BTCC 2009 Discussion

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77647

Heres.....Johnny

WOOO!!!!!

Wasn't going to Knockhill until today, my mate called to say he had two complimentary tickets - think it's Dunlop guest ones - and did I want to go!

Got home, found out Plato was on pole, Shedden second and Adam third!

GO FLASH GO!!!!

nice one

Right, up early tomorow at around six am, get ready and make the long drive to the east....

Wow.

How good was that!?

Just home from a cracking day out. Very cold, very VERY windy, but stayed dry. Took loads of pictures around the paddock and from Duffus Dip... then deleted them all by mistake!

But that was a cracking day out. Chuffed to bits that Shedden got a podium in race one, that was proper skill there as he earned it rather than the luck of the draw from the reverse grid. Looked like he'd do it again in race two for a while, but then the car dropped like a stone, really struggled with the weight on. Was standing down at Clarks for the second race, and when Plato came out for his second go he ditched it right before the corner. As he walked up the track back to the pits, we waved over and he waved back. What a gentleman.

And what a driver! That race three performance was amazing. We were about a third of the way up the railway straight for the third race, so most of the pit straight, the hairpin and the chicane were out of sight, but every time he appeared he seemed to be a position up! Cracking drive, really well deserved second place there.

Plato for the title!

Well, I got sunburnt! And also nearly got flattened by my tent when it got blown out of its pins in the 30mph winds!

But, excellent racing, almost got hit by Harry Vaulkhard, countless Legends, a G50 and an RML Golf Cart

For race 1, I was at Taylors (I saw a guy with a Rizlia hat across from me during the Carrera Cup race.. Lionel Richy?) Race 2: I was on the infeild just after the bridge (where the Navy chopper landed) Race 3: About a third down hislops, so you may have saw me CK, I was with a guy with a flourescent jacket

Okay, lots of news to cover for Silverstone this weekend.

- Team CVR have withdrawn from the championship following a split with sponsors Cartridge World. This means no Jones or Shedden, and no Leons on the grid this weekend. However, rumours are circulating that a driver which may be Shedden will be lining up in a third BMW for the final two meetings at Rockingham and Brands Hatch GP.

- Anthony Reid will be returning to the series with Team RAC, while James Nash and Martyn Bell will also be resuming their campaigns having missed Knockhill. Tom Onslow-Cole will also be returning in the 2nd Team Aon Focus. And can't forget Johnny Herbert's debut in the Team Dynamics Civic.

- Autosport have reported that Thorney Motorsport are planning a 2010 entry to the BTCC. The team have run Vauxhalls in the Dunlop Sport Maxx - could be buyers for the three Vectras 888 have listed for sale in this weeks Autosport? They have been running Onslow-Cole in the Sport Maxx, so perhaps matching him back with the car he ran in 2008 isn't a bad idea.

thats too bad about shedden hes a great underated driver who always gets the raw end of every deal.

(how could anyone choose pinkney over shedden on driving ability alone?)

I hope he gets a good car for next year to really have the shot at the title he deserves.

There is the misbelief that Pinkney was picked over Shedden when Gordon is a much better driver. The simple fact is all drivers pay for their drive unless the run with the works teams, and Pinkey paid a lot more money for the car than Shedden brought to the table.

Pinkney is a millionaire who can use his own money and sponsorship deals to get his drive. He bought the ex-Dynamics Integra himself and then paid Motorbase to run it for him in 2006. While he ran the pair of Alfas in 2007 and ran in the British GT in 2008, he returned to the BTCC with an offer Team Dynamics simply couldn't afford to turn down with the loss of Halfords sponsorship.

Shedden had one of the most lucrative sponsors on his side in the form of Clydesdale Bank when he entered in 2006, and Steve Neal must've bitten his hand off to get him in the car. Sadly with the current economic crisis, Clydesdale Bank withdrew its sponsorship of Shedden this year - and Knockhill by the looks of things, as the Clydesdale branding on the bridge has gone.

With very little money on the table, Shedden's seat was not guaranteed this year. As we all know, James Thompson tested the car before the beginning of the season, but his commitments were up in the air. Steve Neal wanted Thompson, but with the N-technology WTCC drive in an unstable situation, his DTC drive still important to him, a V8 supercar drive and the still-to-come Lada seat, Thompson couldn't do a full season.

