BTCC 2014

So Honda are returning next year, this time with an estate
http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3633

No surprise that the driver line-up remains Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden.

British GT team United Autosports have announced their entry:
http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3636

With James Cole and Glynn Geddie to do the driving.

However, a bizarre line in the article on the TOCA licenses suggest no new teams will be allowed in
http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3635

Depends how you define 'new', I suppose. The United Autosports entry is surely 'new' even if the cars aren't. I suppose what this means is that the Harry Hockly Renault Meganes and the Rotek Audi A3s haven't received entries in their own right, although, the way I read it, there would be nothing stopping the cars being entered under the name of an existing BTCC team that has been running NGTC cars.

This on the face of it is good news, but it will be an interesting test as to the 'robustness' of the new entry regulations. They were, after all, intended to stop speculative entries of extra cars over and above those fully confirmed at the start of the season, and to ensure that all entries complete the full season in the hands of their nominated drivers. However, I wonder whether we'll see any of these 32 entry licences being loaned/sold/etc to other teams before the season begins, as is also permitted.

It also seems to be aimed at preventing sporadic entries, trying to make the teams and drivers commit full time. I mean, how many different drivers did Team Hard have last year?? I can only assume the cars on the "reserve" list don't have the full funding in place yet.

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Possession and retention of a TBL includes an obligation from each entrant to contest all BTCC events for each season entered. An entry that is unused for one event in any season will void its TBL, and an entry that misses two events will have its entry rescinded for the balance of the season. In addition each entrant cannot make more than one change of driver per car during the course of a season except in genuine cases of force majeure.

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http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/stor...CCivic_web.jpg
- I drive a wagon now... wagons are cool.

I wonder if this is some sort of attempt to make use of aero tweaks. I suspect that the car should track straighter than the hatchback.
Even if it's not, Honda are learning Volvo's lesson with their 850 terror taxi... YEAH!

Marc Hynes confirmed as being in a third MG. Didn't see that one coming. Good driver.

http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3639

Quality driver in a decent car. Will be interesting to see how he gets on.

Any news on what Pirtek will be using? Sticking with the hatchback or copying Dynamics?

Also the btcc.net website seems to be down for me at the moment.

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Originally Posted by christophulus

Any news on what Pirtek will be using? Sticking with the hatchback or copying Dynamics?

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Hatchback. One each for Jordan and Martin Depper.

AMD have secured a TBL to run an ex-Motorbase NGTC Ford Focus in 2014. Driver is signed and to be announced in January.

While Motorbase have confirmed a three-car Focus entry of their own, with drivers still TBC.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

While Motorbase have confirmed a three-car Focus entry of their own, with drivers still TBC.

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Well they've confirmed 3 cars many times. They don't always show up however.

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Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Well they've confirmed 3 cars many times. They don't always show up however.

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One would assume a greater chance of them all showing up in 2014 as a result of the new licences.

LINEUP AS RUMOURED

TRIPLE EIGHT - MG 6GT: Jason Plato, Sam Tordoff, Marc Hynes
MOTORBASE - FORD FOCUS: ???, ???, ???
DYNAMICS - HONDA CIVIC ESTATE: Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal
PIRTEK - HONDA CIVIC: Andrew Jordan, Martin Depper
AUSTIN - AUDI A4: Rob Austin, ???
ROTEK - AUDI A3: Robb Holland, ???
SPEEDWORKS - TOYOTA AVENSIS: ???, ???
UNITED - TOYOTA AVENSIS: James Cole, Glynn Geddie
WELCH - PROTON PERSONA: Daniel Welch
AIDEN MOFFAT - CHEVROLET CRUZE: Aiden Moffat
CICELEY - MERCEDES A-CLASS: Adam Morgan
HANDY - TOYOTA AVENSIS: Simon Belcher
AMD MILLTEK - FORD FOCUS: Dave Newsham

TOTAL: 23 out of 32

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Originally Posted by DazzlaF1

LINEUP AS RUMOURED

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By whom?

I would have thought the Rotek Audis unlikely in as a team in their own right, given that this would be a new team, and we know no such outfit has received a TOCA licence.

BMR to reveal the THREE drivers to be joining Jack Goff this evening at 8pm.

1 double champion
2 race winners

Bear in mind that it doesn't say BTCC champion / race winners, although that may be implied.

