45
MG6
Proton Gen-2
Toyota Avensis
Vauxhall Insignia
Volkswagen Passat

Quite a reasonable range these days. And with minimal effort you could gain Opel & Skoda too.

Do not forget that BTCC 2014 has 7 champions to start!
All teams have to have a TOCA-license to be able to start.
That means just to get starting this year the teams up the game.
New cars arrive every year and grids are full.

So compare that to TTA/STCC.
Here they pretty much buried the series.
What the teams want has nothing to do with succés.
The teams made there choice and look what that lead to.

Its about time that someone made a break for it and formed a series for real touringcars , cars that look lika cars and drives like cars. The cars we are used to see , like the S2000 , supertourers and even JTCC cars. The sweds are not used to see the TTA-cars , just like the V8-supercars would not fit sweden either , the tracks do not even fit the Camaro Cup/V8 Thundercars , they are to Mickey mouse like.

No the BTCC/TOCA/NGTC is the way to go.

Look att DTM , more boring then the STCC/TTA-cars.
No overtaking , no show and nothing to se.

[PorscheFanNo1]

1. Polestar - Thed Björk - Volvo S60 - Confirmed
2. Polestar - Fredrik Ekblom - Volvo S60 - Confirmed
3. Polestar - Prince Carl Philip Bernadotte - Volvo S60 Confirmed
4. Team Tidö - Rickard Göransson - SAAB - Confirmed
5. Team Tidö - Linus Olsson? - SAAB - Likely
6. WCR - Erik Jonsson - BMW - Confirmed
7. WCR - Fredrik Larsson - BMW - Likely
8. WCR - TBA - BMW - Possible
9. WCR - TBA - BMW - Possible
10. Dacia Dealer Team (MA:GP) - Mattias Andersson - Dacia - Confirmed
11. PWR - Daniel Haglöf - SAAB? - Confirmed
12. PWR - TBA - SAAB? - Likely
13. Brovallen - Jocke Mangs - Citroen? - Likely
14. Brovallen - Alx Danielsson - Citroen? - Likely
15. Engström Motorsport - Thomas Engström - Honda - Possible

[kurski]

STCC driver Tomas Engström’s company Engström Motorsport AB is facing bankruptcy for the third time since 2010 as the company has got a debt of over 230 000 Swedish kronor.

[Bramzel]

Time to face the facts Tomas... He'll never have to blame himself for not trying though!

[PorscheFanNo1]

Eagerly awaiting news from Brovallens pressconference today where they are announcing a 3 year plan with a rumored new manufacturer. It sounds promising.

Other news is Philip Forsman is confirmed as WCR 2nd driver. Still hoping they will announce Fredrik Larsson as one of their drivers also.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Mathias Lindberg and Andreas Wernersson for Brovallen with Kia Optima

1. Polestar - Thed Björk - Volvo S60 - Confirmed
2. Polestar - Fredrik Ekblom - Volvo S60 - Confirmed
3. Polestar - Prince Carl Philip Bernadotte - Volvo S60 Confirmed
4. Team Tidö - Rickard Göransson - SAAB - Confirmed
5. Team Tidö - Linus Olsson? - SAAB - Likely
6. WCR - Erik Jonsson - BMW - Confirmed
7. WCR - Philip Forsman - BMW - Confirmed
8. WCR - Fredrik Larsson - BMW - Possible
9. WCR - TBA - BMW - Possible
10. Dacia Dealer Team (MA:GP) - Mattias Andersson - Dacia - Confirmed
11. PWR - Daniel Haglöf - SAAB? - Confirmed
12. PWR - TBA - SAAB? - Likely
13. Brovallen - Andreas Wernersson - Kia Optima - Confirmed
14. Brovallen - Mathias Lindberg - Kia Optima - Confirmed
15. Engström Motorsport - Thomas Engström - Honda - Possible

[PorscheFanNo1]

PWR will get support from NEVS (owner of SAAB) this year. Drivers to be announced later in April: http://admin.getanewsletter.com/t/v/2_NTM5NDAyNzc0Mg==/

With the addition of KIA, more teams are getting manufacturer support this year. Still hard to judgle exactly how big Nevs, KIA's and Dacias involvment actually is.

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

PWR will get support from NEVS (owner of SAAB) this year. Drivers to be announced later in April: http://admin.getanewsletter.com/t/v/2_NTM5NDAyNzc0Mg==/

With the addition of KIA, more teams are getting manufacturer support this year. Still hard to judgle exactly how big Nevs, KIA's and Dacias involvment actually is.

Hmmmm, I'd like to take a cheeky punt on Linus arriving at PWR

[Bezzen]

Fredrik Larsson confirmed in the third WestCoast Racing car. Doesn't have the budget for the whole season yet though.

http://www.westcoastracing.se/2014/0...tcoast-racing/

[PorscheFanNo1]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

Hmmmm, I'd like to take a cheeky punt on Linus arriving at PWR

Looks like it'll be Emma Kimiläinen:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2014/...cc-since-1999/

So basicly only Team Tidö left for Linus?

[kurski]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Looks like it'll be Emma Kimiläinen:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2014/...cc-since-1999/

Kimiläinen test will begin tomorrow, but between the years of 2010-2013, she tested the Auto GP car once in 2010 in Hungary. Otherwise, he has not driven anything. Emma was a few years a familiar TV face, a program called Finland Worst Driver, she was the program for the jury.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Originally Posted by kurski

Kimiläinen test will begin tomorrow, but between the years of 2010-2013, she tested the Auto GP car once in 2010 in Hungary. Otherwise, he has not driven anything. Emma was a few years a familiar TV face, a program called Finland Worst Driver, she was the program for the jury.

Done quite a lot of laps, but way off pace, in the morning session. Hope she can start to go faster in the afternoon. Also Roger Samuelsson is out in what Im guessing is Team Tidö's 2nd car. No sign on Linus Olsson yet?!?