Re: BTCC 2012

by **ckBrenneke** Sun 15 Jan 2012 - 11:40

That's actually a cracking shout.

Volvo have left the STCC, meaning their C30s are up for grabs. James imported his last car, the Lacetti, from the STCC.

Good call!

by **ckBrenneke** Tue 17 Jan 2012 - 11:29

Interesting development on the official BTCC forum, a poster who is supposed to be double BTCC champion Chris Hodgetts has posted the following -

Chinese...Longbridge.....Touring car champion.....16% down over Christmas....all the eights plus one...=NGT factory cars.

The Chinese and Longbridge references MG, touring car champion would obviously be Plato given the rumours, 16% down over Christmas would be a reference to my own employers, Tesco, who are one of JPs major sponsors, all the eights plus one is Triple 8, and obviously they will run NGTC machinery.

The original source of the Plato rumour has inferred the NGTC MG will be based on the MG7. If you don't know what the MG7 looks like, I urge you to google it. I was rather shocked.

Meanwhile, another reliable source he originally backed up this rumour has placed Neate with 888 and has Nash driving with Motorbase, who have withdrawn their Ford Focus' from sale to reuse this year. TGR Motorsport's Vectra entry seems to be wishful thinking, which makes it more likely ES Racing have purchased 888's Vectras. Lea Wood is also believed to have purchased Andy Jordan's 2011 Vectra.

With that, I'll revise the possible entries.

Unconfirmed

by **Richy59** Tue 17 Jan 2012 - 11:48

It is pretty shocking

by lfcnicklfc Tue 17 Jan 2012 - 11:58

WHAT??

If i were 888 i'd use this instead...

by **Richy59** Tue 17 Jan 2012 - 12:00

I was joking, I think it will be something like that they use.

by **ckBrenneke** Tue 17 Jan 2012 - 12:36

Well, apparently the car 888 are converting into the NGTC MG uses the Rover 75 base, according to the source of the JP rumour. Seeing as it seems he was pretty accurate with that, you have to assume he knows what he's talking about with the car. Maybe the MG6, which would seem the better option, is not eligible or impractical as an NGTC car.

My grandfather has one of them, and has done since 1999. I'm stunned they'd go for a car that's nearly 15 years old, but as Gary pointed out to me recently, the Rover 75 is BMW-derived and uses BMW running gear (although a lot of that would be replaced). Still, that doesn't excuse the fact they may be running a chassis that is 15 YEARS OLD!!!

by **Richy59** Tue 17 Jan 2012 - 12:37

Oh, so my joke could be a reality? Bummer.

by **Matt** Tue 17 Jan 2012 - 12:55

God hope not!!
Sad

by nickyf1 Tue 17 Jan 2012 - 13:49

Well, the MG7 is made for the Chinese market, and happens to be based off the Rover 75 and the MG ZT. With manufacturers like Kia and Ford getting involved with the CTCC, could MG be planning for that?

by **CQR Rogue** Tue 17 Jan 2012 - 18:01

what did I say a bunch of [Censored] from MG

by **ckBrenneke** Fri 20 Jan 2012 - 19:30

Chris James has confirmed that he has purchased the two 888 Vectras.

Matt Neal - Honda Racing - NGTC Honda Civic
Gordon Shedden - Honda Racing - NGTC Honda Civic

Andrew Jordan - Pirtek Racing - NGTC Honda Civic
Jeff Smith - Pirtek Racing - NGTC Honda Civic

Tony Hughes - Speedworks - NGTC Toyota Avensis
Adam Morgan - Speedworks - NGTC Toyota Avensis

Unconfirmed

Chris James - Team ES Racing - S2000 Vauxhall Vectra
Dave Newsham - Team ES Racing - S2000 Vauxhall Vectra

Unconfirmed

John Thorne - Thorney Motorsport - NGTC Vauxhall Insignia

Unconfirmed

by nickyf1 Wed 25 Jan 2012 - 8:11

It's official!

And thank the lord, it's an MG6! Plato and Neate will drive works MG's for Triple Eight.

http://www.touringcartimes.com/article.php?id=7140

by **Matt** Wed 25 Jan 2012 - 8:15

Bizarre events over at 888 So what on earth is Nashy to do?

by **CQR Rogue** Wed 25 Jan 2012 - 8:16

so a redbaged rover its 1 side to short it will fall apart and plato will be set on fire lol oh well not such a bad thing

by nickyf1 Wed 25 Jan 2012 - 8:19

Duncan wrote:so a redbaged rover its 1 side to short it will fall apart and plato will be set on fire lol oh well not such a bad thing

Well, that's one way to make up a stereotype.

I think it's fantastic that MG are involved.

by nickyf1 Wed 25 Jan 2012 - 8:19

Matt wrote:Bizarre events over at 888 So what on earth is Nashy to do?

No cash?

by **Richy59** Wed 25 Jan 2012 - 9:05

That is one crazy paint job

by **CQR Rogue** Wed 25 Jan 2012 - 9:14

nickyf1 wrote:
Duncan wrote:so a redbaged rover its 1 side to short it will fall apart and plato will be set on fire lol oh well not such a bad thing

Well, that's one way to make up a stereotype.

I think it's fantastic that MG are involved.

Nicky living near a city were they made rovers and I work with ppl who worked at MG they made some shoddy cars who is going to buy it?

by nickyf1 Wed 25 Jan 2012 - 13:15

Richy wrote:That is one crazy paint job

It works too, which is surprising. I couldn't pull off a livery design with so many different sponsors and colours!

by **ckBrenneke** Wed 25 Jan 2012 - 18:04

Quite liking the MG paintjob.

