The BTCC thread!

[Duffman]

After popular demand and due to the major competitiveness of the British Touring Car Championship this year I decided to create this thread to discuss all matters BTCC related! Been a fan of this championship for many years and seen it through the bad and the good but the racing has and always will be close, even F1 drivers such as Nigel Mansell have taken part in races!

With 32 cars and 7 champions on the grid 2014 will be one of the most exciting and competitive years yet!

Just watched the first race and a perfect start for defending champion Jordan, followed closely by marmite Plato (you either love him or hate him), Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden for the Civic estates first podium. Great race to finish 5th from fan favorite Rob Austin, second race is on ITV 2 HD at 2.15

 

[Varsh]

Missed the first race though I need to head to town to get a mother's day present so I'm hoping to get back in time for that race! I don't have a car either so I'm going to have to cycle it... eep!

 

[Duffman]

[QUOTE="Varsh, post: 6323483]Missed the first race though I need to head to town to get a mother's day present so I'm hoping to get back in time for that race! I don't have a car either so I'm going to have to cycle it... eep![/QUOTE]

That's a shame mate, wasn't amazing but as usual plenty of overtaking! Second race should be good as some of them will have added weight now so should be even closer!

 

[Varsh]

Well I did make it back in time and that was an interesting race. Must admit that I feel sorry for Plato but then he was flying through the field! I suppose his ballast didn't help in the final few laps though. Couldn't believe that Sheddon had so many problems trying to get past but Turkington was on fire, the safety car didn't help him towards the end though as I think that gave the Honda's the edge on tyre degradation. Overall good race and a great start by Matt Neal.

Reverse order race to go.

 

[Duffman]

Great race and as you say a shame for Plato as I think he could have had a race win in that one! Some close racing once again especially from the 3 BMW's and all throughout the field! Collard on pole for the reverse grid race and with not much ballast he could well turn it into a race win! How manic is it with 30 cars on a track the size of Brands Hatch though :lol:

 

[Varsh]

They need Brands back into F1 but it's just too small, but it would sort the men from the boys. :lol:

Would definitely want Collard to win this time around though. Do they add ballast in the final race?

It was funny seeing Giovanardi eating #6, I don't think he wanted that result. :lol:

That Ginetta race was fabulous too and even more full of mayhem!

 

[Duffman]

Yeah they add ballast for all races including the last one! Great 3rd and final race and a great win for Turkington, Neal managing to hold onto second from a charging Plato who I'm sure will be happy to finish third after the second race!

Great to see the BTCC is back

 

[JordieDAFC]

There's a few things other racing series could learn from the BTCC. Its without a doubt one of the most spectator friendly sports there is. Its not like F1 where your kept away from the drivers and the cars, and you gotta pay big money to walk up and down the paddock, you can do that with your ticket and usually the drivers are kicking about somewhere.

Can't wait for Knockhill, loved it last year!

 

[Duffman]

Knockhill with 31 cars is going to be MANIC, there will be cars on every part of the circuit by the 5th lap if before :lol:

 

[JordieDAFC]

I'm not sure how they'll fit on to the grid cause there's not that much of a straight between the start/finish line and the final corner, some cars might be positioned before the final corner :L

 

[Varsh]

That was a really good last race and I had a feeling that Turkington was going to win it. Plato deserved to get that podium after a torid second race though, and well his rival Neal is right there too.

Did anyone watch the two parter "Legends of BTCC" after the race? That was brilliant and I remember the final year of Andy Rouse, it was also the first year I watched the BTCC as my brother (who was 8 at the time) was really into it , just like a younger brother I sat down and watched it too. That's also when I got into F1. as it used to be the BTCC and the F1 showing on Grandstand every Sunday.

 

[keefy]

In the 90's My dad Used to get free tickets to watch at Silverstone in the Brooklands suite. Also got free tickets fro Brands hatch one year, only went the once because it is a long treck from Manchester.

 

[Duffman]

[QUOTE="Varsh, post: 6323570]

Did anyone watch the two parter "Legends of BTCC" after the race? That was brilliant and I remember the final year of Andy Rouse, it was also the first year I watched the BTCC as my brother (who was 8 at the time) was really into it , just like a younger brother I sat down and watched it too. That's also when I got into F1. as it used to be the BTCC and the F1 showing on Grandstand every Sunday.[/QUOTE]

It was actually a 3 parter believe it or not, first was how touring cars came about, the second episode was mainly about the super touring era and the last episode was mostly about modern day with the Plato and Neal rivalry, Codemasters really need to make another BTCC game!!

