Both Lea Wood and Martin Johnson have been out testing their cars according to BTCC.net, they even have pictures of the Honda Integra and Vauxhall Astra coupé in action.
http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1832
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Both Lea Wood and Martin Johnson have been out testing their cars according to BTCC.net, they even have pictures of the Honda Integra and Vauxhall Astra coupé in action.
http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1832
Come on then...not long to go now. Assuming we've got announcements to come from RML and Motorbase, who do you hope/expect to see in the cars?
Hope to see (being realistic)
Motorbase: Ben Collins and Steven Kane
RML: Jason Plato and Matt Jackson
Arena: Tom Onslow-Cole
Dynamics: Matt Neal and Johnny Herbert
Special Tuning: Gordon Shedden
Boulevard: Martin Johnson
And hopefully about 25 cars on the grid.
I expect the 2 Motorbase cars to turn up and I expect RML will run 2 as well but seemingly without Plato (albeit the source was only tisme). I suspect Arena will run 2 cars, but that Dynamics may be down to 1 for Neal despite the increased relationship with Honda. Would like Shedden to be Boardman's teammate at SEAT but who knows. Johnson has been out testing his Astra so hopefully we'll see him back, and there's a number of other drivers still potential entrants (Hamilton, Kizilirmak, Leason, Blencowe)
Realistic??? Your getting desperate when you are taking the guess of Tisme as a 'source'!Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfa Fan
Some intersting names you have there. Some look right, some totally not and some you've missed.
Quite amusing the names that are coming out.
Not long until the 23rd.
Well as long as the names Jason Plato, Matt Neal, Mat Jackson, Colin Turkington, Adam Jones and Gordon Shedden fit in there somewhere I'll be happy.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattL
I am flattered that he is taking notice of my guesses. Quite CRAZY really.Quote:
Originally Posted by PDS
The 23rd is my birthday so im hoping for alot of surprises!
Looks like Tisme was NEARLY right!Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfa Fan
http://www.touringcartimes.com/article.php?id=4501
It was well known that Volvo had first call on Plato's services though in the unlikely event they entered. Hopefully we'll get the RML announcement tomorrow, will be interesting to see who his teammate is!
Shame that Volvo could not get the package together to compete this year. Hopefully they will do it one year.
Aye, as much as I am enjoying the sight of some damn good independent teams in the championship, I hope we'll see some manufacturers soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by VkmSpouge
Speaking of which in todays Autsosport, they're goign as far as saying that Plato is CONFIRMED at RML in one of TWO Cruzes and the team are trying to get works status to compete as Chevrolet UK, here's hoping that is true.
If so (and including Johnson) this I believe would be the predicted lineup
* Not confirmed but expected
WEST SURREY BMW: Collard, Neate, ???
ARENA FORD: Chilton, ???, ???
RML CHEVROLET: Plato, ???
MOTORBASE BMW: ???, ???
TEAM DYNAMICS HONDA: Neal*, ???
SUNSHINE TECHSPEED HONDA: O'Neill, George
AMD MILLTEK VOLKSWAGEN: Hollamby, Shaw
FORSTER BMW: Forster, Depper
SPECIAL TUNING SEAT: Boardman, ???
TEAM PIRTEK VAUXHALL: A.Jordan
PINKNEY VAUXHALL: Pinkney
TEAM WOOD HONDA: Wood
BOULEVARD VAUXHALL: Johnson
Overall that would be
24 Cars
13 Teams
7 different makes represented
9 different models
Considering the economic downturn recently, that would be a fabulous entry
AmD will only run one car as they only have the single VW.
TouringCarTimes suggesting that Alex McDowell will join Plato at RML
Matt Hamilton back with TH :)
Great news, I hope Matt Hamilton has a good rookie season in the BTCC and nice to see TH Motorsport continuing.
http://www.touringcartimes.com/article.php?id=4502
Michael Doyle's website states his next race is 3/4 April Thruxton...interesting
Both Phil Glew and Dean Smith have been out testing triple 8 Vectras today at Rockingham. With Triple 8 stating they still own 2 vectras, story on Autosport.
what? how can you start with 3 cars, sell two and still have 2 left?
