The _TCC Series Thread

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 24 Nov 2012, 05:35

read it vvvvvvvv

RealRacingRoots · Post by **RealRacingRoots** » 24 Nov 2012, 20:30

Okay, so Chevy is out. Although RML will be doing a customer programme with the Cruzes in 2013. The big rumour is that RML (the team that runs the Chevy WTCC programme) will be teaming up with Renault for when the new regulations hit in 2014.

So thats:

Seat,
Honda,
Lada,
Ford,
Renault,
and Customer BMWs; in 2014, with most there in 2013.

Looks good ta me, even if most of the tracks are garbage. At least one team won't run away and will all the races, unless Honda runs away with it all.

Barbazza · Post by **Barbazza** » 24 Nov 2012, 22:15

RealRacingRoots wrote:Okay, so Chevy is out. Although RML will be doing a customer programme with the Cruzes in 2013. The big rumour is that RML (the team that runs the Chevy WTCC programme) will be teaming up with Renault for when the new regulations hit in 2014.

So thats:

Seat,
Honda,
Lada,
Ford,
Renault,
and Customer BMWs; in 2014, with most there in 2013.

Looks good ta me, even if most of the tracks are garbage. At least one team won't run away and will all the races, unless Honda runs away with it all.

The big problem, as you have pointed out, is the tracks. Where they do go to a decent circuit like Suzuka they ruin it by using the poxy short circuit version.
And although Macau used to be amusing, it's now a total joke and should be quietly removed like Pau was. Given the 2 fatalities at the track while WTCC were there I do wonder if that will now happen. The massive pile up in the first race where the SC *didn't* come out was just unbelievable really.

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 25 Nov 2012, 13:22

I'm happy that Michelisz has won the privateer WTCC title. He's definitely improving over the seasons.

Post by **Londoner** » 28 Nov 2012, 12:40

Good riddance.

Barbazza · Post by **Barbazza** » 28 Nov 2012, 21:27

Yes, I just saw that. I wonder if even Plato was embarrassed at having this idiot for a team mate - it does read like he was pushed.

Sadly though, with his ££££ he's bound to find a drive somewhere else.

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 30 Nov 2012, 00:08

Dave Newsham and Lea Wood tested for Speedworks today while Joe Girling gets his first run in Techspeed's turbo Cruze.

http://www.btcc.net/html/home.php

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 10 Dec 2012, 21:09

Something tells me Mercedes are in deep feces now.

Unless they manage to acquire a BMW or Audi top driver (and that seems more than unlikely) they only have four options, all of which are horrible:
* Hope for Paffett to conquer the title alone in a "Alonso/5-7 Massas" method
* Hope for Vietoris to improve even further, which given his second half of the season is not too likely
* Hope for Schumacher to experience another early 2011, this time over a full season
* Hope for a new driver to become the second Paul Di Resta

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 10 Dec 2012, 21:51

Green going to Audi illustrates Norbert Haug's ineptitudy at running the Mercedes DTM operation once again.

FMecha · Post by **FMecha** » 13 Dec 2012, 16:10

Who remembers the Japanese Touring Car Championship of the 90s? I recall the first two Gran Turismo games had crapload of compact Japanese cars having RMs modelled after cars from that series. The early 90s (until 1993) was notorious for uber R32 GT-R domination, leading to switch to SuperTouring the following year - 1994. Then it died out within 4 years... :cry:

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 14 Dec 2012, 06:07

oh, yeah i remember that stuff. it was cool to see this crank out 600 horses after some tender tuning

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 21 Dec 2012, 19:57

Some BTCC silly season news.

Dave Newsham has signed up with Speedworks, hopefully they can provide a car capable of running at the front. I'd be delighted if they sign Lea Wood up too.
http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3282

Jack Goff will move up from Clios to drive one of Tony Gilham's Insignias.
http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3280

Gilham has also signed up Tom Onslow-Cole to drive one of his Passats.
http://www.touringcartimes.com/article.php?id=8478

Finally, West Surrey Racing will build at least two NGTC BMW 125i, the first time they will build their own cars since MG backed them.
http://www.touringcartimes.com/article.php?id=8469

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 22 Dec 2012, 00:20

A mistake from Onslow-Cole there. Tony Gilham's team was never great and running over 9000 cars is going to strech their resources to excessive levels

Gerudo Dragon · Post by **Gerudo Dragon** » 30 Dec 2012, 17:06

East Londoner wrote:Silly question, but has Plato always been a total bastard in the BTCC? Maybe he learned his driving skills from Steve Soper...

Stramala [kostas22] wrote:If BMW hires Steve Soper they shall become a mortal enemy of the Lanica DTM director. Or anyone else that does.

kostas22 wrote:90s BTCC!!!! Then I can hire John Cleland and give him orders to KILL STEVE SOPER

Why does everyone here hate Steve Soper? I know he had that little incident in '92 but he was probably ordered by BMW to help Harvey.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 30 Dec 2012, 17:41

darkapprentice77 wrote:
East Londoner wrote:Silly question, but has Plato always been a total bastard in the BTCC? Maybe he learned his driving skills from Steve Soper...

