pug/ halfords 307

[neilthenut]

VLR are building 307's right?
If not then why not?
If so will they still be halfords?
Drivers? Dan, Carl and Tim?

Are they BTC-P or BTC-T?

[Fiona]

I read somewhere that Clio driver Daniel Buxton tested with VLR and was only slightly behind Dan Eaves times. Could he possibly be in the driver line up ?

[John]

Presume we are talking Production here are we?

How much more difficult would it be to make a Tourer? VLR is very experienced and presumably built the 406 (with Pug funding) and those BMWs in the early 1990s.

Would be great to see them in Touring this year and I reckon Dan Buxton is a good driver, saw him in Clios ages ago and was impressed.

[Claire]

From what I understand VLR will be contesting both the Production and Touring Class in 2003, possibly with 307's. No mention of drivers, but hopefully Dan will be in there somewhere.
Daniel Buxton did test the 406 but I think it was a publicity thing for him rather than a chance for a drive. This is info I've picked up from various sources and may not be 100% correct, please don't shoot me if it's wrong!!

[Ann]

I believe the BTC-P 307s are confirmed although not the drivers as yet. From what I've heard the hope is to do both classes, as Claire says, but they are still finalising various deals. Watch this space!

[Ed- the MG fan]

Aren't there romours that VLR and Team B&Q are joing forces this year

With Vic running cars in the Tourers, whilst Team B&Q run VLR 306s in tyhe production class. Or something like that.

[thommo_fan]

i saw on another site that VLR hope to run 3 pug 307's in the touring class this year, 3 more cars would be a big boost to the indie cup.
i'd like to see danny buxton in one of the pug 307's along with eaves and harvey.

apprently team atomic kitten are defunct tho

[lauz]

i hope danny buxton gets a chance in the touring cars. he was impressive in the clio's. dan eaves is a great driver. i think if he was in a more competitive car then he would be in with a chance of being champion.

[Claire]

Originally posted by lauz
dan eaves is a great driver. i think if he was in a more competitive car then he would be in with a chance of being champion.

I couldn't agree more, fingers crossed VLR/Team Halfords confirm thier cars and drivers very soon. :cool:

[The Stig]

Not a fan of Dan Eaves in the same way as Claire and Fiona, but he's deffo the sort of driver the series needs to hang on to. Huge talent and given the right wheels a potential champion.

[Fiona]

Originally posted by The Stig
Not a fan of Dan Eaves in the same way as Claire and Fiona, but he's deffo the sort of driver the series needs to hang on to. Huge talent and given the right wheels a potential champion.

It's not me that's into Dan Eaves, think its Claire & Ann !

[Tim.Lad]

I canÃ*t really say where I heard this but I was told that Tim Sugden has be in talk to drive a pug this year of what variety I donÃ*t know, but it all depends on how his GT commitments work out.

[Alex]

Dan Eaves would be a great driver in the right car. It's a shame that he is potentially out of the series this year. :(

[kestrel]

Originally posted by Claire
From what I understand VLR will be contesting both the Production and Touring Class in 2003, possibly with 307's. No mention of drivers, but hopefully Dan will be in there somewhere.


:confused: Heard Dan Eaves is looking at the Seat Cupra Cup with a view to getting into ETC.

[lauz]

Originally posted by kestrel
:confused: Heard Dan Eaves is looking at the Seat Cupra Cup with a view to getting into ETC.


it would be a shame to lose dan from the series.

[speedy king]

It will be a great shame to loose Dan, hopefully he wont leave us, but i see him as the future champion of the BTCC in a few years time.

If he does go in to seats, he won the btcc independant cup, 2003 ETCC works entry?!?!

[thommo_fan]

aren't VLR involved in the seat cupra cup?

it would be a great shame to lose dan but he would have a good chance of winning the seat cupra cup, where as if he stays in the btcc with VLR and they do run 307's its unlikely he could challenge for the champioship seeing as VLR haven't started testing yet.
if they do decide to run 307's that is.

[neilthenut]

so VLR are running in the BTCC and BTCP this year?

:D :D :D :D

[thommo_fan]

its only rumoured they are in btc-touring this year, but they are in btc-p for certain

[cos]

Nothing is certain until Toca publish the entry list for this year. At least wait for VLR to make an announcement before saying that they are definitely in BTCP this year.

[Alfa Fan]

Originally posted by lauz
it would be a shame to lose dan from the series.

