Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship 2013 Season Thread

[Furinkazen]

I thought super touring cars had 500bhp...

You're thinking Group A Sierra's...

 

[Clark]

I thought the current NGTC cars were about 350bhp.

 

[Furinkazen]

You see this says increased Hp from 2013. Now with the NGTC cars no longer needing to be kept in check with S2000 (and proving a fair lot faster as well), maybe there has been a boost?

 

[Strawman Andy]

You see this says increased Hp from 2013. Now with the NGTC cars no longer needing to be kept in check with S2000 (and proving a fair lot faster as well), maybe there has been a boost?

I dont think so, look at the lap times they are very close to last years. Theres probably been a small increase in turbo pressures but nothing major.

 

[priesty_lfc]

Not seen as much of this as I would have liked, but what's the deal with Jackson and the Fords?

Haven't seen/heard nothing of them this year

 

[TheCracker]

I dont think so, look at the lap times they are very close to last years. Theres probably been a small increase in turbo pressures but nothing major.

They ran really quite low pressure 0.7 or 0.8 bar (last season) and so far i don't think they've been much quicker this year.

I doubt they run at much more 320bhp. Tuning the engines for better torque characteristics is probably what's focused on. Getting better drive out of a slow corner is worth more than a bit more pull at the end of a long straight.

 

[Strawman Andy]

Not seen as much of this as I would have liked, but what's the deal with Jackson and the Fords?

Haven't seen/heard nothing of them this year

Poor balance and rear grip I believe. I saw him slide around at Thruxton, the rear was out miles, was impressive car control.👍

They run really quite low pressure 0.7 or 0.8 bar (last season) and so far i don't think they've been much quicker this year.

I doubt they run at much more 320bhp. Tuning the engines for better torque characteristics is probably what is focused on. Getting better drive out of a slow corner is worth more than a bit more pull at the end of a long straight.

Yeah what I said, I dont think there has been any major boosts.

 

[Furinkazen]

Michael Caine might be in a 3rd NGTC Airwaves Focus for Oulton Park.

 

[DK]

I wonder if he'll blow the doors off.

 

[Furinkazen]

I wonder if he'll blow the doors off.

The amount of body roll and flex the Fords showed at Thruxton, should be pretty easy to.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Michael Caine might be in a 3rd NGTC Airwaves Focus for Oulton Park.

Id say he's already in it.

 

[cally-dave]

Tony Gilham is making his return soon too, I think he is gonna be piloting a 2nd Passat.....

 

[Furinkazen]

This will run under the Addison Lee - Motorbase banner apparently.

@Gilham, apparently only if there is no drivers available as a last ditch stand in.

 

[raceorama123432]

@Gilham, apparently only if there is no drivers available as a last ditch stand in.

Aaron Williamson is definitely out of the question Was down at Blyton Park today with my dad as he was testing his TR7 for the next round of the CSCC at Cadwell Park (That's another story but oh well) and I saw a car that I recognized from the Clio Cup. Me and dad went over and had a look and saw Aaron Williamson and his dad (great bloke!) standing next to it. I made a joke to the two men saying that they were rather professional to be here today. Aaron's dad replied saying that they were here to run in a new box as they blew the last one in race one at Thruxton. We got talking for the next 10 or so minutes and we ended up on the conversation about the BTCC. Aaron said that he isn't going to be signing with Gilham as when he drove the Civic at Brands he was doing too well for his reputation and Alan Gow interfered with his chances. Aaron Q'd 8th on old tyres and could of gone faster but Alan came over to Tony and whispered about how that was good enough for Aaron. Tony told the team to push the car back into the garage.... The next morning when the Williamson crew arrived at Brands, Gilham said that Gow made them turn down the boost of Aarons car so that it wasn't fast enough to compete with the big boys. Aaron said that the Clios are much more fun anyway and that he doesn't really want to get evolved in the 'Plato and Neal show' Shame really as he has great potential. I can only wish the best of luck to the AWR crew and that the succeed in future endeavors 👍

Edit:
Photo I took of my dad (Red TR7), a white Scoobie and Williamsons' Clio

 

[Furinkazen]

Say what? Gow scared of Williamson upstaging them or something?

 

[cally-dave]

Makes you question the aithenticity of BTCC when you hear that sorta thing......

 

[raceorama123432]

Makes you question the aithenticity of BTCC when you hear that sorta thing......

It's all kinda staged for good tv really :/

Ever wondered why other drivers get their first win in the final round? Sheddon was the champion by summer break last season, yet, he couldn't win before the final, otherwise no on-one would go to brands....... But we enjoy the show, so Gow is doing a good job, right? Well, do you want to watch close racing or spread out driving round the track where the best driver wins. More people would watch the Clios :/ Which is why Williamson is in Clios ( and bloody good at that as well)

 

[Pezzarinho17]

Lines up with the last chat I had with Tom Chilton. It was the week before his current deal to race with RML in WTCC was announced so I was trying to get some info. He had tested a Chevrolet that week, but asked whether it would be British or World touring cars. His response was more forthcoming than the rest of the attempts to pull information!

"Definitely World. It is a racing series whilst the British Championship is an entertainment series. It is written in the sporting regulations!"

 

[Ardius]

Meh, there is always more than one side to a story and I doubt Alan Gow would have it in for Aaron.
Remember that boost adjustments were continually being made and weren't based on driver performance but car performance.

Plus...if BTCC is about the show then surely Gow would be pretty happy with a rookie exploding onto the scene?