Because they didn't start with 3. They have at least 4.
I think someone (PDS?) said on one of these places that they had 5 plus 1 that needs some TLC.
Further inspection reveals a news story that says Doyle will be racing in the BTCC in 2010 in association with "Think Pink Scotland".Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfa Fan
If you look under 'latest news' it states that its unlikely he will be at Thruxton but they are trying to get funds for Rockingham.
I don't see a latest news tab. Could you link to the page?
Its in the scrolling text box on the front page, followed by that 'think pink' story.
Ah that didn't load for me when viewing on Firefox. I guess we'll see whether they lodge an entry next Tuesday.
Motorbase in trouble? They've missed announcing their drivers when they said they would.
Maybe why Collard joined WSR?Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfa Fan
They have been testing and apparently have a sponsor lined up, but its not a good sign when they say they are going to announce something and it doesn't happen...
And they are committed to running SIX Porsches in the Carrera Cup?
Didn't their BMW breakdown at Brands after only 4 laps and then got towed away?
Perhaps they need to chew-over what they doing this year?
I really wouldn't worry - when Mr Bartrum says he is going to do something, he invariably delivers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfa Fan
Gordon Sheddon was seen with TD's at Oulton!
He'd be a good choice for Steve. Very fast driver, as he proved up against Matt in 2006/7, including beating Matt in the overall standings in 07, but not likely to cause too many issues with the "Matt is #1" nature of the team.
It's Gordon Shedden by the way, amazes me the number of people who spell his name wrong! Like Donnington! ;)
He aint a bad driver, certainly a better number 2 than Pinkney. I guess Herbert is a definate no then?
Yep, as a spelling Nazi that really bugs me too, even national media have got it wrong sometimes!Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfa Fan
Shedds would be a great re-addition to the TD team, was very disappointed to see him only race with them for Brands last year.
As our Monkey friend says above - don't doubt Motorbase! Expect an announcement next week!
As for not announcing when they said they would - I don't think there's ever been a promise of an announcement. Speculation in the media, maybe, but nothing direct from David Bartrum!
Herbert has gone to the International Superstars series I believe ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by mattie007
Typical David Bartrum... Saving the best till last!Quote:
Originally Posted by MattL
TOC appears to have been confirmed here:
http://motoring-news.com/motorsport/...-in-2010-btcc/
So as it stands:
RML: Jason PLATO & Alex McDOWALL
Dynamics: Matt NEAL & TBA (Gordon SHEDDEN)
WSR: Rob COLLARD & Andy NEATE
Arena: Tom CHILTON & Tom ONSLOW-COLE
Techspeed: Paul O'NEILL & John GEORGE
Special Tuning: Tom BOARDMAN & TBA
Forster: Arthur FORSTER & Martin DEPPER
Jordan: Andy JORDAN
TH: Matt HAMILTON
AmD: Shaun HOLLAMBY
Pinkney: David PINKNEY
Motorbase: TBA & TBA
Wood: Lea WOOD
And maybe:
InTune: Michael DOYLE
WSR: Colin TURKINGTON
NJL: Nick LEASON
Boulevard: Martin JOHNSON
888: TBA (Phil GLEW) & TBA (Dean SMITH) So hopefully from that and maybe some surprises we can get a grid of about 22-24 cars for the season!
Don't you hate it when the press get it wrong. Team Aon will NOT be the first to run LPG powered cars in the championship, are we forgetting John George's first attempt in 2004?Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfa Fan
Big WTF moment here. Airwaves back on the Motorbase BMWs!! This story very much implied that they would not be around in 2010! http://www.crash.net/btcc/news/15503...s_bow_out.html
Not that I'm complaining - A good news day for the BTCC today!
Thats what I thought Alfa Fan, it must be something to do with the driver line up that the team is excited about.