Best format

[John]

We've had 4 different racing formats in 4 years of "new look BTCC" so I thought I'd ask which you think is the best

(try to take account of the number of cars and drivers at the time and don't let that affect the answer - eg 2001 may not have been as good as 2004 because of the lack of entries rather than the format of the racing!)

unless I'm getting my years confused:

2001 had a short sprint race with Tourers unlapping themselves from the Production class followed by a longer pit stop with a rolling start,

2002 had a short sprint race and a longer pit stop race with standing starts in each and no unlapping of Production cars,

2003 had two races of equal length both with pit stops,

2004 has three races of equal length (obviously shorter distance) with no pit stops.

Clear?? Then get voting! ;)

[btcc-thunder]

i think my perfect set up would be this, three races no pitstops, reverse grid for race 2 but where the grid has been reversed to will be kept secret til after the race has finished, and no success ballast just a base weight for each spec of cars.

Most results (seat excluded) show doing well in the first race adds ballast meaning they then do less well in the second as the cars are heavier and starting further down the grid. Surely more overtaking would result if the podium guys from the 1st race started 10th 9th and 8th with no additional ballast.

Also i think the everchanging weights of the cars really hurts the teams with limited development such as proton and privateer teams as it wrecks their setup.

[bramble]

I think this years has been the best so far, but it could still use some improvements. I doubt we'll see the return of the pit stops as long as the races are 30mins, but I used to enjoy those in the feature race.

[Amanda]

I think the format for this year is the best! I could never keep up with what was going on during the pit stops so am glad we don't have them this year.

[Claw]

I wasn't much a fan of the pit stops, I felt it strung the field out to much and made the drivers think, I can overtake him in the pitstop. (Like F1) That why 2003 was such a poor year IMO. I certainly didn't enjoy 03.

So 2004 get my vote!

[Sudsy 23]

2004 easy. It's better with no pitstops because faster cars could just sit behind the slower cars and pass them with quicker in laps rather than passing on the track.