29 of the 32 places on the grid are pretty much set now.

It's likely Speedworks have two of the remaining three, with one final grid slot available.

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Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

29 of the 32 places on the grid are pretty much set now.

It's likely Speedworks have two of the remaining three, with one final grid slot available.

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As per my last post in the other thread, I make it 28 out of the 32, with two more unknown, though we know Chris Stockton was granted a TBL.

Give us Muller, Rydell and Thompson and the driver line-up would be :laugh:

I dont know if this has already been mentioned but that BTC racing Chevy Cruze is looking rather neat

http://www.touringcartimes.com/wp-co.../1-630x354.jpg

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2014/02/ ... let-cruze/

http://www.btcc.net/2014/02/12/ingram-i ... btcc-2014/

Tom Ingram - Toyota Avensis - Speedworks

Rob Austin suggests today in Motorsport News that Frank Biela might be in contention for his second Audi A4....

Could this be tongue in cheek? I mean with both Menu and Gio coming back its a good PR stunt.

Sounds more of Irony and light humour I'd say!

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Originally Posted by Rollo

http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/stor...CCivic_web.jpg
- I drive a wagon now... wagons are cool.

I wonder if this is some sort of attempt to make use of aero tweaks. I suspect that the car should track straighter than the hatchback.
Even if it's not, Honda are learning Volvo's lesson with their 850 terror taxi... YEAH!

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It's so that the drivers wives can take the dog to the races..!!

Autosport thinks that there will be a driver new to the series in one of the remaining two Motorbase Fords.

I have a suspicion that Richard Hawken will be in the remaining Speedworks Toyota.

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Originally Posted by Mad cat jnr

Could this be tongue in cheek? I mean with both Menu and Gio coming back its a good PR stunt.

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One might say the same of this:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112894

I haven't followed BTCC overly closely for the last 2 seasons or so and have never posted in this section before. I am looking to follow it again this season a bit closer as I have a bit more time these days. Has anyone got a link for a useful back ground on BTCC 2014 or some info?

Hope y'all can find time to help me.

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Originally Posted by steveaki13

I haven't followed BTCC overly closely for the last 2 seasons or so and have never posted in this section before. I am looking to follow it again this season a bit closer as I have a bit more time these days. Has anyone got a link for a useful back ground on BTCC 2014 or some info?

Hope y'all can find time to help me.

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What do you want to know/know already? :)

well, Is there a decent motorsport site that has regular and reliable updates for the season as it goes on?

Thus a website with a guide to the current teams and drivers for 2014.

Generally a guide about the coming season. I know I could just google it, but I thought as you guys on this section would be able to recommend a more trustworthy source.

http://www.touringcartimes.com/category/btcc/ is pretty decent I've found, and the Media Day is today, so they'll be a confirmed line-up, final liveries, official test all throughout the day :)

Mat Jackson has got the Motorbase seat alongside Giovanardi, so nothing for Tom Onslow-Cole.

Very difficult choice as they both easily merit a drive with a good team

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Originally Posted by Wasted Talent

Mat Jackson has got the Motorbase seat alongside Giovanardi, so nothing for Tom Onslow-Cole.

Very difficult choice as they both easily merit a drive with a good team

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Very strange turn of events though, Jackson goes to the media day to find he has no drive so he packs up and goes home, 15 minutes later he gets a call from Motorbase saying "by the way, you're driving for us", so he rushes back but misses the group photo shoot, How odd.

But its a good choice IMO, Jackson knows the team well and has had more experience with Motorbase's car than anyone else which will help Gio.

As for TO-C, didnt he say he was leaving the championship altogether looking at other international opportunities?

Is there a space in the BTCC for Neil Trotter?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebri ... otter.html

In one of the articles the euromillions winner says he would not mind a guest drive in the btcc.

Wasn't there a 30 car limit and 31 cars allowed in?

So there wouldn't be any new slots I assume available during the season. Although if a team fancy's a bit of profile at some point.

What about the quality of his driving though. He is clearly a decent driver at an Amateur level, but how would that translate to the high level of BTCC?

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Originally Posted by steveaki13

Wasn't there a 30 car limit and 31 cars allowed in?

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32 car limit - the organisers have kept one entry in reserve

I would assume that Mr Trotter will be looking to graduate in future years