BTCC 2010

With the first meeting of the season kicking off at Thruxton this weekend, thechequeredflag.com has put up a good article about the championship contenders and where they will finish. It's worth a read here.

Their championship predictions are...

1 ) Mat Jackson
2 ) Jason Plato
3 ) Gordon Shedden
4 ) Steven Kane
5 ) Matt Neal
6 ) Tom Chilton
7 ) Tom Onslow-Cole
8 ) Rob Collard
9 ) Andrew Jordan
10) Phil Glew
11) Alex MacDowall
12) Paul O'Neill
13) Tom Boardman
14) Andy Neate
15) Martin Depper
16) Shaun Hollamby
17) Arthur Forster
18) Dave Pinkney
19) John George
20) Lea Wood
21) Martin Johnson
22) Matt Hamilton

I'm pretty sure that won't be far off the money. While Plato is undeniably the benchmark and will challenge all year, the prospect of both Mat Jackson back in a BMW, and Gordon Shedden back in a Civic, means that he won't have it all his own way.

In terms of the teams and constructors championships, Motorbase have the strongest line-up on paper alongside Honda. Both teams will take wins and consistent points. The appointment of MacDowall as Chevy's 2nd driver seems to be a build from 2009 - Plato doesn't want a strong teammate taking points off him, he needs someone subservient that will let him through and hold people up. Jackson was the total opposite of that ethos.

Shedden and Neal will both take wins, but there will be a difficult situation there at Team Dynamics. While Steve Neal will be putting his son first, Shedden is the quicker driver, and outscored Neal last time the pair drove together in 2007. Time will tell which of the two score more points in the opening rounds.

Of course, this does not take into account the appearance of late starters and last minute deals. With Turkington working hard to get back into the third WSR car, and rumours abound that Giovanardi is trying to get a deal in place to run the second Vectra with 888, there will be plenty of challengers capable of taking points away from the favourites.

Still, only a few days to go till it starts all over again...

I wouldn't count out the LPG Focus' too, started to show great pace towards the end of last year, and have been very competitive in testing.

Jason Plato is the clear favourite obviously, but as you say, Jackson back in a Beemer and Shedden in the works Honda is a great prospecy for this season. Hopefully they will convinve Volvo to come over next year with an NGTC S40. Or the C30, i'm not too bothered. That C30 sounds amazing.

The BTCC is definetaly on the way up, hopefully in a few years time it will be a strong alternative to the WTCC.

BTCC Golf Build on Speedhunters:

http://speedhunters.com/archive/2010/03/31/new-cars-gt-gt-btcc-vw-golf-build.aspx

Bring it on, Im looking forward to sunday see it all unfold infront of me

ITV's BTCC podcast up here.

http://www.itv.com/sport/btcc/podcast/default.html

Ooooh, nice one

Apparantly the AON Focus' have a 3mph advantage on the straights because they are using LPG that's according to Plato in this weeks Autosport magazine.

Speedhunters preview of the BTCC:

http://speedhunters.com/archive/2010/04/01/preview-gt-gt-2010-british-touring-car-championship.aspx

haha. soo looking forward to sunday. right in front of me and moobs

lfcnicklfc wrote:Apparantly the AON Focus' have a 3mph advantage on the straights because they are using LPG that's according to Plato in this weeks Autosport magazine.

Typical mudslinging. All the teams are at it just now. Steve Neal has been attacking the fact that the NGTC engine is allowed, that the LPG cars are running with pressurised canisters in them, and the Cruze has come over with all its FIA waivers intact, like plastic windows and a flat floor. Pinkney and Jordan say that the NGTC engine is regulated too low, leaving them about a second off the pace of the frontrunners. It's the usual sniping we see between teams every year, and you'll always get it outside of one-make series.

At the end of the day, Plato was quickest at the official test on media day, with Shedden second, although Plato only broke Shedden's time toward the end of the session after putting on new rubber. The talking should be done on the track, and early indications would be that Chevrolet and Honda will be leading from the front.

I can't wait for the first crash of the season that includes an LPG Ford, those things are gonna go BOOM.

I wouldn't put it past NASCAR to put a tank of Hydrogen on the sides and back of the car to imrpove the show...

So Shedden was quick in a Honda..... where have I heard that before. What I DON'T hear often is 'and Shedden WINS in his Honda'

nickyf1 wrote:I wouldn't put it past NASCAR to put a tank of Hydrogen on the sides and back of the car to imrpove the show...

i wish

Matt wrote:So Shedden was quick in a Honda..... where have I heard that before. What I DON'T hear often is 'and Shedden WINS in his Honda'

Really? So were you in a coma for two years between 2006 and 2007 and missed his ten race wins? Or his 3rd place championship finish in 07?

Oh, I see, I'm being wound up...

im scottish and yet dont think sheddens the best lol

One thing that is starting to bug me about the BTCC is how there will be a really quick driver turn up such as Adam Jones or Johnny Adam and then before you know it they dont have the funding and aren't able to take part in the next season. I hope that when the new regs come into form that it stops this happening because it is a shame for the viewers and the drivers.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Giovinardi has signed a last minute deal with 888 :'( :'( :'( :'(
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82622

Well, it's only for Thruxton at the moment, but I'm happy to see some more competition for Plato at the top

Wow... well, it's not going to be a cakewalk for Jason now.

I knew the rumours were that Gio would be back, I didn't expect it. But I certainly welcome it, Gio is a class act.

2010 is looking like being a vintage year! Roll on Sunday!

Oh, and I don't think Shedden is best just cos I am Scottish. I think he's one of the best, and is very under-rated. He's proved his pace and race-winning form, even in the Leon last year when he wasn't used to the car and it wasn't in the best shape on the track. Yet, he is too easily over-looked, and that annoys me.

So this just leaves the question - what of Turkington? Surely the reigning champion won't be absent from this season. Will he?

I imagine he's not going to be at Thruxton, but will appear at some point in the WSR team. Shame, as that's killed his championship straight away.

The way it looks now there's quite a few drivers capable of taking race wins, consistent podiums and winning the championship. Plato, Giovanardi (should he do the whole season), Neal, Shedden, and Jackson are my top 5, but in what order they'll come I don't know.

Don't forget the Fords. I read in Autosport yesterday that Plato's concerned about their straight line speed. They really have come on in terms of progress since last season.

I think the 2 Toms will get podiums and the odd win, bu I don't think they are anywhere near strong enough to mount a proper championship challenge.