Stramala [kostas22] wrote:If BMW hires Steve Soper they shall become a mortal enemy of the Lanica DTM director. Or anyone else that does.

kostas22 wrote:90s BTCC!!!! Then I can hire John Cleland and give him orders to KILL STEVE SOPER

Why does everyone here hate Steve Soper? I know he had that little incident in '92 but he was probably ordered by BMW to help Harvey.

Yeah, but it's not like he had to take Cleland off there and then. It was just bathplugging disgraceful - that move was always going to take them both off and Soper knew it. And he did it anyway. Because Cleland barged his way past? Because he wanted to help Harvey? Something else entirely? Who cares what the reasoning was, it was a completely inexcusable and utterly shameful thing to do.

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 30 Dec 2012, 19:55

Soper also had a Grosnado-like reputation in DTM. Especially Norbert Haug was one of his "friends". :lol:

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 11 Jan 2013, 03:22

Brace yourselfs! He Who Must Not Be Named is going it alone.

http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3290

In happier news both Rob Austin and Will Bratt will return in the Audis with full backing from WIX Filters.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 11 Jan 2013, 06:14

Samster wrote:Brace yourselfs! He Who Must Not Be Named is going it alone.

http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=3290

Well, at least people have finally learned to stop giving him rides to waste. Hopefully now he'll finally run out of money.

Samster wrote:In happier news both Rob Austin and Will Bratt will return in the Audis with full backing from WIX Filters.

Yeah, I saw that on Facebook. Easily the best news of silly season, hopefully now Rob'll be able to display both his full potential and that of his Audi.

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 11 Jan 2013, 08:04

Neate may be a shite driver but he has the potential to a competent team owner so if he put someone with actual talent in the car instead of himself then they could have been semi-competitive. But it was not to be :roll:

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 11 Jan 2013, 08:53

BlindCaveSalamander wrote:Yeah, but it's not like he had to take Cleland off there and then. It was just bathplugging disgraceful - that move was always going to take them both off and Soper knew it. And he did it anyway. Because Cleland barged his way past? Because he wanted to help Harvey? Something else entirely? Who cares what the reasoning was, it was a completely inexcusable and utterly shameful thing to do.

I spoke to him about it once when I worked with him at Vic Lee Racing in 2001. He didn't do it out of any particular love for Tim Harvey (in fact they hate each other), but apparently Vic asked him to do it, so he did it. Ray Bellm couldn't hack it and couldn't keep up with Harvey and couldn't back him up so Vic got rid of him and got Soper in full-time. Vic stood to get a sizeable bonus from BMW GB for winning the series.

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 11 Jan 2013, 12:31

I wonder why the Vauxhall teams can't agree on the one friggin model they want to use. To me, it's hardly efficient if you have one team running Insignias and others running Astras. Why can't they agree on one model, on one company that builds the cars for them, thus saving them money they normally would have used on design and development?

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 11 Jan 2013, 14:12

Faustus wrote:
BlindCaveSalamander wrote:Yeah, but it's not like he had to take Cleland off there and then. It was just bathplugging disgraceful - that move was always going to take them both off and Soper knew it. And he did it anyway. Because Cleland barged his way past? Because he wanted to help Harvey? Something else entirely? Who cares what the reasoning was, it was a completely inexcusable and utterly shameful thing to do.

I spoke to him about it once when I worked with him at Vic Lee Racing in 2001. He didn't do it out of any particular love for Tim Harvey (in fact they hate each other), but apparently Vic asked him to do it, so he did it. Ray Bellm couldn't hack it and couldn't keep up with Harvey and couldn't back him up so Vic got rid of him and got Soper in full-time. Vic stood to get a sizeable bonus from BMW GB for winning the series.

Yeah, I figured that that might've been the case. Still doesn't excuse what he did though.

eurobrun wrote:Neate may be a shite driver but he has the potential to a competent team owner so if he put someone with actual talent in the car instead of himself then they could have been semi-competitive. But it was not to be

I suppose - I mean, Michael Waltrip is nearly as bad a driver as he is, and his team's come good. I'm still not gonna hold my breath, though.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 11 Jan 2013, 14:37

Faustus wrote:
BlindCaveSalamander wrote:Yeah, but it's not like he had to take Cleland off there and then. It was just bathplugging disgraceful - that move was always going to take them both off and Soper knew it. And he did it anyway. Because Cleland barged his way past? Because he wanted to help Harvey? Something else entirely? Who cares what the reasoning was, it was a completely inexcusable and utterly shameful thing to do.

I spoke to him about it once when I worked with him at Vic Lee Racing in 2001. He didn't do it out of any particular love for Tim Harvey (in fact they hate each other), but apparently Vic asked him to do it, so he did it. Ray Bellm couldn't hack it and couldn't keep up with Harvey and couldn't back him up so Vic got rid of him and got Soper in full-time. Vic stood to get a sizeable bonus from BMW GB for winning the series.

