That's quite ironic. Martyn 'BMW' Bell looking at running a front wheel drive car. Yet according to Alan Gow on TTT, there are quite a few teams looking at the BMW for 2008!
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That's quite ironic. Martyn 'BMW' Bell looking at running a front wheel drive car. Yet according to Alan Gow on TTT, there are quite a few teams looking at the BMW for 2008!
A well set up Alfa with a decent driver to do some testing and then race it would still be a top ten contender IMOQuote:
Originally Posted by Ed
Eoin Murray (when the car works) can prove that.
His highest place was 7th.Quote:
Originally Posted by MBailey06
Hardly championship winning form!
Eoin Murray needed more cash and luck. 7th place was scant reward for his and the team's efforts on a shoestring budget.
I was answering that in good hands the alfa could still produce the goods if the reliability is worked on.Quote:
Originally Posted by tisme
Just watch this years Valencia WTCC races. Of course that was running on advans, but there's no real reason why with the right amount of testing the car should go like that on dunlops.Quote:
Originally Posted by MBailey06
Eoin's pace in the Alfa was never in doubt - his lack of results was down to some rotten reliability with the car. Nothing to do with an Alfa not working on Dunlops. Didn't he also qualify 5th fastest at Rockingham? Bear in mind the car is several years old and the team and Eoin operate on a fraction of the budget of the top teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by tisme
I'm not having a go, but I don't like ill-informed jibes like that.
I find it hard to imagine that there can be a problem with the car if set up correctly. The BMWs and SEATs have been able to come over from the WTCC succesfully so I don't see why the Alfas can't.
I don't think there is any reason why the Alfa shouldn't be competitive in Britain. However, we are yet to see one in the hands of a team that's either good enough to make the most of the car, or with enough money to be competitive. It was a shame in 2007 that Eoin Murray, who is clearly quick on his day, was able to show little or nothing of his pace, and that Dave Pinkney, who was often superb in the Integra in 2006, was left languishing near the back.
someone should give Dave and Eoin some proper backing and then the pace of the cars and their consistency should improve dramatically
And that is a key. Not the key. But a key.Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
I don't think money alone makes for a strong competitive car. I think experience, knowhow and ideas also help to a degree.
This season alone I can think of three teams that aren't huge Independent teams (not like WSR) but I felt have used things like ideas and knowhow to get the most out of their old car. Team Eurotech I felt worked well with with the old TD Integra. As with Jackson Motorsport with an old 2005 works supplied WTCC RBM BMW 320si and Team Air Cool with an old works SEATSport UK Toledo.
Hadn't Jacksons car been updated to 2006 (or 07?) spec?Quote:
Originally Posted by SEATFreak
Bell's car is 2005, Jackon's is 2006Quote:
Originally Posted by SEATFreak
The 2005 and 2006 BMW's are completely different models, not just different specs! The 2005 car is the previous 3 series whereas the 2006 (and 2007 cars) are the current 3 series.
Although your reference to the age of Jackson's car is incorrect.your other observations are spot on Eurotech.Jackson's and Air Cool al used a mixture of enthusiastic ametuers and experienced personel to race at the front of the field on many occasionsQuote:
Originally Posted by SEATFreak
Also the bit about the Team Aircool Toledo being an Ex BTCC car. That's not true. It never made it to the BTCC.Quote:
Originally Posted by tyreman2
It will be interesting to see what happens to that car now Adam won't be driving it?
Adam's car was Tom Coronel's WTCC Toledo from the start of 2006 was it not?
It was a Works WTCC car. Not sure if it ever drove in anger.
It is different to the earlier Toledo's. A later development model. Second to-last chassis built.
One reason why it was better than the Motorbase cars...
Sorry I missed that bit you are quite right it was not a btcc car the car was leased to GR by SEAT sport(Spain) at the begining of 2006 for the WTCC untill they got their second Leon.It then went back to BarcelonaQuote:
Originally Posted by peewhee
Sorry if I'm being a bit slow on the uptake . . . what is Adam Jones driving next year ?Quote:
Originally Posted by peewhee
It's not been announced or even decided yet.
Not even Adam knows, Yet!
He knows where he wants to be!
Where?
Is Motorbase continuing with the Toledo's? At the rate Gareth Howel used them up I would imagine so!
The Toledo's are at the moment, still for sale.
Because of the attention Motorbase have given them, they are in better condition than when they first got them. Anyone who buys them will have two great cars to race in...
If Martyn Bell wants to go front wheel drive, they would be an ideal buy!
