- 17,734
- United Kingdom
Great performance by Doble to hold off Sutton.
I wonder if Alliance have second thoughts about replacing the Focus. It’s still the fastest car on the BTCC grid.
They're a manufacturer team, so if it's coming from Ford Europe wanting to promote the...Puma? I think. Whatever it is, the Focus isn't sold any more so it makes sense from a Ford level. The team are good enough nowadays that I wouldn't doubt they could build a new car well.The Focus is also still homologated until 2029 if I remember rightly. Wouldn't make sense do anything until 2027 at the very earliest.
Yes, the new car they are hoping to run going forward is not a Ford.I thought Alliance had stated that it was a new/returning manufacturer they were working with?
I thought Alliance had stated that it was a new/returning manufacturer they were working with?
It doesn't make much sense to run a car that's no longer made (same could also be said of the old-model Astra that Power-Maxed run) but does Ford even have any involvement with Alliance? I know they only inherited the Focus from Motorbase when they bought the team out.
Could even be Mercedes. It felt like it was only a season or two since they were last in but it's been five now! The A-Class hatch is perhaps a bit stubby to be effective, but the new CLA is much sleaker.But you're right, they have stated it's a new/returning to BTCC manufacturer. Doesn't leave many options to think about. Dacia? Skoda? Renault returning maybe?
Alliance also said the manufacturer was interested in them working on a GT3 entry for Le Mans in the future, if the BTCC partnership works well (probably where the future lies for Sutton, he's started racing a GT4 recently). That doesn't really make sense for Mercedes, there's enough established GT3 teams using their cars.Could even be Mercedes. It felt like it was only a season or two since they were last in but it's been five now! The A-Class hatch is perhaps a bit stubby to be effective, but the new CLA is much sleaker.
WSR for starters - going on their results so far this seasonIf the deal does get done there's a few outfits on the grid and beyond who'd be happy to buy those Focuses and run them for a few more years.
As mentioned above, remember reading a year back on another forum that it was eluded to by Alliance that the manufacturer they're switching too will be new to BTCC (whether that means "new" outright or returning "new") who have/will have a GT3 program which they'll be looking to make use of.
Only "new" to current era BTCC-manufacturers I could think off with viable cars are Volvo and Peugeot. Neither of which have any GT3 programs in the pipeline. Which leaves, Audi, mercedes and Lexus realistically. Whilst it may seem odd with a big rule change coming in 2027, switching to a new manufacturer early could be to allow Motorbase/Alliance to developing and familiarise themselves with a new chassis before the change in 2027.
Speaking of homologation, the PMR Astra's only have 1 year left before there's run out.
Looking through the various lineups currently for the UK market there are more FWD saloons that I thought, but that talk of the GT3 program really does mess things up.The manufacturer with which Alliance is in dialogue is still the same one. Previously, Osborne described it as one new to the BTCC; when asked whether it has never competed in the series before or been a multi-year absentee, he said: “I can’t be telling you – that would be letting the cat out of the bag, but I’m super-excited. But I’ve got to be patient, and I’ve got to let the guys make their commercial decision.
“As much as we want to get sorted and push them to make a decision, we’ve got to understand that this is a commercial decision as well because it’s not just about racing touring cars, it’s about selling vehicles.
“The old synergy of ‘race on Sunday, sell on Monday’ is still in the back of people’s minds, so it’s making sure you don’t get a model that’s out of date.
Probably should've linked the recent Autosport article at the start of this discussion.
Looking through the various lineups currently for the UK market there are more FWD saloons that I thought, but that talk of the GT3 program really does mess things up.
“The dilemma and reason why we haven’t agreed terms already is because they’re looking at what models they can bring into the UK. The tariffs in the States have created a lot of nervousness and a lot of uncertainty.
Osborne’s public aim of eventually expanding into GT3 competition with a target of competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours could be a knock-on from the new programme.That sounds to me like its a car that isn't currently sold here. The talk of tariffs makes it appear to be a US or maybe a Chinese manufacturer? I can't see that tariffs would effect a European manufacturer, unless he's refering to general global market uncertainty.
The article doesn't mention any thing about a parallel GT3 program. I'm not sure where that info comes from.
Isn't Genesis just a posh Hyundai though? ExcelR8 seem to be doing well with the i30, why would they let their main competitor use the same brand?That had me think of the Genesis G70 as well. I remember they were contemplating building a GT3 at some point. It’d be weird hinging all that on BTCC performance though.
The G70 is the RWD sedan. Not a direct competitor. It’d be more a direct competitor to the 3-series.Isn't Genesis just a posh Hyundai though? ExcelR8 seem to be doing well with the i30, why would they let their main competitor use the same brand?