 

[Varsh]

It was a three parter? Guess I missed the bit where it changed over because it was ran all in succession. :lol:

If they can do something like TOCA 2 then I would be ecstatic.

 

[Duffman]

Well allegedly Matt Neal has been seen leaving Codemasters recently so watch this space....

 

[keefy]

In the F1 thread I got reminded of a special BTCC event I went to at Donnington In the late 90s probably around 97. TI wasn't the traditional 20 or so lap but a full 2 hour or more race (I cannot remember exactly) it was clear after about 10 laps the 2 Lagunas were going to win and by a large margin, so every 20 laps or so they brought out the safety car for the other teams to catch up.

 

[Duffman]

This is one of the best BTCC moments for me, when Mansell came to race in the BTCC the second time at a wet Donnington Park:

[video=youtube;VpL_72hx3Js]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpL_72hx3Js[/video]

 

[Duffman]

This is one of the best BTCC moments for me, when Mansell came to race in the BTCC the second time at a wet Donnington Park:

[video=youtube;VpL_72hx3Js]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpL_72hx3Js[/video]

 

[Varsh]

I remember watching that race and laughing when Nig binned it. ::lol:

 

[Duffman]

Was great to watch, BTCC always is in the wet :lol:

 

[keefy]

We should have a PSU meet at a BTCC race.

 

[Duffman]

[QUOTE="keefy, post: 6327891]We should have a PSU meet at a BTCC race.[/QUOTE]

See now I would be up for that, going to watch the BTCC at Silverstone later in the year!

 

[Varsh]

I would be up for Brands Hatch full circuit.

 

[keefy]

Silverstone and Donnington are more central, but I guess some you you southerners don't like going above the Watford gap. Also Mercedes F1 HQ is pretty close by to Silverstone.
Have Silverstone sorted out the entrances now? In the past it was a nightmare getting out, one year took me and my dad2 hours to just get onto the main road.

 

[Duffman]

[QUOTE="keefy, post: 6328151]Silverstone and Donnington are more central, but I guess some you you southerners don't like going above the Watford gap. Also Mercedes F1 HQ is pretty close by to Silverstone.
Have Silverstone sorted out the entrances now? In the past it was a nightmare getting out, one year took me and my dad2 hours to just get onto the main road.[/QUOTE]

Yeah parking is a lot easier then it was a few years ago, is much more organised now! I remember being stuck at Donnington a few years ago for the exact same reason lol!

Back on this weekend at Donnington Park, who's watching?

Andrew Jordan and Matt Neal head a 31-car field as Britain’s premier series ‘rocks’ into Donington Park

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship visits Donington Park over the Easter weekend (19/20 April) with a festival of speed and sound set to ‘rock’ the Leicestershire venue.

The on-track action is perfectly poised as local lights Andrew Jordan and Matt Neal currently head the record 31-car entry after performing impressively at the Brands Hatch season opener. With a line-up that includes seven former champions and a further half dozen race winners, however, the charge for glory at Donington Park will be as enthralling and unpredictable as ever.

It’s not just the BTCC’s crop of international star drivers and 14 flame-spitting models of car that will have the crowd on its feet, as a whole host of support races plus two top class music concerts will be adding even more speed and sound to proceedings.

With tens of thousands of fans expected to arrive from Leicestershire, Derbyshire and much further afield, Donington Park will be bursting at the seams with festive atmosphere and action.

 

[Varsh]

Damn I'll have to remember to go to Donnington next year then during Easter if it's going to be like that again.

 

[Duffman]

I can't wait to see what Codemasters are going to announce, Matt Neal has been seen leaving their studio's so could well be another Touring Car game

 

[JordieDAFC]

Brilliant day so far, every race has been amazing to watch, especially the 2nd Porsche race which is usually the most boring of them all

 

[Duffman]

Some really good racing again yesterday, great last race and Shedden deserves to keep the win because Turkington pushed him wide and they both pretty much ended up going through the gravel! Once again the BTCC provided close, edge of your seat racing and looks like the turn out was good despite the weather!

 

[Varsh]

Anyone watch Oulton today? I saw the first race and it was really close stuff. The entire field (apart from the first 3) were so close together but is it me or did they alter Oulton Park this year? I didn't see the tight hairpin anywhere.