Dan works for VLR so he's not going anywhere. He even said that last year. he tested the SEAT Cupra-R after being invited to do so by SEAT!

[John]

Just thought of something - why the link between VLR and Pug? They ran the 406s for Pug in 2001 and kept them to run as privateers in 2002, but apart from that is there anything linking the two companies? They are unlikely to use the 406s again this year so any new car is going to have to be made from scratch, therefore why does it have to be a Pug?

There are a couple of MGs floating about without an owner at the minute (unless they have been bought already), those cursed Luxuses/Lexi or something completely different - eg renew the early 1990s links with BMW or something.

[Carl Breeze fan]

They do still have a link with Peugeot in that they run the works team in the British Rally Championship

[John]

Ah ok. Although that doesnt mean they have to run Peugeots in the BTCC - Prodrive used to run Subarus and Fords (and a lot of other things).

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

They also have a 307 that Tim Harvey ran in Macau (spelling??). Apparently the car was pretty fast and could be used in the BTC-P. I don't know if its confirmed but apparently its very likely. Possibly some involvment with John B&Q aswell.

[John]

But as you say thats a production spec car. Although it probably makes sense if you are running in BTCT and BTCP to use the same make of car.

The VLR/B&Q link has been around for a while - I wondered whether its something like B&Q to focus on production and VLR to focus on Touring but share info, sporsors etc.

Hopefully all will be revealed in due course

[neilthenut]

band Q r running 2 307's, and tom boardmans comifrmed for 1 of them.

[Craig Antill]

We have not confirmed our plans at all yet, Neil. As and when things are finalised we will make an official announcement.

[Frank Rizzo]

Craig - any idea when this will be?

I'm a big fan of Jim Edward's, and I'm sure he would be in with a shout given a proper car and decent development through the season.

It'd be great to see Jim and Tom running together - a bit like a battle of age! (sorry Gin..)

[Craig Antill]

Not until all the pieces are in place. We don't want to announce anything until that time.

[Reynard]

Quoted from the latest issue of the august bible:

Peugeot's 307 model looks set to make its BTCC debut this season in the premier class

Reigning Independent's Cup champion Vic Lee Racing is facing a race against time to prepare the Touring class car for the first round at Mondello Park in April. Last year's 406s have been retained as a back-up for the start of the year.

Team boss Vic Lee said: "We are a long way behind with the design and budget, but we want to do it."

No deal has been announced on the drivers, but former BTCC champ Tim Harvey is unlikely to stay with the team.

[Claire]

The first positive sign, thank goodness for that. Shame that Tim may not be there but that then looks good for Dan and Carl. :D

[Ann]

Finally something remotely like a confirmation! Lets hope it all comes good for them.

[Amanda]

Fingers crossed it all works out.

[thommo_fan]

great news for the indie cup if VLR can find the money.
they've left it late tho. theres always one!:D

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

6 days for them to enter. Cut off point is the 28th of feb I belive.

[thommo_fan]

is there any news of the beacon entry, or a third MG, or james kaye in a honda?

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Beacon have confirmed that due to sponsorship problems they will not enter. MG will unveil there plans on March 11th.

[touringlegend]

10th March I thought...


So from what I understand, VLR will definitely be in the touring class, whether they have to use the 406's again or not..??

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

yup my appologies it is march 10th.

[Claw]

Originally posted by thommo_fan
is there any news of the beacon entry, or a third MG, or james kaye in a honda?

Kaye is definatly in the Civic this year.

Any news on Harvey if he is not staying with VLR?

[John]

Not many seats left really are there? I would have thought staying at VLR was his best option, but I dont know the reasons behind him (or the team?) not continuing with each other.

Hopefully he'll be there somewhere as think the series needs him

[bramble]

from VLR

"We will have a presence there this year, as of yet we
have not announced the full sponsorship package
including driver line-up, but will hope to do so
within the next couple of weeks."

[BTCCNEWS]

Thank you 'bramble' for letting people know the official situation for VLR's entry in BTCC. I did read in Autosport that the 307's are not ready yet and there maybe a possibility of running the 406's until they are. Is that likely?:confused:

[BTCC]

I see that the VLR website has pictures of the new Peugeot 307 super production car with Harveys name on it.

[Ann]

I think you'll find that is the car that Tim raced at Macau at the end of last year rather than a clue to the future - but then who knows!