BTCC 2009 Rumours

[Alfa Fan]

Motorsport News has started off the 2009 speculation with 2 stories this week.

Team Halfords are looking at expanding to a four-car line-up in 2009, with 2 Civics run by a satelitte team alongside the two main Dynamics Civics. They are also considering building a diesel to run in two or more othe Civics.

Also, Arena Motorsport are again looking at returning to the championship.

[VkmSpouge]

So the same stories as at the end of last year? Dynamics looking to sell on their Civics to someone and Arena wanting to re-enter.
Personally I would love someone to enter a Lada 110 :D

[MBailey06]

Also for someone to bring a car over from Sweden, particularly a Volvo or Audi.

[VX_Rules]

Seatfreak told me that next year VX are entering a 5 car team, and also putting Giovanardi up for Primeminister, and the aims world domination. While Seat are going into the ginetta cup with yellow and green ginettas to try theyre luck with Plato. :P

[tisme]

You forgot to mention that CVR are STILL trying to get a team together.. for 2009 now!

[LiamM]

You forgot to mention that CVR are STILL trying to get a team together.. for 2009 now!

But they have the cars already! :P

[SEATFreak]

Seatfreak told me that next year VX are entering a 5 car team, and also putting Giovanardi up for Primeminister, and the aims world domination. While Seat are going into the ginetta cup with yellow and green ginettas to try theyre luck with Plato. :P

:laugh: :laugh:

You forgot to mention I also told you that SEAT are looking to go into the future and buy a pair of Interstellar Starships with a new-spec warpdrive and cloacking device.

I also told you that 888 are rumoured to be bored with running Vauxhalls and that the 5 cars are supposed to be Smart cars.

[VX_Rules]

The smarts would still trounce the SEATs :P

[fabricator/61]

Alan Gow to take over from Max Mosley, Prodrive to enter two Trabants (diesel of course)

[peewhee]

Motorsport News has started off the 2009 speculation with 2 stories this week.

Team Halfords are looking at expanding to a four-car line-up in 2009, with 2 Civics run by a satelitte team alongside the two main Dynamics Civics. They are also considering building a diesel to run in two or more othe Civics.

Also, Arena Motorsport are again looking at returning to the championship.

Motorsport News has also told us this year that Jason Hughes has Pinkney's Honda Integra AND that Team 48 have possession of two Alfa 156's!!! :confused:

[Mp3 Astra]

that Team 48 have possession of two Alfa 156's!!! :confused:

Well, technically, they do. They're display models that can't move but they're Alfa's alright! MS news only bends the truth :D

[SEATFreak]

The smarts would still trounce the SEATs :P

I did hear rumours that in response SEAT are going to employ a bunch of convicted car thieves that are on the run from Durham prison to sneakily nick the wheels from 888's Smart car's and put them on bricks before each race begins. :p :

[Marc W]

Well, technically, they do. They're display models that can't move but they're Alfa's alright! MS news only bends the truth :D

Actually Team 48 themselves (I.e The footballers) don't even have the showcar! There was only ever one but with slightly different body panels on each side so it looked like two!

[VX_Rules]

I did hear rumours that in response SEAT are going to employ a bunch of convicted car thieves that are on the run from Durham prison to sneakily nick the wheels from 888's Smart car's and put them on bricks before each race begins. :p :

Thats just shows SEATs' stupidity, as thats only going to cost Dunlop more :P

And it wouldnt matter, the Smart would still beat the SEATs racing on their brake discs! :P

[Tracsmart]

You forgot to mention that CVR are STILL trying to get a team together.. for 2009 now!

By the time they appear the cars will be eligible for the Classic Touring Championship, Dan Eaves will be to old to drive and Scotland will be an independant state

[tyreman2]

Well, technically, they do. They're display models that can't move but they're Alfa's alright! MS news only bends the truth :D

Can't blame MN for that one they where told that Team 48 had the cars and where entered for the season neither of which are true.Even the green show car doesn't belong to them!!

[reidy_fan]

thing is that team 48 actually paid their fees and have slightly less than no chance of making it out. still got them the media day publicity though

[SEATFreak]

Thats just shows SEATs' stupidity, as thats only going to cost Dunlop more :p :

Stupid or just being inventive with their plans to put those flukey VXR's on bricks? :p :

[nik]

The big rumour for 2009 is the new Touring Car series that has been cooked up.

