Any rumours for BTCC 2009?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brown, Jon Brow

If BMW enter a works team it will almost certainly be with Mat Jackson and BMW Dealer Team UK. WSR is completely independent, but BMW Dealer Team UK is almost like a semi-works team with the input that BMW and RBM put in. Two works RBM BMW's in 2009 for Mat Jackson and Andy Priaulx is a big rumour.

If Team Dynamics becomes the works Honda team will it be the end of Team Halfords? Surely Honda would want their cars in a red and white Honda livery rather than an orange Halfords one.

---

I'm not convinced, one car family run team becoming a works team over larger ex-works WSR? I'd like to see Jackson in a works BMW, that'd definitely give Gio something to worry about then, and I see your point about the RBM input, but I feel WSR would be a better bet. And Priaulx back to BTCC? Only if WTCC falls over, why would he want to take a step down/back? And with Plato a free agent...

Doubt even works Honda would turn down sponsorship from Halfords, livery might just be 'tweaked' hah. Or just more Honda logos, remember Nissan being a bit peeved Team Dynamics wasn't displaying Nissan all over the red Primera when they were assisting the indie team?

BTC wanting Leons...I bet lots of people want Leons but it's all down to raising the money. Would be great to see the team with something a little more competitive and reliable, I really rate Stockton. And I hope Mike Jordan doesn't retire but the article on Crash.net seems to show he'll sacrifice his seat for a competitive one car team for Andrew. John Guest BMW or SEAT next year perhaps if he sticks with the family team?

One more thing, as the Vectra is now extinct, I assume Vauxhall will be racing the new Insignia? That'll look mega!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by David_Hill

I'm not convinced, one car family run team becoming a works team over larger ex-works WSR? I'd like to see Jackson in a works BMW, that'd definitely give Gio something to worry about then, and I see your point about the RBM input, but I feel WSR would be a better bet. And Priaulx back to BTCC? Only if WTCC falls over, why would he want to take a step down/back? And with Plato a free agent...

Doubt even works Honda would turn down sponsorship from Halfords, livery might just be 'tweaked' hah. Or just more Honda logos, remember Nissan being a bit peeved Team Dynamics wasn't displaying Nissan all over the red Primera when they were assisting the indie team?

BTC wanting Leons...I bet lots of people want Leons but it's all down to raising the money. Would be great to see the team with something a little more competitive and reliable, I really rate Stockton. And I hope Mike Jordan doesn't retire but the article on Crash.net seems to show he'll sacrifice his seat for a competitive one car team for Andrew. John Guest BMW or SEAT next year perhaps if he sticks with the family team?

One more thing, as the Vectra is now extinct, I assume Vauxhall will be racing the new Insignia? That'll look mega!

---

Vauxhall confirmed a while ago that they will continue to race the Vectra next year (either on autosport or crash.net)

Vectra may be extinct but the Insignia VXR had not quite been born yet...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brown, Jon Brow

WSR is completely independent

---

Doesn't mean to say they can't become a manufacturer team. Afterall they have had plenty of experience when running the Ford Mondeo and MG ZS works teams.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by David_Hill

I'm not convinced, one car family run team becoming a works team over larger ex-works WSR? I'd like to see Jackson in a works BMW, that'd definitely give Gio something to worry about then, and I see your point about the RBM input, but I feel WSR would be a better bet. And Priaulx back to BTCC? Only if WTCC falls over, why would he want to take a step down/back? And with Plato a free agent...

---

Some people think that BMW Dealer Team UK was not the true family run independent team this year that we are led to believe, due to the amount of backing they received from BMW and RBM. They were the only BMW's this year with a BMW endorsed 'Efficient Dynamics' branding, similar to what the works BMW's have in the WTCC. Plus they had BMW engineer Chris Tee as team principle.

Chances are that if BMW decide to enter, RMB will just incorporate BMW Dealer Team UK.

Andy Priaulx is under contract by BMW UK and will have to race where he is told to. Giovanardi made the same switch and Andy seems unhappy at the moment in the WTCC.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mattie007

Doesn't mean to say they can't become a manufacturer team. Afterall they have had plenty of experience when running the Ford Mondeo and MG ZS works teams.

---

As I already said, BMW Dealer Team UK already has stronger links to BMW than what WSR has.

From a marketing point of view, it might sound better to say 'Andy Priaulx and BMW - 3 times World, European and British Touring Car Champion' rather than just rack up more WTCC titles? Especially if BMW want to target higher sales in the UK at the moment.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AndySpeed

From a marketing point of view, it might sound better to say 'Andy Priaulx and BMW - 3 times World, European and British Touring Car Champion' rather than just rack up more WTCC titles? Especially if BMW want to target higher sales in the UK at the moment.

---

And because the FIA are doing all they can to stop BMW winning the WTCC again. BMW themselves are also probably sick of a Brit winning too, they'd much prefer a German driver to win for them.

If it does happen I can't see the BMW contract going anywhere else now other than RBM/ Jacksons now as I couldn't see BMW wanting to support 3 cars - so with Motorbase and WSR both looking at 3 car teams and more sponsors - I can't see them getting any works backing (I know if was fairly obvious which team was most likely to get it anyway).

Apparently a German motorsports website is reporting that a well known British driver is looking to do a deal to race with Wiechers sport for Japan and Macau - anyone heard anything?

The initial names that spring to mind to me were Mat Jackson or Colin Turkington? Jackson because of RBM and BMW and Turkington as WSR were not sure if they would be doing another race this year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by David_Hill

And I hope Mike Jordan doesn't retire but the article on Crash.net seems to show he'll sacrifice his seat for a competitive one car team for Andrew. John Guest BMW or SEAT next year perhaps if he sticks with the family team?

---

I think that either of those options would be better than the much-touted Team Dynamics Civic.

I hope it isn't a SEAT or BMW for Andy Jordan, I'm sure we would have enough of them already.