Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship 2013 Season Thread

[Diehardracer]

That's the Jack Sears trophy decided then.

Liam Grffin is my favourite for the inaugural Jack Sears Trophy. Remember who is running his Focus Mk II. Probably the strongest team contesting the Jack Sears Trophy and the car is not only one of the newest cars in the contest but quite possibly the strongest.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Liam Grffin is my favourite for the inaugural Jack Sears Trophy. Remember who is running his Focus Mk II. Probably the strongest team contesting the Jack Sears Trophy and the car is not only one of the newest cars in the contest but quite possibly the strongest.

The only thing Liam will win is first to the marshall's post.

 

[raceorama123432]

bugger me, those look gorgeous!

+1

 

[Ardius]

Some more pics of the grid:

Adam Morgan:

Eurotech cars (Smith with white wheels, Jordan with yellow):

Lea Wood:

Will Bratt:

Dan Welch:

Warren Scott:

Non-registered AmD Focus:

Test times:

Pos  Driver               Team/Car                    Time       Gap
 1.  Andrew Jordan        Eurotech Honda              1m10.358s
 2.  Jason Plato          MG                          1m10.429s  + 0.071s
 3.  Gordon Shedden       Honda                       1m10.460s  + 0.102s
 4.  Adam Morgan          Cicieley Toyota             1m10.748s  + 0.390s
 5.  Dave Newsham         Speedworks Toyota           1m10.921s  + 0.563s
 6.  Matt Neal            Honda                       1m10.972s  + 0.614s
 7.  Sam Tordoff          MG                          1m11.124s  + 0.766s
 8.  Aron Smith           Motorbase Ford              1m11.258s  + 0.900s
 9.  Frank Wrathall       Dynojet Toyota              1m11.592s  + 1.234s
10.  Colin Turkington     WSR BMW                     1m11.621s  + 1.263s
11.  Daniel Welch         Welch Proton                1m11.792s  + 1.434s
12.  Rob Austin           Austin Audi                 1m11.892s  + 1.471s
13.  Will Bratt           Austin Audi                 1m11.995s  + 1.637s
14.  Mat Jackson          Motorbase Ford              1m12.044s  + 1.686s
15.  Jeff Smith           Eurotech Honda              1m12.084s  + 1.762s
16.  Rob Collard          WSR BMW                     1m12.164s  + 1.806s
17.  Nick Foster          WSR BMW                     1m12.337s  + 1.979s
18.  Liam Griffin         Motorbase Ford*             1m12.892s  + 2.534s
19.  James Kaye           AmD Volkswagen*             1m13.030s  + 2.672s
20.  Ollie Jackson        Speedworks Toyota           1m13.080s  + 2.722s
21.  Joe Girling          Tech-Speed/Finesse Chevy*   1m14.884s  + 4.526s
22.  Warren Scott         BMR SEAT*                   1m14.913s  + 4.555s
23.  David Nye            Welch Ford*                 1m15.245s  + 4.887s

Ollie Jackson went off early in the session and damaged his splitter which is why he is so far down the times.

The S2000s, while way off the NGTC times, look quite close. I couldn't really pick out of those except James Kaye. I'll definitely have to side with the majority and say that Lea Wood will surely mop up those trophies without too many mechanical failures.

Early days for WSR and interesting to see Newsham right up there already.

 

[Furinkazen]

MG looks good.

 

[Tom]

All of those cars look great, really looking forward to Brands Hatch!

---

Interesting, Colin Turkington has been suffering from Bell's Palsy during the off-season. Something which the late Ayrton Senna had.

 

[Grayfox]

Honda does it again.

 

[Diehardracer]

MG looks good.

Impressed with Tordoff's 7th and the 4th and 5th of Morgan and Newsham.

But I just think this is how it was for most of last year. Yes we have Indie drivers like Dave Newsham and Adam Morgan doing well and getting top 6 places but sadly the Honda's are doing just as well. For the Avensis teams, for MG, for Motorbase and for WSR the only way to make genuine in-roads to closing the gap made by Team Dynamics who have sat comfortably at the top with few competition around for some time, is for Team Dynamics to have a small but significant dip in form. So long as Team Dynamics keep that gap between themselves at the top and the rest of the field Triple Eight and the top Independent teams Team Dynamics will always be the most dominant successful team today.