Clyde Valley Racing, Xero, and Team 48 have all signed up to run 10 car teams. Organisers are expecting no cars to be on the grid for the first race.

[PDS]

Don't tar Xero with the same brush as Team48 and CVR!

Xero will be out in the BTCC during 2008!

You will have to wait a little longer to find out when!

[tdb]

I could post details, but nobody believes what i say anymore.
good to see you on friday PDS.
i look forward to your race shots of the cars.

[PDS]

I could post details, but nobody believes what i say anymore.
good to see you on friday PDS.
i look forward to your race shots of the cars.

Same here tdb...

I hope you realise the images are exclusive and very few people will get to see them. For now!

It was good to see the car put in some quick laps!

[VkmSpouge]

I would certainly hope for Xero Competition (and any other team) to be out for the second half of the year, plus it would be nice to see a couple of Lexus again. Also not everyone disbelieves what you say, tdb.

[reidy_fan]

oulton park from what I have heard is when xero will be out, any truth TDB

[Robinho]

not having a go TDB, but its not surprising people are sceptical - i'm sure what you posted was accurate and your opinion to the best of your knowledge at the time you posted it, but still no cars (except for you and few in the "know") to be seen on track.

i'm sure most of us would love to see you out there this year and would wish you all the best, and theres probably a few here who will happily eat their words should you get on the racetrack.

as for 2009 - i think it will look very similar to this year

[Brown, Jon Brow]

What chance is there of the BMW Dealer Team UK becoming BMW Works Team UK for 2009??

[Elmo]

What chance is there of the BMW Dealer Team UK becoming BMW Works Team UK for 2009??

Although the team is not officially branded as a works entry for certain reasons, Jacksons team is nigh on a factory supported outfit already... :p :

[SEATFreak]

What chance is there of the BMW Dealer Team UK becoming BMW Works Team UK for 2009??

Depends on how they would do. Would they do better or worse than say SEAT?

It is likely they would do better surely.

[VX_Rules]

They'd need, 1 or two more cars, but it would be brilliant to gain another manufacturer.

[CroftPilgrim]

Although the team is not officially branded as a works entry for certain reasons, Jacksons team is nigh on a factory supported outfit already... :p :

But obviously not quite as much as the Team Halfords Civics

[Eurotech]

BMW Dealer Team UK currently own Andy Priaulx's Championship winning cars from 2006 & 2007 so that would have tham set for a 2-car team wouldn't it?

[Eurotech]

oh, and VXR are actually going to use a fleet of G-Wizz cars for next year!!!

[tisme]

What chance is there of the BMW Dealer Team UK becoming BMW Works Team UK for 2009??

Some people down the pitlane already believe that they are already!!!

[VX_Rules]

So, the question really is, if Honda and BMW do back these teams, why dont they back them officially, for manufacturer status? It must be better for TD that way, as they arent in either the Ind Teams or Manu Teams. And Obviously Jacksons only running one Beemer so that would be at a disadvantage, but surely these Manufacturer should get their arse in gear and realise how the BTCC helps them out for publicity and give something back and be official "manufacturers".

[kmchow]

So, the question really is, if Honda and BMW do back these teams, why dont they back them officially, for manufacturer status?
To play devil's advocate, why should they? They get basically free PR when the cars appear on the track? If the car does well, it's due to the superior design of the car. If it does poorly, it's b/c they're an independent team.

[tintin]

So, the question really is, if Honda and BMW do back these teams, why dont they back them officially, for manufacturer status? It must be better for TD that way, as they arent in either the Ind Teams or Manu Teams. And Obviously Jacksons only running one Beemer so that would be at a disadvantage, but surely these Manufacturer should get their arse in gear and realise how the BTCC helps them out for publicity and give something back and be official "manufacturers".

The way they are doing it, Honda and BMW can still claim that their cars are winning races, and getting plenty of publicity for both marques, but without actually spending any money, either on entry fees for the manufacturers championship, or on marketing.

[VX_Rules]

In a way it's greed. Vauxhall and Seat should really be applauded for commiting unlike the others.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

The way they are doing it, Honda and BMW can still claim that their cars are winning races, and getting plenty of publicity for both marques, but without actually spending any money, either on entry fees for the manufacturers championship, or on marketing.

It isn't even like it would break the bank for Honda and BMW to enter as manufactures. Only a few £million at the most, that is peanuts to them.