[quote="SEATFreak"]Where?
Is Motorbase continuing with the Toledo's? At the rate Gareth Howel used them up I would imagine so![/QUOTE
I do not understand what message you are trying to get across about gareth howell,what did he use up at a rate.
as to motorbase continuing they have said they will.
I thought they were going to run Leons next year. Surprised they haven't announced anything yet..
I have noticed the TD Civics are no longer for sale... Perhaps Motorbase have them?
Someone on another forum suggested they might.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tisme
Perhaps they have?
But for sure, whatever cars Motorbase use, they will be more competitve than in 2007!
They probably waiting for the funding and everything to fall into place first. Motorbase running a pair of Leons would be a good proposition.Quote:
Originally Posted by tisme
--------------------------------------------------------------------------Quote:
Originally Posted by VkmSpouge
motorbase had a tough 1st year with the toledos, it would be good to see them with the civic,the leon is a good car but the team dynamics civic is better and will get stronger as it is developed .
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Toledos. They is why they axed him from the team. Repair time was becoming costly and becoming it seems the dominant time spent.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grasshopper
That was the basis of my rather pathetic attempt at topical humour.
Motorbase need new Toledos to make up for all those that Gareth crashed.
Does anyone agree with that? Because I am not so sure. The Civic was competitive but better than the Leon?Quote:
Originally Posted by Grasshopper
Shame that, Allison looked extremely fast at times, but bad luck always hit. It also seemed strange because Ferrier was very fast with that car at Silverstone.Quote:
Originally Posted by PDS
Is it me or were both cars destroyed or damaged almost every race meeting? It nearly became a running gag towards the end!
The Civic is a good car and certainly has more development potential than the Leon currently does but at the moment I don't think it is quite as good as the Leon.
Absolutely. I think it will go the way of cars like the Toledo and Integra and be bought up by mainly Independents but still be competitive in a few years time. It is at the start of it's shelf life.Quote:
Originally Posted by VkmSpouge
But I rekon it is because it is so new I for one am unsure about it. I don't yet know it's full potential because it hasn't had enough seasons for me to judge whether it is a stronger car than the Leon or not.
It was all the same Toledo though, they never actually bought any more, they just kept repairing the same car, although I Imagine their spares budget was through the roof!Quote:
Originally Posted by SEATFreak
There is a lot more to come from the Civic! 2007 was it's first year in racing with very limited testing.Quote:
Originally Posted by SEATFreak
The Leon has been racing for two years with maximum testing. The only thing that has made the Leon quicker is using the diesel engine!
Exactly! :up:Quote:
Originally Posted by peewhee
The full range possibilities as far as setups in concerned I am sure is far more than what one season of work gives a team.
Even then I don't think really we have seen what the Leon can do.Quote:
Originally Posted by peewhee
I am not convinced the drag problem it has means their is little that can be done. I still live in hope that with or without the diesel engine the Leon can improve as a competitive car.
yea i agree, although the Leon has been around for two years, im sure there is plenty the team can do with the car i.e the laguna and alos more recently WSR and the MG, they always got something out of that car ever year
It's about time someone brought some Vee Dub's and other brands into the BTCC.
No, I won't mention Bio-Ethanol powered Chevy Lacetti's.
Someone once asked me if I was up to something when they heard that I'd bought a Lacetti shell from RML.....
Nope, that's going to be V8 powered beasty when it's finished (started more like!). How all proper touring cars should be.
However......
I agree that the TD Civic will get better with development, though that is true with every car on the planet. Develop it and it will improve.
The Alfa's have the potential to run at the front, but again, it requires a team with the £SD behind it to run one to it's full capability.
IMHO, I very much doubt that Ford will do anything works based. With the losses that Ford have posted globally, I don't think they'd get anything past the bean counters. A works "blessed" team would benefit from a spot of marketing by Ford, which would help their prospects of getting backing.
VW?Quote:
Originally Posted by racing59
Would they work as a factory team; either factory engineered or factory supplied. SEAT is part of the VW Group along with Skoda, Audi, Bently, Bugatti and Lamborghini.
If Chevrolet cannot enter a factory team in the BTCC because one of it's fellow GM subsidiary brands (Vauxhall) is already in the series, surely VW wouldn't be able to enter for the same reason. A fellow subsidiary brand is already competing as a factory team. Except in this case we obviously replace Vauxhall with SEAT and VW is the owner brand.
Though I am sure Chevy and VW I am sure would work as customer teams.
Or is the mechanics of the GM Group different from the VW Group?