What it looks like now is that with the deal for Thompson still not done in time for the media day and Brands Hatch, Neal recalled Shedden, even if it wasn't for as much money as he'd have liked for the drive. Following Brands, with Thompson having the funding in place and being able to commit to six rounds, Shedden was dumped.

Pinkney's place was never in doubt. He paid mucho pesatas for his drive. He arguably bankrolled the BTCC campaign this year for Dynamics between his own money and what his sponsorship brought in. So unfortunately it never came down to driving ability, otherwise Shedden would definitely still be there.

It would be unfair to write Shedden off, and I don't just say that as a big fan of his. In 2007 he finished third in the standings - above Neal, Turkington, Turner, et al. He took 4 wins in 2006, 4 in 2007, and 2 in 2008. And he would most likely have had two more if his insufferable bad luck hadn't resurfaced at Thruxton with two punctures in two races while leading. Shedden is genuinely capable of winning the BTCC if he gets a drive in a good reliable car with a good team.

Mark my words - Airwaves BMW 2010, 3 BMWs, Collard, Adam, and Shedden, and a force to be reckoned with following the withdrawal of 888/VXR.

i knew it was all down to money... but thanks for the real in deph look at it

Hopefully things will pick up soon.

Then we can hopefully get flash back!

Now just the matter of making sure we don't loose Giovanardi...

should be an interesting weekend. Will be great to see Reid back in with the action.

So, what are people thinking about the 2011 NGTC rules? Who will realisticaly build a car, and what will they run?

this is what i can think of at the moment of the current teams..

Dynamics - Honda Accord (new shape, big car)
Vauxhall - Vauxhall Insignia or New Cavalier (I expect them to return with tripple eight, if tripple eight will indeed not be entered themselves next season.
RML - Will run an S2000 Lacetti, if they are still in the BTCC that is, doubt they will begin an NGTC program if they conitnue in the WTCC.

and that really is all i can think of

About the Thorney thing. As ck will know I had contact for a fair while with the team due to a paint I did. The last one I sent them was a Thorney BTCC paint scheme........

Coincidence?

1st practice session top 10 results

01 Mat Jackson 1:01.049
02 Jason Plato +0.108
03 Tom Onslow-Cole +0.148
04 Matt Neal +0.276
05 Fabrizio Giovanardi +0.315
06 Colin Turkington +0.331
07 James Nash +0.455
08 Harry Vaulkhard +0.479
09 Paul O Neill +0.485
10 Robert Collard +0.588


Onslow Cole in the Ford THIRD QUICKEST

ooohhh thats good
Wheres Chilton then? Not racing or are there actually two Fords this time?

he's 11th

yeah thats a Top Ten Matt!

NGTC...

Seat return with Exeo Touring car?

Gotta support Herbert...#45 afteral

Wow what an interesting few races.
Chevy take all three!!!!!
Herbert didn't do too badly in my mind. Looks and sounds like he had fun anyway.
As much as I dislike the guy, good weekend for Matt Jackson, 6 podiums on the trot is pretty damn good.

Personally, I dislike the BMWs for their performance advantage relative to other Indies and their drivers. Didn't like Plato when he drove for SEAT and into any independant in his way, like him and Jackson now they're in Chevys. Hopefully WSR and Motorbase will go to FWD soon.

They will have to go to FWD soon since the BMW is banned when the new NGTC regs come into place.

nicky wrote:
Vauxhall - Vauxhall Insignia or New Cavalier (I expect them to return with tripple eight, if tripple eight will indeed not be entered themselves next season.

Vauxhall have already said they'll not be returning for 2010. They said that months ago. I doubt they'd change their minds when their financial status hasn't really changed.

finally getting to sit down and watch the races with a bit of a nightcap handy

that was a ridiculous pass by matt jackson on rob collard in race 1

holy crap james nash great pass on collard too..

Just watched my recording of the races yesterday.

Great racing in general, Plato in the hot seat now, can't see him not doing well at Rockingham or Brands, but I'd like to see Turkington take this. And Jelley had a cracking race in the third one, pretty awesome stuff to protect his team mate.

Good stuff.

Jelly did exactly what RAC needed him to do in that last race, great work. Maybe he should have been doing it from the start, but who am I to judge

Excellent racing yesterday though, Missed the 2nd race but the 1st and 3rd were simply great to watch.

u watch the grand prix just like me richy?