You were working for VLR in 2001? OK, I have a question for you;

Were you part of the test team that went to Zandvoort and where were the hidden compartments in the truck :lol:

Barbazza · Post by **Barbazza** » 11 Jan 2013, 18:14

If Soper hated Harvey then he's gone up a little in my estimation. He still cheated though.

As for next year, I do like the Audis so I'm glad that Rob Austin is continuing. Even better news about the clueless crasher who so obviously dyes his hair - things must be bad when even Plato doesn't want you as a secret weapon to remove the opposition....

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 12 Jan 2013, 10:27

Stramala [kostas22] wrote:
Faustus wrote:
BlindCaveSalamander wrote:Yeah, but it's not like he had to take Cleland off there and then. It was just bathplugging disgraceful - that move was always going to take them both off and Soper knew it. And he did it anyway. Because Cleland barged his way past? Because he wanted to help Harvey? Something else entirely? Who cares what the reasoning was, it was a completely inexcusable and utterly shameful thing to do.

I spoke to him about it once when I worked with him at Vic Lee Racing in 2001. He didn't do it out of any particular love for Tim Harvey (in fact they hate each other), but apparently Vic asked him to do it, so he did it. Ray Bellm couldn't hack it and couldn't keep up with Harvey and couldn't back him up so Vic got rid of him and got Soper in full-time. Vic stood to get a sizeable bonus from BMW GB for winning the series.

You were working for VLR in 2001? OK, I have a question for you;

Were you part of the test team that went to Zandvoort and where were the hidden compartments in the truck

No I wasn't. I was the assistant to the chief engineer Geoff Kingston, so basically office-bound, but I engineered Aaron Slight in his one-off weekend at Donington.
We never saw much of the dodginess that Vic was up. Also, from what I heard later, it wasn't even anything as exotic as a secret hidden compartment, it was just a locked tool cupboard. Filled with drugs.

Gerudo Dragon · Post by **Gerudo Dragon** » 13 Jan 2013, 14:09

Why the bathplug is Tony Gilham buying so many cars??

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 13 Jan 2013, 17:41

darkapprentice77 wrote:Why the bathplug is Tony Gilham buying so many cars??

So Andy Neate can't buy them as replacements/So he has some spare in Neate smashes into them?

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 13 Jan 2013, 22:05

darkapprentice77 wrote:Why the bathplug is Tony Gilham buying so many cars??

World Domination

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 14 Jan 2013, 02:12

eurobrun wrote:
darkapprentice77 wrote:Why the bathplug is Tony Gilham buying so many cars??

World Domination

At least he's putting decent drivers in them.

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 14 Jan 2013, 02:15

Samster wrote:
eurobrun wrote:
darkapprentice77 wrote:Why the bathplug is Tony Gilham buying so many cars??

World Domination

At least he's putting decent drivers in them.

I just really hope he doesn't use the revolting green and pink scheme

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 14 Jan 2013, 02:21

eurobrun wrote:
I just really hope he doesn't use the revolting green and pink scheme

Just be thankful Pinkney buggered off before Gilham arrived in the series.

Looks like he's confirmed his 4th driver. Robb Holland will return, apparently he will also run full time in the WTCC.
http://www.tonygilham.com/2013/01/robb-returns-to-hard/

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 18 Jan 2013, 11:00

TURKINGTON'S BACK! :shock:

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 18 Jan 2013, 11:02

Bathplug yeah, looking forward to the possible 4 way championship battle

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 18 Jan 2013, 11:07

eurobrun wrote:Bathplug yeah, looking forward to the possible 4 way championship battle

5-way if the NGTC Ford Focus comes good for Jackson.

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 18 Jan 2013, 11:13

BlindCaveSalamander wrote:
eurobrun wrote:Bathplug yeah, looking forward to the possible 4 way championship battle

5-way if the NGTC Ford Focus comes good for Jackson.

It's not impossible, this is shaping up to be one of the best BTCC seasons since Super Touring

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 18 Jan 2013, 15:54

Looks like Collard and Foster will return too to make it a three car team.

Barbazza · Post by **Barbazza** » 18 Jan 2013, 18:53

Yes, good to have Turks back - on his occasional races in the WTCC he's shown that he's still got it. Quite amazing that he's had no BTCC drive since winning the title.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 18 Jan 2013, 19:30

Barbazza wrote:Yes, good to have Turks back - on his occasional races in the WTCC he's shown that he's still got it. Quite amazing that he's had no BTCC drive since winning the title.

Yeah, why is that exactly? Money issues I'm guessing?

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 19 Jan 2013, 01:19

AndreaModa wrote:
Barbazza wrote:Yes, good to have Turks back - on his occasional races in the WTCC he's shown that he's still got it. Quite amazing that he's had no BTCC drive since winning the title.

Yeah, why is that exactly? Money issues I'm guessing?

I think so, considering who replaced him...

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 31 Jan 2013, 12:58

Sam Tordoff confirmed with MG.

http://www.touringcartimes.com/article.php?id=8550