BTCC: Priaulx Goes Euro!

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GilesGuthrie

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Andy Priaulx, BTCC race-winner in 2002 with Honda, has signed to drive a BMW in the 2003 European Touring Car Championship. He has publicly stated that he would like to become "the next Steve Soper", referring to the Brit's long-term association with the German marque.

This is most definitely a loss for the BTCC, since Priaulx is undoubtedly a very talented driver, and was an exciting addition to the series. According to Autosport, it looks to have put paid to any hopes Honda had of running a third car, although I'm not so sure. With Egg no longer sponsoring the Triple-Eight 'second' team, and no sponsor coming forward, drivers Paul O'Neill and Matt Neal are available (I understand that while doubt surrounds the running of the 3rd & 4th Astras, they are free to leave). Also, I really don't see touring car drivers as being thin on the ground...
 
From what I saw of him he was pretty good (although i missed a fair amount of races this season) so its kinda annoying that he is going to ETCC. At the end of the season the Civics were kicking arse. As for the lack of tallent, where do you get touring car drivers from anyway?

On another note I wonder if that 17 year old will be racing next season. Lucky bugger
 
Originally posted by Race Idiot
From what I saw of him he was pretty good (although i missed a fair amount of races this season) so its kinda annoying that he is going to ETCC. At the end of the season the Civics were kicking arse. As for the lack of tallent, where do you get touring car drivers from anyway?
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Well Priaulx rose through the single seater ranks, but his career almost stalled at the end of last year. There are a number of cases of drivers starting in single seaters, and then making the transition to tin-tops. Steve Soper, Jo Winklehock, Andy Priaulx, Jan Lammers, Tiff Needell, Allan McNish and Kelvin Burt are just a few examples of that.

Also, there are heaps of tin-top series, usually one-make stuff. Check out the RenaultSport Clio Cup, which has some real talents in it, not least the stalled-career-Andrew Kirkaldy (pronounced Kerr-Coddy), who's an ex-BRDC/Autosport/McLaren Young Driver of the year. Some of those guys can seriously drive. Also check out the Fiestas.

The RenaultSport Clio Cup cars are available to drive at the Jonathan Palmer Autodrome where you get to run them as part of The Motorsport Sensation. I did this in July, and it was awesome. To just bury the throttle on these Clios, and wait for the rev counter to get to 6800, then yank back on the gear lever for a new gear (no lift, no clutch) was some experience. And they oversteer like nobody's business! Mental things, really hard to get on the pace in them.

Originally posted by Race Idiot
On another note I wonder if that 17 year old will be racing next season. Lucky bugger
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:lol:

Tom is still securing funding for a drive in 2003. He should make it though.
 
Ive seen some of the one make fiesta stuff on TV, its pretty exciting, I vaugely remember watching a clio cup race about 2 years ago.

I have really got to remember when BTCC, F1, WRC is on this year I missed so much. I dont think I managed to watch a single WRC program for more than 10 minuites and I totaly missed the rally of GB.
 
Originally posted by Race Idiot
Ive seen some of the one make fiesta stuff on TV, its pretty exciting, I vaugely remember watching a clio cup race about 2 years ago.

I have really got to remember when BTCC, F1, WRC is on this year I missed so much. I dont think I managed to watch a single WRC program for more than 10 minuites and I totaly missed the rally of GB.
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You're just not sufficiently dedicated!

WRC is easy: there's a half hour show each night of a rally on Channel 4. Roughly the same show (well, the same core coverage anyway) is also on Eurosport at 00:15 on the morning after each day's action (i.e. basically that night, but v.late!)

ITV show the BTCC on the week after the events. It's usually at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon, i.e. around the time of F1 qualifying.

If you can't remember when the events are, then Autosport magazine has sticker-calendars which they will start to publish in the new year. One for each major series. Put the stickers on your wall planner at work - that's what I do!
 
I bought an F1 callendar, hoping that it would have the dates of the races on it. Took it home unwrapped it and saw otherwise. I also had to put up with a picture of MS looking smug all through september (well at least he was in a beneton).
 
Originally posted by Race Idiot
How comes?
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I don't know at the moment, but it's probably fees-related. Also, they may be looking for an alternative date, at a time when the chance of rain is less than 80%!

Originally posted by Race Idiot
[insert insulting joke about scotland here]
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:rolleyes:

Bad lad!
 
Originally posted by GilesGuthrie


I don't know at the moment, but it's probably fees-related. Also, they may be looking for an alternative date, at a time when the chance of rain is less than 80%!

:rolleyes:

Bad lad!
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I thought they didnt really care if it rained or not, did it rain this year?

:p
Im Irish/Indian what do you expect?
 
Originally posted by Race Idiot


I thought they didnt really care if it rained or not, did it rain this year?
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Well the drivers and teams don't really care, but when it rains, the circuit gets trashed, and it does keep fans away, since Knockhill when it's cold and wet is one of the most miserable places on earth.

Yes, it rained this year. Oh, how it rained.

It was so bad I left before the feature race.
 
Maybe you should bring a tent and a gas stove next time eh?

Anyway is it just me, or does BBC`s motorsport coverage now only consists of British superbikes and world superbikes?
 

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