Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship 2012

[Tom]

Well BINZ won't if Wood goes. As for ES, maybe Neate and James will partner to become everyone's favourite team. 👍

I can see it now, "Chuckle Brother Racing".

 

[Diehardracer]

Who do we think is going to be at 888 alongside Plato then? Maybe MG or Tesco are stumping up some cash to pay for a decent driver?

For as long as MG have the money I don't know if I could dismiss so easily perhaps as some the idea that they could pay for a driver's seat.

Plato and Giovanardi anyone?

Would be a dream come true that. But don't see it happening as lovely as it is.

I would imagine if they get anyone it is someone whose talents have longevity. Someone who can still be a good driver for the team for a few seasons to come and not only help get but also continue any success the team may find.

Experienced top names in motorsport can and do go on for much longer than those of a similar age in other sports. Both Matt Neal and Jason Plato are 45. As is Fabrizio. At 45 top footballers are pretty much finished. Man Utd player Paul Scholes is 38 and already is largely retired. Yet Jason and Matt are able to still be highly strong competitive potent title winners well in their 40's.

But if MG are to continue for years to come they need maybe someone a little younger with the same qualities as a more experienced driver.

 

[Ardius]

We're not talking about top footballers or even the most extreme motorsport drivers though.

Touring cars (and sports cars) are actually quite unique in that age doesn't really seem to affect anyone's ability to compete.

Does it need pointing out that Gabriele Tarquini is 50 and still on top of his game? Yvan Muller? 43 Alain Menu? 49

In fact if you look at the top touring and sports car drivers currently, they're all pretty old. Especially compared to many other sports.

So I don't think a Plato/Giovanardi line-up is unreasonable at all. Not in terms of age anyway. Both will still win races and wipe the floor with people like Andy Neate.

 

[Strawman Andy]

I don't think Plato would want Giovanardi, because then he would be challenging Plato and putting him under pressure which Plato doesn't like, he likes the team all behind him. I reckon they'll get a young quick driver, but not sure who they would get. Or maybe they'll get another paying driver - who knows?

 

[Ardius]

Hmm, I'm not so sure, 888 are not really the kind of team to get bossed about by a big name driver. But even so, Plato has actually been paired with some close teammates albeit drivers that were not quite on the same level (Huff, Jackson, Nash, Turner).

I still think 888 could land a very good if not decent driver. Most of the talk is about a KX Academy driver getting the drive though. I guess perhaps Jack Goff?

 

[Furinkazen]

Joe Girling tests the NGTC Cruze of Tech Speed.

 

[paulmac2k9]

But the thing is Plato and Gio are really good mates, from what I have seen.. So if they were in a team together they would have a killer combo and would get along pretty easily.

Also I really don't think Plato would mind having Gio on the team as he actualy likes having something to compete against, while it's very unlikely though. I would hope for someone like Newsham since he could probably pay for his drive and has shown he has pace in the old Vectra. Or a youngster like Ingram who is in the KX Academy. (I hoped Ingram would get the 2nd Pirtek Vectra back in 2010 after his impressive pace in the prize test in it, for winning the Juniors)

Edit: Much like what Ardius said Plato has had good teammates before and usualy that's pushed him to go faster .

Joe Girling tests the NGTC Cruze of Tech Speed.

Edit2: Also Furi this is wrong it's just a S2000/NGTC Cruze .

Girling added: “An S2000 car with an NGTC engine is not going to be a match for a full-on NGTC machine in 2013 but the Cruze will be ideal for me to contest the Jack Sears Trophy and enable us to gauge how we’re performing compared to the other S2000 runners.

You should try reading before spamming .

 

[Diehardracer]

We're not talking about top footballers or even the most extreme motorsport drivers though.

Touring cars (and sports cars) are actually quite unique in that age doesn't really seem to affect anyone's ability to compete.

I know we aren't though. I thought I really made it clear to readers of my post that the part played by the issue of age in footballers was to highlight the fact whereas in some sports you can be finished really quite early, Touring Car drivers can and do actually go on for a lot longer since age does really have little impact on their career as a driver. And that is a brilliant thing for Touring Cars I think.

 

[Furinkazen]

But the thing is Plato and Gio are really good mates, from what I have seen.. So if they were in a team together they would have a killer combo and would get along pretty easily.

Also I really don't think Plato would mind having Gio on the team as he actualy likes having something to compete against, while it's very unlikely though. I would hope for someone like Newsham since he could probably pay for his drive and has shown he has pace in the old Vectra. Or a youngster like Ingram who is in the KX Academy. (I hoped Ingram would get the 2nd Pirtek Vectra back in 2010 after his impressive pace in the prize test in it, for winning the Juniors)

Edit: Much like what Ardius said Plato has had good teammates before and usualy that's pushed him to go faster .



Edit2: Also Furi this is wrong it's just a S2000/NGTC Cruze .



You should try reading before spamming .

Ehh this NGTC / S2000 thing is confusing me

 

[Strawman Andy]

Ehh this NGTC / S2000 thing is confusing me

Its an s2000 cruze with ngtc power been run by techspeed. I thought Btc racing where running the ngtc cruze (the full ngtc car) ?

