BTCC 2001 - _gg_, chassis plans please
Posted: 25 Mar 2021, 18:42
As 1999 became 2000, it became apparent that the BTCC needed a shot in the arm if it were to survive the new millennium. Having become a big business in the 1990's thanks to the simple joys of the two litre formula that became known as Super Touring, the very manufacturers who made the sport a big business were in the process of killing it as they recoiled in horror at the rising costs they themselves had instigated. As the 1990's progressed, the sport went from 10 manufacturers at its peak down to a mere 3 in 2000, with only 2 privateer entries able to bolster the ranks of the sport alongside the hideously outpaced Class B entrants. Having swept in to save the series from the firebreathing Group A cars and the multi-class system in the late 80's, the irony was that the Super Tourers themselves had become the firebreathing cars that necessitated a multi-class system which was strangling the sport.
A change in direction was drastically needed. Many suggestions were put forward - Andy Rouse put forward a silhouette series known as Superstars, an altered version of the mild Group N cars was put forward, but in this universe the formula settled on was a low cost formula that drew inspiration from the original Super Tourers themselves. The cars are limited to 2 litres and 280bhp, and in order to save costs for the first year engine production has been outsourced to Swindon Powertrains - once the financial health of the series has recovered, teams will be free to develop their own engines but for 2001 spec engines are the order of the day. A number of other spec parts have been specified in order to cut down on costs, while aerodynamics have been vastly simplified in hopes of returning to the close racing that made the series so popular in the previous decade.
Team Owners
West Surrey Racing - Dom
Triple Eight Racing - Peteroli34
Vic Lee Racing - _gg_
JS Motorsport - Bleu
ABG Motorsport - kinnikuniverse
Prodrive - Shawn040217
Team PSP - Rob Dylan
Pro Motorsport -
Team Dynamics - Herrmann95
Gary Ayles Motorsport - TCBY
Bintcliffe Sport Racing -
Barwell Motorsport - Aislabie
RJN Motorsport -
GR Motorsport - CarloSpace
Synchro Motorsport -
John Batchelor Racing - Frogfoot
Spreadsheet with all the deets for you lovely lot.
For this first season, teams are going to either build their own chassis, or sweet-talk another team into selling one to them. I'm simming other series' that have theoretically also adopted these rules in the background (I like to think pretty similar to how Football Manager deals with those leagues you can't be bothered loading but still trundle on in the background) so from next year you'll be able to buy second-hand cars, but this year everyone's on their own on that front.
Chassis tiers are given in the spreadsheet, so that aspect should be fairly self-explanatory. When constructing multiple chassis' in one go, economies of scale mean that each chassis is 5% cheaper than the last. For example, constructing one Tier A chassis would cost £180,000 whereas two Tier A chassis' would cost £351,000 (£180,000 + (£180,000*0.95)) and so on.. Upgrades are posted in a separate tab - as in the BTCC teams often run the same car over multiple seasons, I have intended to increase the amount of upgrades to reflect this, allowing teams to have a year old car (for example) yet still have reasonable scope for upgrades. As with a lot of things in this series, I may tinker depending on effectiveness, but whenever tinkering is taking place it will be communicated clearly in advance.
In the "Car List" sheet there is, funnily enough, a list of cars. These are the cars that I, your loving God, have seen fit to homologate. I've taken the odd liberty with model introduction dates for 2001 (looking at you, Proton Impian and MG ZS), but everything else is kosher. No more cars are to be added for the list for 2001. This sheet also contains the list of manufacturers that are committed to BTCC for 2001, how much financial benefit they provide, and what they look for in terms of driver signing (more on that later). There is also a list of manufacturers who could well be tempted to run a works BTCC outfit; the odds mightn't be great on tempting them in for 2001, but should a customer team build a, say, Alfa 147 and run competently, said manufacturer might look more favourably upon backing them in 2002 and beyond. Cars that have been assigned to manufacturer entries (Astra Coupe, 406 Coupe, Impian, and ZS) aren't available to be built by privateer teams. That is, ABG Motorsport can't build themselves a 406 Coupe for example.
Finally, in the Drivers List sheet, we have a list of drivers. Who would've thought it? This isn't a conclusive list of drivers naturally, more a list of who competed irl in 2001, plus 2000 and the odd smattering of other drivers. If you can realistically think of any suitable drivers not on the list, by all means bid for them. Each driver has been assigned a tier as well - these are very rough, but we'll go with it. Platinum drivers are big names within the series, the kind who hold a lot of sway in the paddock and out of it. Manufacturers will do well to hire these big names, given the marketability that comes with them. Gold drivers are very competent drivers in their own right, and these drivers tend to be either drivers who have made their mark in other series and want to crack tin-tops, or drivers who are mainstays in touring cars without being glamourous. Both Gold and Platinum drivers fully expect to be salaried, and will probably laugh in your face if you ask them to pay their way. Silver drivers are competent drivers, who are unproven at this level. They can bring a bit of sponsorship, the exact amount to be determined by RNG once all bids are collated, but should you choose to offer them a salary (deducted from sponsorship) they'd look very favourably on your bids. Finally, we have the Bronze drivers. These are the gentlemen of the sport, looking to invest some of their own money into their fun little hobby. They expect no salary, and are happy to pay the big bucks for pretty much anything. Once again, the exact amount will be subject to RNG should it be given as a range in the sheet.
