posted Feb 10, 2008

What is BTCC?? British Touring Car Championship by any chance??

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posted Feb 10, 2008

Yes it is Ninad.

I'm hopeful of a good season, but the title will be fought out between SEAT and Vauxhall again, make no mistake. It's a shame that despite an upsurge in the category in recent years that no manufacturers are showing any interest in joining. Perhaps the WTCC is a more attractive series? Even so there should be enough economies of scale to allow BMW or Chevrolet to run UK programmes.

Anyway I reckon with a year's experience and development Giovanardi should retain his title...unless SEAT bring over the diesel from the WTCC, in which case there is going to be a very difficult bit of rule balancing required.

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posted Feb 10, 2008

It does look as if SEAT will be running the diesel, but will the stronger torque curve be enough to be offset against increased tyre wear ? The SEATs seemed to suffer more from that than other cars last year.

I agree it's a shame that other manufacturers aren't interested in entering works team. Stabile rules, a sensible series organiser and success ballast means that every round has the potential for a different winner. I hope Chevrolet will get behind the Lacetti this year or that the Ford conglomerate realises that the old adage of Win on Sunday Sell on Monday is just as important today. The new Mondeo seems as if it could carry the battle to the Vectra so how about it Ford ?

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posted Feb 10, 2008

we're going to rockingham april 13th to watch, if we have time may even go to brands (if its there)i'd like to see some good clean racing, but with plato and neal i don't think this will happen somehow, has tom had a haircut does anybody know? he may go faster with a lesser mop, can't be that aerodynamic with a stone of hair on one's head

will matt neal do dirty tricks to giovannardi to get the win? i think so! bearing in mind matt hates jason and jason a gio are great mates, by the way, i thought jason did well last season to finish where he did with the injuries he had, it was a fab season, lets hope this one is as exciting!!!

i'm not sure about diesel though. just have to wait and see!

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posted Feb 11, 2008

The lack of manufacturers isn't a huge problem to me. With Dynamics having built Honda Civics, ex-works BMWs, and privately-entered Chevrolets alongside Alfa and Lexus this year, plus the older Integras and perhaps an MG or 2, there's enough variety and plenty of competitive teams. Most of the top guys from 2007 are back - if Motorbase can sign 2 decent drivers for their BMWs, WSR sign a good team-mate for Colin Turkington, and Adam Jones can sort something, we could have the best grid in living memory.

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posted Feb 11, 2008

can't help but think that the BTCC is a shadow of it's 90's greatness.

Still, it's great tin-top racing without any of the 'airs & graces' of other forms of motorsport.

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posted Feb 11, 2008

It's doing a lot better than it has been recently - I was there in 2001 and that was no fun for anyone.

Still I think the quality of teams and drivers is still well below what it was in the heyday of Super Touring (and the cars are a lot less dramatic to watch too).

Nonetheless Alan Gow has put a decent show together with what he's got. I don't deny that WSR and Dynamics are both very capable teams but without manufacturer support the best they can hope for really is the odd win here or there.

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