Touring Car discussion - WTCC, BTCC etcTouring Cars 

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Ginetta's are awesome. Good day at Snetterton today, quite hot when the sun was out, no breeze to help with the summer sun.

Plato was on fire in first couple of races, sat on the exit of Russell.

Day ended with a Historic GT event, which I don't think you saw on ITV.
 
Sureboss
Ginetta's are awesome. Good day at Snetterton today, quite hot when the sun was out, no breeze to help with the summer sun.

Plato was on fire in first couple of races, sat on the exit of Russell.

Day ended with a Historic GT event, which I don't think you saw on ITV.
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Nope, the final race on ITV 4 was a re-run of the Renault Clio Cup which was earlier in the day. Glad you enjoyed it, now the BTCC turns its focus to Silverstone on the 22nd August, should be another great day of racing!

Ah, Russell. Lots of action there. Did you get any of it on camera?
 
Only of the Historics at the end. You'd have gotten lots of cars in-between heads from the earlier races. Being tall I couldn't go back up the embankment, or I'd have covered lots of people.

It was quite busy, but boy, does Snetterton need the development plans it has submitted for approval, bit of a tip, though I see they've improved the kerbs of late.

Quite fun watching an XK120 out-drag a 924 down the main straight. The Camaro was a beast down the straight too, but the Cobra was the best. 7l V8, I have that on camera, on full throttle. :) I'll get it up on Youtube at some poiint.
 
What kind of crazy ass historics had a XK120, 427 Cobra and Porsche 924 all in the same race? :ouch:
 
Sureboss
Only of the Historics at the end. You'd have gotten lots of cars in-between heads from the earlier races. Being tall I couldn't go back up the embankment, or I'd have covered lots of people.

It was quite busy, but boy, does Snetterton need the development plans it has submitted for approval, bit of a tip, though I see they've improved the kerbs of late.

Quite fun watching an XK120 out-drag a 924 down the main straight. The Camaro was a beast down the straight too, but the Cobra was the best. 7l V8, I have that on camera, on full throttle. :) I'll get it up on Youtube at some poiint.
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Nice, looking forward to seeing it. Disappointed that the classics only seem to be at Snetterton. :( Still, there's enough racing anyway. Can't wait for Silverstone!

Was it a good grid in the classics? I wonder where else they race, they certainly don't follow BTCC about. It must've been quite positive being able to race at such a major event. The one and only problem I have with classics is that they don't seem to want to race hard in danger of damaging their car. Sure, you get the overtaking manoeuvres and all but they aren't as exciting as they would be knowing that these people want to take risks to win.
 
ObtuseChicken
Was it a good grid in the classics? I wonder where else they race, they certainly don't follow BTCC about. It must've been quite positive being able to race at such a major event. The one and only problem I have with classics is that they don't seem to want to race hard in danger of damaging their car. Sure, you get the overtaking manoeuvres and all but they aren't as exciting as they would be knowing that these people want to take risks to win.
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That's not always the case. But it's getting harder and harder to source parts (specifically body panels) for classics. It doesn't even come down to money most of the time, they're just not available. Even for vehicles which at the time were very popular family cars.

You'll never see the kind of panel-bashing that you get in Touring Cars or other contemporary non-openwheel racing for the simple reason that there isn't the sponsorship money and expectations that come with that responsibility. Neither is there the career progression installed in the drivers mind like you do in contemporary racing. There's no money to win, sponsorship is generally not allowed and the drivers race because they want to race - not to become the 'next best thing'. There's little point caving in your's and someone else's doors and wings in some desperate move to gain an extra position that end of the day means nothing and will get you nowhere except in other drivers bad books.
 
Errr... no. Engine saga still continues. As per. :rolleyes:

Our series (as was then) used to be on the BTCC support race line up back in the mid 90's. To be honest it was a pain in the arse. You had to be at the circuit days in advance and you really got treated like cattle. Race entry became very expensive and every man and his dog built a car up so they could be part of the BTCC package. Our regulations were a little freer back then and guys were able to chuck ridiculous amounts of money into their cars to get a slight advantage. In the end all the long time series supporters started dropping out leaving the glory boys to it. Once they re-organised the whole BTCC package and we got dropped off the support line-up they all left and left the series to implode. It's the best thing that could have happened really. We got picked up by the HSCC and we've had great stability and support ever since.
 
TheCracker
That's not always the case. But it's getting harder and harder to source parts (specifically body panels) for classics. It doesn't even come down to money most of the time, they're just not available. Even for vehicles which at the time were very popular family cars.

You'll never see the kind of panel-bashing that you get in Touring Cars or other contemporary non-openwheel racing for the simple reason that there isn't the sponsorship money and expectations that come with that responsibility. Neither is there the career progression installed in the drivers mind like you do in contemporary racing. There's no money to win, sponsorship is generally not allowed and the drivers race because they want to race - not to become the 'next best thing'. There's little point caving in your's and someone else's doors and wings in some desperate move to gain an extra position that end of the day means nothing and will get you nowhere except in other drivers bad books.
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I can hardly say I'm 'in the know' considering you race in a classic championship, but you understood my point. If there were to be prize money, as you said there'd be more competition. But I guess classic racing will always remain how it is- all about the cars and not only the action.

