Honda racing quits btcc

[inforacing]

Just heard somewhere else that honda will not be returning. i see this as utter rubbish and shant be taking any interest in this rumour until the first race of next season when they line up on the grid. any one else here agree.

[Jamie P-E]

Is this official?

[V6.]

If true........Crud

[tourringcar fan]

I can't see Honda pulling the plug. With Vauxhall likely to be using a new underdeveloped car (vectra?) Honda must be the favs for the championship

[Bill]

I have to say that i wouldn't be surprised if it was true - Honda said at the beginning of the year that nothing other than the title would be good enough, and frankly, they really squandered their chances this year: beaten by Vauxhall in pace, reliability and driver skill, not to mention pit stops.

Honda entered with the desire to win it and leave, IMO, and it hasn't happened. Therefore, although next year would probably provide them with their best chance, I would not be surprised one bit if they've pulled the plug. Sad, though :(

[Alfa Fan]

Honda aren't going to quit the series. I have asked a source with access to information about this and he has told me that they willl be running in 2004.

[Knock-on]

It was reported in the Shropshire post or something that they have sold the cars and will not be competing in 04.

However, as yet, there is no corroborating evidence and it may be that they have just sold the 03 cars (Think it is to GA or TD).

No need for panic just yet. BTW, there is a bit of a rumour that TMSR may return. However, it is only a rumour and it has been said before but there appears to be a little more substance in it. I just don't know what guise as yet.

Lets hope eh :)

[cos]

I'd be surprised if the Shropshire Post got this kind of story before Autosport... :rolleyes:

[Bill]

Originally posted by Alfa Fan
Honda aren't going to quit the series. I have asked a source with access to information about this and he has told me that they willl be running in 2004.
Did this source tell you that they're running a 5-car team for Gavin Pyper, Tom Ferrier, Tim Harvey, Alan Blencowe and Graham Saunders by any chance?? ;)

[touring fan]

I really hope the report is wrong. It just doesn't make sense.

[Les]

since when has motorsport ever made sense?

I see that the number of new Civics registered in September is up again - now I wonder why?

[touringlegend]

I'm trying to get my head round it too, Les...

Honda said this year (can't remember if they did, but they said the same last year) that if they didn't win they'd pull out, so what happens when they win ? Pull out or continue?

I'd have thought if they won that would of been their objective achieved ?

[kevin ritson]

They'd be mad to do so, surely all they have to do is re-sign Matt Neal and they'll be the favourites for next year.

Mind you, they can't win in that situation and I notice Matt's been testing for VLR...

[touring fan]

Surely matt would drive for TD over VLR if honda were to pull out. (especially since they have his old car anyway).

[Jamie P-E]

Originally posted by touring fan
Surely matt would drive for TD over VLR if honda were to pull out. (especially since they have his old car anyway).



If you'd read this weeks AutoSport you would have seen that the VLR Test was a one-off just helping sort the 307 into a quicker car and so it can be where it belongs, up the front.



Jamie
;)

[kevin ritson]

If you'd read this weeks AutoSport you would have seen that the VLR Test was a one-off just helping sort the 307 into a quicker car and so it can be where it belongs, up the front.

...Allegedly

(Wasn't Matt's '93 BMW a joint TD/VL(R)M project?)

[Craig Antill]

Dynamics may well have taken some of Vic's staff on but I believe VLM had been disbanded by then folllowing his arrest.

[Cleland Fan]

I think that's probably about right. Steve Neal and Ray Bellm bought the equipment that had been VLM's, then Bellm sold his share later that year after becoming disillusioned with the car.

[vitesse]

Originally posted by kevin ritson
...Allegedly

(Wasn't Matt's '93 BMW a joint TD/VL(R)M project?)

You might be thinking of his '92 BMW- the black & silver Rimstock Racing M3 ,which was engineered for part of the season by VLM ,and used VLM engines- from memory the car in fact was the ex-VLM Will Hoy '91 championship winner

[vitesse]

Originally posted by Cleland Fan
I think that's probably about right. Steve Neal and Ray Bellm bought the equipment that had been VLM's, then Bellm sold his share later that year after becoming disillusioned with the car.

That about covers it- according to the Touring Car Year annuals, VLM went into receivership following Vic Lee's brush with the law, and Bellm did a deal with the receivers to keep the team running to the end of the season in order to keep Tim Harvey's championship bid alive (from memory did Bellm stand down as a driver and they only ran 2 cars for the rest of the year?)

He then bought the VLM assets for 93 in partnership with Steve Neal to set up TD- some of the crew came from the Euro Racing sportscar team which had folded around that time. The odd thing is, the book describes TD's 1993 cars as being the ex-PRODRIVE 318 Coupes, rather than the VLM ones....

The car Matt had acquired for the last round of 92 after shunting the M3 was apparently the ex-Colin McRae Knockhill 92 Prodrive car, so could the fact that they already had a Prodrive car have had any bearing on it or not, or was it simply that the VLM assets for some reason didn't include the cars....?

[Cleland Fan]

Originally posted by vitesse
The car Matt had acquired for the last round of 92 after shunting the M3 was apparently the ex-Colin McRae Knockhill 92 Prodrive car, so could the fact that they already had a Prodrive car have had any bearing on it or not, or was it simply that the VLM assets for some reason didn't include the cars....?

Quite an ironic car for him to drive really wasn't it? Definitely was an ex Prodrive car - it had the 19 inch black wheels that only the Prodrives had.

[Freddie]

Aren't we getting a bit off topic here?
If Honda pull out the grid will be much the poorer. I find it a bit strange that as the Civics are starting to show promise and VX are looking to replace their all conquering Astras that Honda would pull the plug.
Maybe the MG's scared them. Assuming they will be competing next year. (I do hope it is a cunning plan.)

[Knock-on]

I still think the article was the start to a popularity drive by Honda.

Chilton seems to think he will be back driving for them next year.

[inforacing]

EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. AND HONDA STILL SEEM TO BE PROMOTING TOURING CARS WELL ON THEIR WEBSITE AND AS YOU SAY TOM CHILTON SEEMS TO BELIEVE HE WILL DRIVING NEXT YEAR.

[bramble]

Although in a recent Q&A session on their website Mat Neal doesnt seem to know if they will be continuing next year. He believes he will win the championship if they stay though.