 

[Furinkazen]

Its an s2000 cruze with ngtc power been run by techspeed. I thought Btc racing where running the ngtc cruze (the full ngtc car) ?

Your right. I got confused

 

[basherblake]

Well BINZ won't if Wood goes. As for ES, maybe Neate and James will partner to become everyone's favourite team. 👍

Like it!!

 

[Furinkazen]

Winner of next years Formula Ford series (which is back on the BTCC bill) will get a Motorbase BTCC test.

 

[Diehardracer]

Hot-rod Champion Carl Boardley looking for a seat in 2013 and has tested a Speedworks Avensis.

http://www.touringcartimes.com/article.php?id=8449

 

[Furinkazen]

Team HARD are not content with running two Insignia's. Oh no. Two VW Passats will join what could be a 4 car attack on the 2013 BTCC.

 

[cally-dave]

They are expanding nicely. Moving to new bigger premises too!! The very best of luck to them!

 

[Furinkazen]

Just read it again, might have 4 Passats by Season end. So SIX cars. Wow, thats some attack. Must have some good sponsors and budgets.

 

[Ardius]

Yeah, 6 cars is crazy. I just hope Tony isn't being too optimistic there, but hope he pulls it off!

He mentions having 1 driver signed and another about to sign and they're big name "exciting" drivers?

So what are we guessing?
Perhaps:
Insignia - Gilham
Insignia - Holland
Passat - Fuller
Passat - Williamson
Passat - Newsham
Passat - Thompson

Then perhaps that would leave Speedworks with O'Neill and Wood?

 

[Furinkazen]

Neate in one of them, would explain why he left MG, and they would need a pay driver to help keep the team afloat.

 

[Ardius]

Probably, that would make sense. Although Neate could also be going back to WSR if they are indeed building an NGTC BMW.

 

[Tom]

Probably, that would make sense. Although Neate could also be going back to WSR if they are indeed building an NGTC BMW.

God, not with Foster as well! Foster isn't that bad, but he's not on the pace of Collard or Onslow-Cole.

 

[Strawman Andy]

God, not with Foster as well! Foster isn't that bad, but he's not on the pace of Collard or Onslow-Cole.

At least Foster is clean, fair driver. Also he isn't that bad, nothing like Collard but he does well and his performances havent been too bad, considering hes only had two years in the btcc

 

[Ardius]

Nick Foster is actually a race-winner...he shouldn't be referred to in the same sentence as Neate.
Foster can actually hold his own on the race track and has taken part in some of the better and cleaner on-track battles. To me he repesents what the BTCC should stand for - gentlemen drivers that can race well and clean. He brings money but he certainly helps the team score points for the Indy title.

Foster actually hasn't been that far off Onslow-Cole and Collard's pace. Frequently this year all 3 BMWs have been the same place on the race track.

I also think Jeff Smith isn't too bad either, ok he's in the best car on the grid but he races fair and gets involved in nice battles. More than can be said for Neate, James and to a lesser extent Griffin (though he seems to also be getting better).

I didn't have a problem with John George, Tony Hughes, David Pinkney or Martin Johnson either. I personally feel the more the merrier really. Its just as fun to watch these guys battle it out for 15th place as it is the race leaders.

 

[Liquid]

I didn't have a problem with John George, Tony Hughes, David Pinkney or Martin Johnson either. I personally feel the more the merrier really. Its just as fun to watch these guys battle it out for 15th place as it is the race leaders.

This is exactly what the touring car championship should be about.

I miss John George scrapping for the lower midfield, and I definitely miss Martin Johnson's sheer valiance in the Astra coupe. David Pinkney's been around for years, he's always welcome on the grid.

Drivers like Paul O'Neill shouldn't be out of drives. It's unfair that drivers like James and Neate have backing but he doesn't.

 

[Ardius]

Just to further prove my point (plus a nice contrast between Foster and Neate there....).

 

[Tom]

Yeah, 6 cars is crazy. I just hope Tony isn't being too optimistic there, but hope he pulls it off!

He mentions having 1 driver signed and another about to sign and they're big name "exciting" drivers?

So what are we guessing?
Perhaps:
Insignia - Gilham
Insignia - Holland
Passat - Fuller
Passat - Williamson
Passat - Newsham
Passat - Thompson

Then perhaps that would leave Speedworks with O'Neill and Wood?

Good line-up, is their S2000 Civic being scrapped completely?

---

I have to agree with you about the gentlemanly drivers as well, they do make the sport what it is.

 

[Liquid]

Such an unnecessary incident...

Still, the highlight was the Neal/Shedden incident. So embarrassing.

 

[Clark]

He was bad all of his BTCC career, amazingly he was even worse this past season. The amount of incidents and wrecked/smashed up cars (his own and other peoples) he created was too much.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Such an unnecessary incident...

Still, the highlight was the Neal/Shedden incident. So embarrassing.

iirc for that smith got points for causing an avoidable accident, neate got off free

 

[cally-dave]

I do believe that Tony Gilham mentioned somethibg about splitting the 6cars into 2 teams next year if all goes to plan........ Time will tell.

Hopefully 2013 will get O'neill back behind the wheel, and not mincing about the place with a microphone lol.