If anyone has any questions (I really feel like I'm forgetting many things here), feel free to give me a shout! Otherwise, feel free to start signing up for teams!
A change in direction was drastically needed. Many suggestions were put forward - Andy Rouse put forward a silhouette series known as Superstars, an altered version of the mild Group N cars was put forward, but in this universe the formula settled on was a low cost formula that drew inspiration from the original Super Tourers themselves. The cars are limited to 2 litres and 280bhp, and in order to save costs for the first year engine production has been outsourced to Swindon Powertrains - once the financial health of the series has recovered, teams will be free to develop their own engines but for 2001 spec engines are the order of the day. A number of other spec parts have been specified in order to cut down on costs, while aerodynamics have been vastly simplified in hopes of returning to the close racing that made the series so popular in the previous decade.
Team Owners
West Surrey Racing - Dom
Triple Eight Racing - Peteroli34
Vic Lee Racing - _gg_
JS Motorsport - Bleu
ABG Motorsport - kinnikuniverse
Prodrive - Shawn040217
Team PSP - Rob Dylan
Pro Motorsport -
Team Dynamics - Herrmann95
Gary Ayles Motorsport - TCBY
Bintcliffe Sport Racing -
Barwell Motorsport - Aislabie
RJN Motorsport -
GR Motorsport - CarloSpace
Synchro Motorsport -
John Batchelor Racing - Frogfoot
Spreadsheet with all the deets for you lovely lot.
For this first season, teams are going to either build their own chassis, or sweet-talk another team into selling one to them. I'm simming other series' that have theoretically also adopted these rules in the background (I like to think pretty similar to how Football Manager deals with those leagues you can't be bothered loading but still trundle on in the background) so from next year you'll be able to buy second-hand cars, but this year everyone's on their own on that front.
Chassis tiers are given in the spreadsheet, so that aspect should be fairly self-explanatory. When constructing multiple chassis' in one go, economies of scale mean that each chassis is 5% cheaper than the last. For example, constructing one Tier A chassis would cost £180,000 whereas two Tier A chassis' would cost £351,000 (£180,000 + (£180,000*0.95)) and so on.. Upgrades are posted in a separate tab - as in the BTCC teams often run the same car over multiple seasons, I have intended to increase the amount of upgrades to reflect this, allowing teams to have a year old car (for example) yet still have reasonable scope for upgrades. As with a lot of things in this series, I may tinker depending on effectiveness, but whenever tinkering is taking place it will be communicated clearly in advance.
In the "Car List" sheet there is, funnily enough, a list of cars. These are the cars that I, your loving God, have seen fit to homologate. I've taken the odd liberty with model introduction dates for 2001 (looking at you, Proton Impian and MG ZS), but everything else is kosher. No more cars are to be added for the list for 2001. This sheet also contains the list of manufacturers that are committed to BTCC for 2001, how much financial benefit they provide, and what they look for in terms of driver signing (more on that later). There is also a list of manufacturers who could well be tempted to run a works BTCC outfit; the odds mightn't be great on tempting them in for 2001, but should a customer team build a, say, Alfa 147 and run competently, said manufacturer might look more favourably upon backing them in 2002 and beyond. Cars that have been assigned to manufacturer entries (Astra Coupe, 406 Coupe, Impian, and ZS) aren't available to be built by privateer teams. That is, ABG Motorsport can't build themselves a 406 Coupe for example.
Finally, in the Drivers List sheet, we have a list of drivers. Who would've thought it? This isn't a conclusive list of drivers naturally, more a list of who competed irl in 2001, plus 2000 and the odd smattering of other drivers. If you can realistically think of any suitable drivers not on the list, by all means bid for them. Each driver has been assigned a tier as well - these are very rough, but we'll go with it. Platinum drivers are big names within the series, the kind who hold a lot of sway in the paddock and out of it. Manufacturers will do well to hire these big names, given the marketability that comes with them. Gold drivers are very competent drivers in their own right, and these drivers tend to be either drivers who have made their mark in other series and want to crack tin-tops, or drivers who are mainstays in touring cars without being glamourous. Both Gold and Platinum drivers fully expect to be salaried, and will probably laugh in your face if you ask them to pay their way. Silver drivers are competent drivers, who are unproven at this level. They can bring a bit of sponsorship, the exact amount to be determined by RNG once all bids are collated, but should you choose to offer them a salary (deducted from sponsorship) they'd look very favourably on your bids. Finally, we have the Bronze drivers. These are the gentlemen of the sport, looking to invest some of their own money into their fun little hobby. They expect no salary, and are happy to pay the big bucks for pretty much anything. Once again, the exact amount will be subject to RNG should it be given as a range in the sheet.
If anyone has any questions (I really feel like I'm forgetting many things here), feel free to give me a shout! Otherwise, feel free to start signing up for teams!