The lack of Silverline sponsorship is being taken as a hint that the are sticking with RML and Chevrolet. Rumour mill is that Alex MacDowell has signed for a 3rd season, and kept the Silverline sponsorship.

by nickyf1 Wed 25 Jan 2012 - 19:01

Or that Silverline have disappeared, and RML ain't coming back?

by Ax4x Chaddy Thu 26 Jan 2012 - 0:28

Nash could go back to RML?

by nickyf1 Thu 26 Jan 2012 - 8:32

Who says RML are still doing BTCC though? Their BTCC programme was built on left over WTCC machinery they weren't using. I can't see Chevrolet funding their BTCC programme when they have a works programme in the WTCC.

I heard something about Nash going to Motorbase.

by **ckBrenneke** Thu 26 Jan 2012 - 21:01

nickyf1 wrote:Who says RML are still doing BTCC though? Their BTCC programme was built on left over WTCC machinery they weren't using. I can't see Chevrolet funding their BTCC programme when they have a works programme in the WTCC.

I heard something about Nash going to Motorbase.

Perhaps Nicky, but I would point out that two proven sources have already stated RML are building NGTC Chevrolet Cruze hatches for this year.

The first is Spannermonkey from 10 Tenths. He has been reliable with his information during previous off-seasons, and stated on the 22nd December that RML were building the Cruze hatches. He has since backed up the Plato/888 rumour, then placed Neate with 888 previous to the MG announcement.

The second is the original source of the Plato/888/MG rumour, the fixer, who broke the news on my birthday, 8th January. He then followed that up by replying to someone who had asked if RML were withdrawing with 'far from it, this years Cruze is an NGTC hatch." I think this source has proven it's worth already.

Top this off with Alex MacDowall unofficially confirming he'll be back with RML in 2012, and I think there's a good chance we'll see RML on the grid.

My take on the whole situation is that RML secured the funding to construct NGTC hatches, probably through both Silverline and Chevrolet, and development began pre-Xmas. 888 courted MG for the works deal and secured it, probably with a caveat from MG that they promoted this as a very British affair (the announcement press material certainly makes a lot of noises of that ilk), and that they secured the services of a high-profile driver capable of developing the car and winning races - for all his faults, Plato certainly fits that bill, and remember that he won in the Toledo on SEAT's first weekend in 2004, despite the lack of testing and development.

I actually can see MG stipulating that they wanted Plato regardless of cost to highlight how serious they are taking the BTCC as a sales tool. SEAT are a perfect example - early noughties they were in automotive wilderness. VAG wanted to push SEAT as their sporty brand, and so the WTCC and BTCC efforts were born, along with the Supercopa. By the time of the credit crunch in 2008, SEAT had very much established themselves as a desireable marque, the Leon in particular maintains very good residual value. MG need to up sales, and what better way to do it then in a series which recieves the best TV coverage in the UK. The BTCC sells cars, that much is not in doubt and hasn't been for a very long time - I myself bought my Honda Civic Sport for the very reason it was in the BTCC, and on replacing the battery two weeks ago, I made damn sure it was a Yuasa one!

Plato was 'tapped up' by 888/MG and made an offer he couldn't refuse. The fixer stated that RML were livid regarding his move, which he said was secured during the week between Xmas and New Year. Why would RML be upset if they were not heavily investing in NGTC? A few weeks ago, Plato said on twitter that he had spent a day with a barrister, which raised questions that he was facing legal complications with RML and his deal with 888. I wonder if it isn't to do with his Silverline sponsorship. Perhaps Silverline had already committed to the RML NGTC 2012 deal, and JP consulted the barrister to get him round the issues this would bring about (and ultimately get him out of the Silverline sponsorship deal). Other sources have stated that MacDowall now has the Silverline sponsorship.

RML, Silverline and Chevrolet would have committed to constructing the NGTC Cruze, and I can see them pressing ahead despite the loss of Plato. From a business standpoint, there's a lot of potential customers out there for an NGTC Chevrolet in both Britain and Scandanavia, and performing at a works level would certainly help sell more NGTC Cruzes, much in the way both Honda/Team Dynamics and Thorney Motorsport are proving already. They will need a strong lead driver, but there's a few ex-champions without 2012 drives out there (Thompson and Turkington spring to mind immediately, and Paul O'Neill already has ties with Chevvy after last season).

On the Thorney Motorsport point, John Thorne has himself stated on the BTCC forum that Thorney are building Insignia shells not just for themselves but for others - Techspeed maybe?

James Nash may not end up with Motorbase as has been already rumoured (by Spannermonkey), but might just be in a Focus - an Arena Focus - according to some people.

And just who has Andy Jordan's Vectra!?

So, so far we have...

Matt Neal - Honda Racing - NGTC Honda Civic
Gordon Shedden - Honda Racing - NGTC Honda Civic
Andy Neate - Triple 8 - NGTC MG7
Jason Plato - Triple 8 - NGTC MG7

Unconfirmed

Andrew Jordan - Pirtek Racing - NGTC Honda Civic
Jeff Smith - Pirtek Racing - NGTC Honda Civic

Tony Hughes - Speedworks - NGTC Toyota Avensis
Adam Morgan - Speedworks - NGTC Toyota Avensis

Unconfirmed

Chris James - Team ES Racing - S2000 Vauxhall Vectra
Dave Newsham - Team ES Racing - S2000 Vauxhall Vectra

Unconfirmed

John Thorne - Thorney Motorsport - NGTC Vauxhall Insignia

Unconfirmed

by nickyf1 Fri 27 Jan 2012 - 2:00

Wow, then I'm wrong Smile

I guess I haven't been reading the 10-Tenths thread closely enough.

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