BTCC 2014

[Alfa Fan]

So Honda are returning next year, this time with an estate
http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3633

No surprise that the driver line-up remains Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden.

British GT team United Autosports have announced their entry:
http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3636

With James Cole and Glynn Geddie to do the driving.

However, a bizarre line in the article on the TOCA licenses suggest no new teams will be allowed in
http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3635

[BDunnell]

Depends how you define 'new', I suppose. The United Autosports entry is surely 'new' even if the cars aren't. I suppose what this means is that the Harry Hockly Renault Meganes and the Rotek Audi A3s haven't received entries in their own right, although, the way I read it, there would be nothing stopping the cars being entered under the name of an existing BTCC team that has been running NGTC cars.

This on the face of it is good news, but it will be an interesting test as to the 'robustness' of the new entry regulations. They were, after all, intended to stop speculative entries of extra cars over and above those fully confirmed at the start of the season, and to ensure that all entries complete the full season in the hands of their nominated drivers. However, I wonder whether we'll see any of these 32 entry licences being loaned/sold/etc to other teams before the season begins, as is also permitted.

[christophulus]

It also seems to be aimed at preventing sporadic entries, trying to make the teams and drivers commit full time. I mean, how many different drivers did Team Hard have last year?? I can only assume the cars on the "reserve" list don't have the full funding in place yet.

Possession and retention of a TBL includes an obligation from each entrant to contest all BTCC events for each season entered. An entry that is unused for one event in any season will void its TBL, and an entry that misses two events will have its entry rescinded for the balance of the season. In addition each entrant cannot make more than one change of driver per car during the course of a season except in genuine cases of force majeure.

[Rollo]

- I drive a wagon now... wagons are cool.

I wonder if this is some sort of attempt to make use of aero tweaks. I suspect that the car should track straighter than the hatchback.
Even if it's not, Honda are learning Volvo's lesson with their 850 terror taxi... YEAH!

[BDunnell]

Marc Hynes confirmed as being in a third MG. Didn't see that one coming. Good driver.

http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3639

[Alfa Fan]

Quality driver in a decent car. Will be interesting to see how he gets on.

[christophulus]

Any news on what Pirtek will be using? Sticking with the hatchback or copying Dynamics?

Also the btcc.net website seems to be down for me at the moment.

[BDunnell]

Any news on what Pirtek will be using? Sticking with the hatchback or copying Dynamics?

Hatchback. One each for Jordan and Martin Depper.

[Alfa Fan]

AMD have secured a TBL to run an ex-Motorbase NGTC Ford Focus in 2014. Driver is signed and to be announced in January.

[BDunnell]

While Motorbase have confirmed a three-car Focus entry of their own, with drivers still TBC.