I went to the Historic Superprix at Brands Hatch on te 4th July this year, and I've got to say, whilst the Grand Prix cars were nice the Touring Cars just were superb to watch, especially hanging on to dear life bombing down Paddock Hill Bend.
 
ObtuseChicken
I can hardly say I'm 'in the know' considering you race in a classic championship, but you understood my point. If there were to be prize money, as you said there'd be more competition. But I guess classic racing will always remain how it is- all about the cars and not only the action.
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That's not to say that all classic racing is highly competitive. I know Sterling Moss complained about receiving a bollocking by the race organizers at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca one year for driving too aggressively - he was overtaking! Some factions of the sport still see it as a series of parades rather than a competitive sport.

There may be no prize money, but there is still plenty of pride at stake. In most historic racing people still race very hard, it's just that they're less willing to damage their own cars and other peoples or get themselves physically hurt over it. At least compared to those who are getting paid to race someone else's car or are trying to forge a career from racing.
 
Their reliability is terrible though, even if the National circuit is very quick and suits them well.
 
I was at Silverstone today (and will be tomorrow), I'm a bit disappointed as I support Jackson and the BMW's didn't look very comfortable today, especially Martin Depper's which ended up backwars in the wall on the exit of Copse.

The Fords have another restrictor penalty applied which they've accepted in good grace so hopefully it gives us some exciting racing tomorrow as Snett was the dullest racing (by BTCC standards) in years.
 
Duffers917K
I was at Silverstone today (and will be tomorrow), I'm a bit disappointed as I support Jackson and the BMW's didn't look very comfortable today, especially Martin Depper's which ended up backwars in the wall on the exit of Copse.

The Fords have another restrictor penalty applied which they've accepted in good grace so hopefully it gives us some exciting racing tomorrow as Snett was the dullest racing (by BTCC standards) in years.
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I agree about Snetterton. The Ginetta Juniors were even more exciting. I'm going to Silverstone tomorrow too, hoping for some good close racing that the National circuit always provides.
 
Its races, if you're referring to BTCC, they feature 3 rounds plus support races on ITV4. As far as I know, the only way to stream it online is illegally, so you're going to have to do the looking yourself. I doubt there is any though.
 
There is a live stream available in the ITV website... But one condition, your IP address must be UK's.

Linky
 
Shame Paul O'Neill couldn't take the win today in race 3. 👍 Good racing all around once again.

Ginetta Juniors were great again. I have to say Louise Richardson is beoming quite impressive, hopefully she moves onto Formula Renault or Clios or G50s after this and progresses her career unlike Sarah Moore. It will be interesting to see how her, Jake Hill and Tom Ingram do after this season.
 
The Ginetta Juniors are awesome to watch but so dangerous...coming through the Luffield area it looks like they're all out of control. One driver almost hit the pit wall due to being squeezed Michael Schumacher style.

Good BTCC races, especially number 3. How MacDowall continued is beyond me!
 
What the hell is going on with team orders at Team Aon? Onslow-Cole could have done the hat-trick this past weekend. He was in front in the drivers championship anyway.

I'm thinking Chilton brings more £££ to the party?
 
Chilton's Dad is vice-chairman of sponsors Aon. ;)
Just like Team Dynamics and Matt Neal....

If Onslow-Cole loses the championship by a few points, we all know where he potentially lost them.
 
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If i was Chilton, Jr or Snr, i'd be embarrassed by winning in such an obviously gifted fashion.
 
Thats the point though isn't it? Some people enjoy winning at all costs. Not everyone enjoys the fight and the honor, only the statistic. I'm not sure Chilton himself was in on that plan but certainly I doubt he is going to come out and blast the team for doing it.

I agree with you though, if it was me I wouldn't have enjoyed winning that way. I would have been angry that they had chosen to hamper my teammate who is very obviously ahead in the standings and with a chance of taking on Plato too. At least with Alonso it was logical.

Ironically this is a team order not for the good of the team.
 
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I can still wish that Jackson has a chance at the title again. :)
 
It's Oschersleben for WTCC this weekend! Tarquini is the quickest in the morning practice session... Qualifying comes later today.
 
The qualifying today was full of incidents before even after the rain falls... Augusto Farfus of BMW scored a pole position ahead of Rob Huff in 2nd after running and sliding wide then collected his team mate Menu on the way rejoining back on track. 3rd place belongs to Andy Priaulx with a time of 1'38.186 with around 2 tenths of a second separating the top 3 positions.

Morning warm-up will start at 7:30 in the morning of British Summer time and the weather seems to sound good although it's completely unpredictable like what we experienced today.

EDIT: Dissapointing 1st race, poor race craft by the Chevrolet boys ruined BMWs race especially for Augusto. Crap decision by the stewards. Bad race... enough said.
 
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I went to DTM last Sunday. What a **** race! Looking forward to watching Knockhill BTCC highlights, as InvincibleM5 said WTCC was disappointing too. Thank God for support races, the Lotuses, Formula Ford's and Abarth's were brilliant at Brands.
 
I went to the BTCC at Knockhill, it was excellent, first time I've spectated at Knockhill and I have to say it's one of the best circuits in the UK as far as I'm concerned (except the 854 mile round trip!)
 
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