Is btcc going backwards?

[MG Freak]

Yup..well is it..great to have jason plato back..but with fewer works teams and a rather naff lookin grid..it seems to have lost some of its high ( ish ) profile it had at the end of last season.

Im not arguing about the racing however..that is still ace..but is the btcc trying to go forward too quickly?

[Claw]

Last year it went backwards, due to the fact it wasn't much the same from 2002!

2003 had the same everything from 2002 and the Pug 307 was about the only difference. I'm much more excited about 2004, even if there isn't that many works teams, I don't care cos we are getting great racing.

[mark]

I ceratinly dont think the championship is going backwards. The TV deals this year are the best we've ever had (regardless of peoples thoughts on them) 3 previous champions competing together, a number of cars represented by works and independant teams, a return to one single championship (no more proddies which I thought didn't look or feel right at all for the past few years), Alan Gow back in charge and certainly doing a good job so far.

[kevin ritson]

But it is a worry that there's a good chance this year will be another one where the other teams show promise whilst VX clean up. You can only go so far with this story - look at F1, I wonder if there'll be a championship next year as it's clear Ferrari will be boring us all again.

[Croft fan]

No.
Simple. with more cars than what seems like forever, and the introduction of ETc spec cars I think things are looking up. More cars are expected and when the new boys get it together and get the expereince they need its looking good. Lets just hope that once they have the experence then they will be around next season to use it. It seems as thought by the time the new boys get experince then there off and are not heard from again.

BTCC ON THE UP!!!!!!!!

[John]

The main thing that needs improving is the number of ex champs on the grid. This year we have 3 which is what we had in 2000 so things are on the up - however here's something to think about. In 1997 there were the champions from 1996 (Biela), 95 (Cleland), 94 (Tarquini), 92 (Harvey), 91 (Hoy), 90 (Gravett) and 89 (although admittedly that was Cleland again). The only one missing was Winkelhock and that would have made champions from the previous 8 seasons on the grid! Or the equivelent of having Muller, Thompson, Plato, Menu, Aiello, Rydell and Biela on the grid today.

It's all very well saying that its no use living in the past and we need new drivers rather than those expensive drivers from the ST era but I don't see many of the so called new generation being much cop (As has been mentioned elsewhere regarding certain Honda drivers!) and I'm sure a race starring Menu, Rydell, Aiello and co would attract many more viewers than one starring Chilton and a load of other pay drivers.

But apart from that issue and the lack of manufacturer entries I certainly regard the BTCC as being on the up. Compare the number of Touring class cars on Sunday's grid to the number on the grid at round one in 2001 (8) and in 2000 (11). Which is all the more impressive considering the fact that many other championships have been losing entries in recent years (F1, F3000 and WRC to name 3 of the most high profile series).

Hopefully Alan can build on the good work done at the end of last season and during the winter to attract some more entries (and high profile drivers!!) to the series later in the season and next year.

[Peter]

The championship is going forwards, but there is still quite some way to go.

Alan Gow's return to the helm of the championship was great news. His decision to allow ETCC-spec machines was definitely a step forward, with the likes of SEAT and Plato being part of the championship. Did anyone see the SEAT stand on the pit wall? It was almost Formula 1 standard and a good sign! I am also pleased to see the back of the production class, as it was only a substitute for the lack of touring class cars.

Television coverage is definitely a step in the right direction. The Motors coverage keeps a lot of the die hard fans quiet, meanwhile ITV's extended coverage this year can only bring in new fans. That said, we are still not yet at the point where all the races are shown live, which is the case with DTM and Australian V8s. Maybe we will never reach that level, but lets hope we do!

Manufacturer involvement has gone backwards this year. Although series such as Australian V8s can get away with there being no clear team respresentative for each manufacturer, it seems unlikely that independent teams can challenge Vauxhall for the championship. Honda, who cut their support for no obvious reason, are a good example of that problem. You have also got to be concerned by MG's lack of sponsorship and Reid's own fears that they might not be able to complete the season. Havng said that, there seems to be a good chance that Honda will return with a full works backing next season and Alfa and BMW could follow in the footsteps of SEAT.

Another result of manufacturers not supporting the teams enough is top drivers being tempted away to the ETCC and DTM. It is great that Jason has returned this year, but the attempt to get Menu into Honda failed. It would also be great to see some ex-Formula 1 drivers, such as Mansell returning. I think this is a crucial point, as when he raced at Silverstone in 1998, the attendance was 50,000! Why not get TOCA to fund a guest car?

Crowd figures also seemed slightly up on last year. However, it is unclear whether that will be the case throughout the season. Meanwhile, there is no apparent fix for the average attendance being half of what it was in the mid-90s.

I think I have mentioned most of the key points.