 

[raceorama123432]

Meh, there is always more than one side to a story and I doubt Alan Gow would have it in for Aaron.
Remember that boost adjustments were continually being made and weren't based on driver performance but car performance.

Plus...if BTCC is about the show then surely Gow would be pretty happy with a rookie exploding onto the scene?

He was running the Civic, a car which has been in BTCC for ages and definitely should be sorted by the final round.

Also notice how all the S2000 cars are way off the pace of the NGTC cars this season. Much more than last season!

 

[Ardius]

Every car had boost adjustments every race weekend last year. It wasn't to do with it "being sorted", the boost adjustments constantly fluctuated depending on track layouts and sometimes who was driving the cars.

Consider that Gilham's Civic was driven by 4 different drivers over the course of the season, all with different levels of ability. Before Williamson was in the car they had the relatively slow Robb Holland and the decent Howard Fuller. The boost would have been based on their performance, not Williamson's.

The S2000 cars should be way off the pace - they are no longer included in the boost equalisation.

Equalisation is never going to be perfect and there will always be people who are unhappy. But seeing as we consistently see a variety of drivers challenging at the front in what should be lesser machinery or teams, I very much doubt that Gow is trying to make it the "Plato and Neal" show.
Otherwise why the heck did he let Austin's Audi get so fast? Onslow-Cole's Passat? Adam Morgan's sudden turn around in form?

People keep moaning when Hondas or MGs win - but they should be winning. Team Dynamics and 888 are the biggest teams on the grid, with the biggest budgets and most experienced staff. They really should be fighting for wins every race.
The fact that the championship makes an effort to give other people a chance and mix up the grids for entertainment purposes is not a secret. Why people are twisting this to make it sound like its all scripted for Plato and Neal to win I don't know. Would you guys rather be watching the Yvan Muller show?

The reason Plato and Neal keep winning is because they are in the best teams, with the best cars and they are the best drivers. Its hilarious to suggest its "unfair" that Williamson can jump in an old Civic with a boost advantage (don't tell me that the S2000 Civic had less boost than the NGTC ) and for Gow to be unhappy at such advantages.
If everything was fair, Honda would quite clearly be dominating far more than they already are. Their car is clearly extremely quick even with a pretty much constant boost penalty.

 

[raceorama123432]

Every car had boost adjustments every race weekend last year. It wasn't to do with it "being sorted", the boost adjustments constantly fluctuated depending on track layouts and sometimes who was driving the cars.

Consider that Gilham's Civic was driven by 4 different drivers over the course of the season, all with different levels of ability. Before Williamson was in the car they had the relatively slow Robb Holland and the decent Howard Fuller. The boost would have been based on their performance, not Williamson's.

The S2000 cars should be way off the pace - they are no longer included in the boost equalisation.

Equalisation is never going to be perfect and there will always be people who are unhappy. But seeing as we consistently see a variety of drivers challenging at the front in what should be lesser machinery or teams, I very much doubt that Gow is trying to make it the "Plato and Neal" show.
Otherwise why the heck did he let Austin's Audi get so fast? Onslow-Cole's Passat? Adam Morgan's sudden turn around in form?

People keep moaning when Hondas or MGs win - but they should be winning. Team Dynamics and 888 are the biggest teams on the grid, with the biggest budgets and most experienced staff. They really should be fighting for wins every race.
The fact that the championship makes an effort to give other people a chance and mix up the grids for entertainment purposes is not a secret. Why people are twisting this to make it sound like its all scripted for Plato and Neal to win I don't know. Would you guys rather be watching the Yvan Muller show?

The reason Plato and Neal keep winning is because they are in the best teams, with the best cars and they are the best drivers. Its hilarious to suggest its "unfair" that Williamson can jump in an old Civic with a boost advantage (don't tell me that the S2000 Civic had less boost than the NGTC ) and for Gow to be unhappy at such advantages.
If everything was fair, Honda would quite clearly be dominating far more than they already are. Their car is clearly extremely quick even with a pretty much constant boost penalty.

Thats fine as your opinion. Was mine until I spoke to the driver of the car in question. He did raise other points as well. And by the Plato and Neal show , I meant that the arguing and hating thing, they're real good mates outside of tv. Was there when they had that fight at Rockingham. That was hilatious! (don't tell me you believed that ) Even if Gow has sone interference, it has made the series what it is, no doubt that it's awesome to watch

 

[Ardius]

Like I said, always two sides to every story. There are so many drivers with sore feelings about various things that I take anything with a pile of salt.

And I think we all know Plato has a brand he likes to strengthen.

 

[Furinkazen]

Just in from BTCC Crazy:

What will Paul O'Neill be driving this weekend? He tweeted this earlier: "Interesting phone call.. Just been asked to race at Oulton this weekend! Think I'll be a bit busy.." Photo: BTCC.net

I guess Carrera's.

 

[Ardius]

Or it might be Ginetta GTs. There is always that second team HARD VW Passat

Oh and there is that 3rd NGTC Motorbase Ford Focus. While its meant to be Michael Caine, he has had budget issues in the past if I remember correctly?

 

[Furinkazen]

Turns out he isn't, he goofed up on twitter...

 

[Ardius]

Aaron Mason steps in to substitute James Kaye for Oulton:
http://btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3434

 

[Furinkazen]

Andy Neate's IP Tech Chevy Cruze.

 

[raceorama123432]

Andy Neate's IP Tech Chevy Cruze.

Looks to nice to be smashed up...... :/

 

[Furinkazen]

Joe Girling out of Oulton.
Neate postpones his entry