Engine Equivalency - The Facts

**F1boat** · 20th May 11, 07:05

As I said before, let's wait for Oulton Park. Thruxton is a track which is normally to benefit turbos and it has enormous straights. And yes, the turbos had an advantage, but IMO not as big as in Donington Park.

**Bruce-1980** · 20th May 11, 08:41

Alfa Fan, you haven't addressed a single point i've made, never mind comprehensively demolishing my arguments! (Points, not arguments. Children argue.)

I'll spell it out for you...

(All points refer to Thruxton as the boost restrictions had been applied.)

Please bear in mind, Thruxton is the fastest track on the calendar.
The turbo cars should have a small speed advantage here to compensate for the disadvantages they will face at other, tighter circuits.

Plato qualified 2 places behind Neal - Not a huge way down the field.

Plato binned it in race 1 but before he did he was 0.063 secs off the over all fastest lap of race 1.

Plato started from the back in race 2 and finished 8th, 0.166 seconds off fastest lap which was set by his team mate (who doesn't have a turbo).
On his way up the field he passed:
Tom Boardman (S2000 Turbo),
Tony Gilham (S2000 Turbo),
Paul O'Neill (S2000),
Jeff Smith (S2000 Turbo),
Andy Neate (S2000 Turbo),
Robert Collard (S2000),
John George (S2000),
Nick Foster (S2000)
Liam Griffin (S2000 Turbo)

Plato won race 3... and set fastest lap... by 0.376 seconds!

Plato was 2.2mph down (3 race average from the fastest speed trap in the country)

And you still think he's at a disadvantage!?

Were you watching BTCC last time Alan Gow was in charge? If you were, you will know he's the best man for the job! He's firm but fair, he wont take **** from anyone (Including Plato) and his main objective is to keep the racing close! Close racing make the BTCC what it is, why would anyone want one team to have an unfair advantage over anyone else? Maintaining parity between two very different types of car is an almost impossible task and Alan appears to have pretty much nailed it after only 2 meetings! I'd say he's done a good job! But as F1Boat says, lets wait for Oulton.

My prediction is, if anyones gona have an advantage at Oulton, it's gona be Plato!

**Andrew Webster** · 20th May 11, 10:29

OMG why are we hearing cries of 3mph down on the straights!! blah blah blah!!! A race is more than top speed!! To have the FASTEST lap of the race on a FAST circuit whilst being slightly down on top speed MUST mean your car is faster elsewhere! DOH its not rocket science!

Plato couldn't be caught in race 3, he was faster. full stop.

His qualifying this season is exactly on par with the last 2 seasons, if anything he is closer to pole this year then previous years.

The fastest tracks are now out of the way and considering how quick his lap times were at these circuits (remember his top speed is down so his cornering speeds must be higher) he will be in a much stronger position at the next rounds. Well assuming he doesnt drive the car faster than it will go.....