 

[Strawman Andy]

Well TOCA can always lower Honda boost if its too quick but its close from testing. Plato above both Honda factory drivers and just behind Jordan, so its close between Honda and MG. WSR bit off the pace but its a brand new car and not too far off so theres potential. Looks like a good season.👍

 

[Ardius]

So I guess we better start a list of who won't be at Brands Hatch:
http://www.touringcartimes.com/2013...sion-to-skip-brands-will-pay-off-for-ip-tech/

Appearing at Donington:
-Michael Caine
-Andy Neate
Appearing at Snetterton:
-Neate's 2nd car
-Chris Stockton

 

[Furinkazen]

Who is Caine racing for?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I believe he's driving for Motorbase.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Yep.

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/03/21/record-32-car-entry-for-2013-btcc-season/

 

[JacoJa]

I'm really looking forward to his season. Although they only play race highlights here in OZ, the BTCC is far more interesting than the V8 Supercar series. I'll aim to watch every race. 👍

Cars look great, as usual.

 

[Ardius]

Someone usually puts the entire races (and even some of the support races) on Youtube. Quite a few of the 2012 races are up in full on there. 👍

 

[JacoJa]

Someone usually puts the entire races (and even some of the support races) on Youtube. Quite a few of the 2012 races are up in full on there. 👍

Oh, awesome. Thanks for pointing that out. 👍

 

[Diehardracer]

Yep.

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/03/21/record-32-car-entry-for-2013-btcc-season/

Will be busy then because he will also be driving for Oman Air Motorbase in the British GT Championship with former Porsche Carrera Cup driver Ahmad Al Harthy in a Porsche 997.

 

[Ardius]

So, with this snow and all (luckily not around Manchester though! ), we might be looking at the possibility of a cancelled weekend.

Hopefully not though.

 

[Inside BTCC]

So, with this snow and all (luckily not around Manchester though! ), we might be looking at the possibility of a cancelled weekend.

Hopefully not though.

Hope not - long way to Brands from here if it was cancelled!

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

So, with this snow and all (luckily not around Manchester though! ), we might be looking at the possibility of a cancelled weekend.

Hopefully not though.

The weather forecast says warm (6C) and wet for Saturday and Sunday so it should be fine 👍

 

[Strawman Andy]

The weather forecast says warm (6C) and wet for Saturday and Sunday so it should be fine 👍

They said it was going to only rain where I live last Saturday, but I got snow. It could still snow but Im hoping it doesn't.

 

[Ardius]

Can't wait for qualifying tomorrow! Predictions anyone?

I'll go for;
Overall Champion - Mat Jackson
Indy Champion - Colin Turkington
Jack Sears - Lea Wood

As for Brands;
Pole - Andrew Jordan
Race 1 winner - Jason Plato
Race 2 winner - Gordon Shedden
Race 3 winner - Mat Jackson

 

[Furinkazen]

Only thing I predict is Kaye vs Wood for the Jack Sears trophy.

How many cars have Team HARD actually got prepared for this weekend then?

 

[Inside BTCC]

Just a heads up guys that the first Inside BTCC of 2013 is now available to read - http://www.redacted.com/you-can-sou...tly-from-us-AFTER-you-get-permission-1337.htm

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

Qualification arent on ITV4 right ? If not where can I watch them, anyone can tell me ?

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Only thing I predict is Kaye vs Wood for the Jack Sears trophy.

How many cars have Team HARD actually got prepared for this weekend then?

 

[Tired Tyres]

Qualification arent on ITV4 right ? If not where can I watch them, anyone can tell me ?

Here. Unless region locked.

http://www.itv.com/BTCC/

 

[Rossell2]

No Passats then?

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

No Passats then?

Still being built as we speak hopefully will be at the track tomorrow.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

No Passats then?

Looking at Tony Gilham's twitter the TOC VW is still being worked on, should be good to go soon.