[PDS]

The way they are doing it, Honda and BMW can still claim that their cars are winning races, and getting plenty of publicity for both marques, but without actually spending any money, either on entry fees for the manufacturers championship, or on marketing.

AND if the teams don't do well.. they can say it is nothing to do with them. They are not factory entries!

I think that is a win-win situation!

[tintin]

It isn't even like it would break the bank for Honda and BMW to enter as manufactures. Only a few £million at the most, that is peanuts to them.

To the companies overall it may be peanuts, but that's not where the money to go racing as a works team would come from - that would have to come from the national marketing budget. And a few million out of that would represent a sizeable chunk.

[AndySpeed]

AND if the teams don't do well.. they can say it is nothing to do with them. They are not factory entries!

I think that is a win-win situation!

You could call it win-win, but the size of the win is not so great. A fully backed works team surely milks the cow for all its worth, with PR all over, making the benefits greater. As it is, people gaining a lot of that benefit are companies like Halfords and RAC (and I'm not necessarily saying this is a bad thing!)

[tintin]

Last year though VX Racing had Holiday Inn all over their cars, and there were questions asked by GM management as to why they were spending all this money just for the media to describe the cars as "Holiday Inn Vectras".

[VX_Rules]

So now we have Hoiday Inn Seats :P:P:P

[AndySpeed]

But we've had:
Nescafe Blend 37 Renault Laguna's
Esso Ultron Peugeot 406's
Valvoline Ford Mondeo's

All were manufacturer teams. Does it really make that much difference?

[VX_Rules]

Its up to the manufactures Marketing dept at the end of the day I suppose, if it deflects from the companys brand too much. For the amount of money they get in advertisement return.

[Alfa Fan]

Well the first big news is CVR have announced new plans!! Here http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68172 2 SEAT Leons for Dan Eaves and Philroze Bilimoria (who raced Alfas and was involved briefly with JSM in the 2000/1 off-season)

[Iain]

Bilimoria was due to drive for Edenbridge BMW in 2003 at one point, but his car had to be used to repair Michael Bentwood's.

I'll wait until they have collected their racecars before I make any verdict on this one.

[AndySpeed]

Sounds slightly promising. I hope that CVR can deliver on the promises they make.

Will be good to see Dan Eaves back at long last.

[VkmSpouge]

Well I have to say it is more promising for Team Clyde Valley Racing than previous years but still I'm not going to hold my breath but I will wish them all the best in trying to make the field next year.

[Eurotech]

Don't Expect dan to have such a baptism of fire, remember this is a new car to the team and a new fuel as well as a new championship!

[BDunnell]

Last year though VX Racing had Holiday Inn all over their cars, and there were questions asked by GM management as to why they were spending all this money just for the media to describe the cars as "Holiday Inn Vectras".

I never saw or heard them being called 'Holiday Inn Vectras' anywhere.

[tisme]

Bilimoria was due to drive for Edenbridge BMW in 2003 at one point, but his car had to be used to repair Michael Bentwood's.

I'll wait until they have collected their racecars before I make any verdict on this one.


Same here.. The only difference between now and first time around is that they have named the sponsor..... which knowing the company, somewhat surprises me!

[tin-top fan]

Seems that Carbon Zero Racing have a website as well http://cartridgeworldcarbonzeroracing.co.uk/ . Quite a few sponsors as well........ Also some big names in Dan Eaves and Doug Bebb- would both of these guys be involved with something that wasn't going to happen?

edited to add: would Eaves still want his name to be associated with this project if it was non-starter? If he has the faith in it, then I don't see why us fans should either.....

[LiamM]

The website is wrong, it says Dan Eaves is a 'BTCC Independent Champion' when it was only the Independent teams championship he won with Mr Neal

[Alfa Fan]

The website is wrong, it says Dan Eaves is a 'BTCC Independent Champion' when it was only the Independent teams championship he won with Mr Neal

Unfortunately your wrong here. Dan won the Independents Championship in 2002 driving for VLR/Team Halfords in a Peugeot 406 Coupe

[AndySpeed]

You've got to admit, Team CVR have possibly the best looking BTCC team website... (not that this means anything!)

[stevevxr]

Bring e'm all on !!! Come on new team's.... Catch me if you can !!!

VAUXHALL RULE'S

[LiamM]

Unfortunately your wrong here. Dan won the Independents Championship in 2002 driving for VLR/Team Halfords in a Peugeot 406 Coupe

Your right, I was thinking that 2002 was a factory effort then VLR went independent with the 307