Vincent Radermecker

[King Cleland]

I think he was great!

He did well against Rydell in a team that is traditionally geared towards Rydell.

He also did well in Vauxhall despite being the 3rd driver!

[lauz]

he was good. there are rumours that he is going to join the ascar series next year if he doesn't get a drive in the french touring cars.

[Amanda]

Vincent is a great driver and a very nice person. I would love to see him back in the BTCC but if not it would be good to see him at ASCAR.

[King Cleland]

He was always linked with the second Lexus in 2001 I remember, shame it never materialised

[John]

Definately agree - did really well in 1999, even though he wasnt always on the pace of Rik, presumably the team focused its efforts on their number 1 in an attempt to catch Nissan. And also remember that Rikard had been with the volvo for years and it was a new car for Vince.

Same goes for 2000 - clearly the number 3 driver (as Ive commented on in the Yvan Muller thread) did really well considering and deserves a top drive!

[King Cleland]

Finally, someone who agrees with me, everyone else I chat to says he is rubbish!

[John]

Rubbish? - Based on what?

As I say its difficult to compare team mates in some cases because of things that might not be made public (eg I never realised at the time but in 1997 Biela had a new A4 but Bintcliffes was an updated 96 car) and then theres the fact that both teams Vincent drove for had an established 'favourite' driver and there were team orders with both for him to concede places to these drivers (maybe not at the start of 99 but certainly at the end of the season)

[King Cleland]

I'm not sure, he was a ****** good driver though!

[The Stig]

How many teams do you reckon have a "preferred" driver for whatever reason. In spite of the fact the number two has as much or more ability. Reckon the rules should specifically state each driver should have the same equipment, not just the same component supplier. Politics isn't just on the news is it ???

[John]

Theres always going to be someone the team likes better than another driver - thats life. Theres people I like more than others for whatever reason and this translates itself into favouritism - its not very professional but thats how it works unfortunately.

As for equipment presumably its not always possible to have two or three of everything ready at the same time so someone has to get upgrades first - but again it is a bit unfair.

Usually though its not that blatent and occassionally it evens itself out. But its a shame for the driver who loses out and appears slow when compared to his team mate in a supposedly identical car when this may not be the case.

[King Cleland]

There will always be team politics in M'sport

[The Stig]

Politics, heh - who needs it
Take your points - BTCC is the real world

[thommo_fan]

i honestly don't think there is much team politics in the new era of the btcc, in the super touring days there certainly were tho.

if you look at last year, apart from the egg team and maybe proton you can't really say any of the teams had number 1 and 2 drivers or a team favoured one driver over the other.
the teams let them get on with it and race each other, just the way it should be.

[Claw]

Never really rated him to highly. Just my opinion. Maybe, cos he was driving like a hooligun at the last meeting of 2000, and ultimately, his stupid driving, ended Reid's quest for the title.

What made me laugh, was everyone saying he was Rydells most competitive team-mate!! They obviously forgot Tim Harvey who won 2 races in '95, often beated Rydell and lead the '95 championship at one time.

[John]

Originally posted by Claw
Never really rated him to highly. Just my opinion. Maybe, cos he was driving like a hooligun at the last meeting of 2000, and ultimately, his stupid driving, ended Reid's quest for the title.

True - but Menu would have won anyway cos Reid was too far down the field when he went out. It was the dropped score rule that lost him the championship.



Originally posted by Claw
What made me laugh, was everyone saying he was Rydells most competitive team-mate!! They obviously forgot Tim Harvey who won 2 races in '95, often beated Rydell and lead the '95 championship at one time.

Yeah whats with that - Harvey seems to be forgotten whenever people talk about Volvo drivers. Strange.

[thommo_fan]

he was a underestimated driver in his 2 years in the btcc, the same can be said about J C-Boullion, who i think was just as good as radermecker.

[King Cleland]

JCB did well, maybe he could have been great in a few years!

[Claw]

I think people were a bit harsh on JCB, as towards the end of the season in '99 he had many strong results.

[John]

Dunno what it was about JCB he just seemed to be overlooked - dont think I recall him ever being interviewed for the TV coverage so maybe thats got something to do with it? Or maybe its because he was new and there was a lot of focus on others at the time?

On the interview thing - there were a few drivers who werent favoured for interviews - on grid walks they'd always be walked straight past.

[King Cleland]

Yer, there are a few people I never heard interviews from!

[thommo_fan]

the only interview JCB did, well it wasn't really a interview, was in 1999 at knockhill when all the drivers were being asked who they thought would win the championship, JCB said 1 word, ''aiello''.

even mark blair got a proper interview in 1999.

[Claw]

He did get interviewed at Thruxton 1999, in the "..who are you? who, who, who,who,who?? I really wanna know!" bit! :rolleyes:

[King Cleland]

I don't remember that feature

[John]

I thought that was Aiello - but as thats one I dont have taped I am probably wrong

[Claw]

It was Aiello and JCB!

Cure, you people know nothing! :p

[King Cleland]

It was 3 years ago!

[John]

Ok ok sorry!! Blame the person who videod over it!! Or sort me out with a copy then I'll get it right next time!! ;)

[King Cleland]

:rolleyes: Come on now! :p (jokes)