New Points System announced for the BTCC

[DazzlaF1]

The 15-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 which has been in use since 1996 is being replaced with a new system for the top 15 finishers, the exact points scale however has not been revealed

Top 15 finishers to score in 2012 - GPUpdate.net (http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/270819/top-15-finishers-to-score-in-2012/)

As for what this points scale could be, the clue is in that its for the Top 15, it makes me think that they will want to adopt the MotoGP points system of 25-20-16-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

[Alfa Fan]

http://www.motorsportforums.com/touringcars/149024-performance-balancing-extended-points-system-2012-a.html

Although I guess it's understandable it's not very clear with all the other irrelevant threads polluting this section atm.

[Allyc85]

A new system seems fair to me if we are going to have big grids like at the end of this season :)

[VkmSpouge]

I like the idea of extending points down to 15th as long as there are big grids.

[Allyc85]

Thats a fair point. We dont want it like Moto Gp where 1 or 2 retirements means you get into the points easily!

[DazzlaF1]

Thats a fair point. We dont want it like Moto Gp where 1 or 2 retirements means you get into the points easily!

Well I dont think we need to worry about that, the likelihood is that we could see grids of 30+ on a regular basis next year

[Allyc85]

Very true, its potentially looking very good already :)

[VkmSpouge]

Even if there is a grid in the mid-twenties, it should still mean they will need ten retirements to be guaranteed a point. There was only one race in 2011 where there were less than fifteen finishers.

[BDunnell]

Fundamentally, I think that the top 10 scoring points is a sensible maximum. I can see why this might be sensible, though, if the grid is large enough — say 30-plus. Much less than that and, to me, it would devalue points-scoring.

[Eurotech]

But it does give the smaller teams a better incentive to compete in more races because Chris James scored as many points as Tony Hughes this season (I haven't checked that one) And Chris did the whole season while Tony didn't and if the top 15 points system was in place, Chris would have scored more points

[AndySpeed]

But it does give the smaller teams a better incentive to compete in more races because Chris James scored as many points as Tony Hughes this season (I haven't checked that one) And Chris did the whole season while Tony didn't and if the top 15 points system was in place, Chris would have scored more points

When they're equal on points (or lack thereof) why not rank them by best result instead then. James took a best finish of 12th this season - but in a race with only 13 finishers. It doesn't mean that his 12th was better than Hughes' best result of 14th in a race with 18th finishers.

That is a perfect reason why the top 15 should not score.

[DazzlaF1]

By my rough calculatios, this is how the 2011 season would have panned out if a top 15 system was in place (for reference, this is the MotoGP system) The big difference is the champ

1. Gordon Shedden ................ 413
2. Matt Neal ................. 411
3. Jason Plato ................ 384
4. James Nash ................ 344
5. Mat Jackson ................ 320
6. Andrew Jordan ................ 276
7. Tom Chilton ................ 266
8. Alex MacDowall ............... 219
9. Rob Collard ................ 217
10. Paul O'Neill ................ 195
11. Tom Onslow-Cole ................ 166
12. Tom Boardman ................ 160
13. Nick Foster ................. 155
14. Frank Wrathall ................ 124
15. Dave Newsham ................ 104
16. Andy Neate ................ 87
17. Jeff Smith ................ 82
18. Rob Austin ................ 72
19. Tony Gilham ................ 70
20. Liam Griffin ................ 23
=21. Daniel Welch ................ 19
=21. John George ................ 19
23. Michael Caine ............... 18
24. Lea Wood ............... 17
25. Ollie Jackson ................ 13
26. Aron Smith ................ 9
27. Chris James ................ 7
=28. Martin Byford ................ 4
=28. Shaun Hollamby ................ 4
30. Tony Hughes ................ 2
----------------NON-SCORERS---------------------
James Thompson
Chris Swanwick
John Thorne

[BDunnell]

When they're equal on points (or lack thereof) why not rank them by best result instead then.

Which, as far as I'm aware, is how things work now.

[Allyc85]

Which, as far as I'm aware, is how things work now.

yep it is, and is how its done in pretty much every major championship. :)

[AndySpeed]

Thus, there's no need to change the points system surely?

[VkmSpouge]

By my rough calculatios, this is how the 2011 season would have panned out if a top 15 system was in place (for reference, this is the MotoGP system) The big difference is the champ

1. Gordon Shedden ................ 413
2. Matt Neal ................. 411
3. Jason Plato ................ 384
4. James Nash ................ 344
5. Mat Jackson ................ 320
6. Andrew Jordan ................ 276
7. Tom Chilton ................ 266
8. Alex MacDowall ............... 219
9. Rob Collard ................ 217
10. Paul O'Neill ................ 195
11. Tom Onslow-Cole ................ 166
12. Tom Boardman ................ 160
13. Nick Foster ................. 155
14. Frank Wrathall ................ 124
15. Dave Newsham ................ 104
16. Andy Neate ................ 87
17. Jeff Smith ................ 82
18. Rob Austin ................ 72
19. Tony Gilham ................ 70
20. Liam Griffin ................ 23
=21. Daniel Welch ................ 19
=21. John George ................ 19
23. Michael Caine ............... 18
24. Lea Wood ............... 17
25. Ollie Jackson ................ 13
26. Aron Smith ................ 9
27. Chris James ................ 7
=28. Martin Byford ................ 4
=28. Shaun Hollamby ................ 4
30. Tony Hughes ................ 2
----------------NON-SCORERS---------------------
James Thompson
Chris Swanwick
John Thorne

Very interesting though I suspect there are no bonus points in your calculations as Thompson would have 1 for his fastest lap at Silverstone.

[MAX_THRUST]

Have to say I am for points down to 25th place. It means the battles back in 18th and 19th would mean more and the guys back there would fight not just for pride but for points. And what do points make? Prizes. The top teams and drivers will always be the top teams and drivers, but the little teams will get some glory, and the series would reward consistantcy, which Ican't spell today.

[BDunnell]

Have to say I am for points down to 25th place. It means the battles back in 18th and 19th would mean more and the guys back there would fight not just for pride but for points. And what do points make? Prizes. The top teams and drivers will always be the top teams and drivers, but the little teams will get some glory, and the series would reward consistantcy, which Ican't spell today.

I think the TV coverage is sufficiently fair to give the good battles towards the back that moment of glory, to be honest.

[DazzlaF1]

Very interesting though I suspect there are no bonus points in your calculations as Thompson would have 1 for his fastest lap at Silverstone.

There is'nt unfortunately although with a top 15 system in place, I cant see the current bonus points structure staying with it