Long distance BTCC

[AussieV8]

Just wandering if or do they have long distance races (as per like Bathurst) and if not would you like to have them:)

[John]

Longest was those ones at Donington in the 80s when they had driver changes (I dont think there are any others, but Im sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong!)

They weren't that long though to be honest - think they were only an hour.

I'd love to see LONG distance races like Bathurst as it brings in so many other elements to a race. Also it means there are twice as many drivers on the grid as each car needs two pilots.

[AussieV8]

I reakon that the BTCC cars should do a couple of endurance races in the off season. How great would that be 100 laps around Brandie GP.

[John]

Maybe leave it a few years - do you reckon there'd be any finishers after 100 laps of Brands GP based on the past few races we've had there!! ;)

[AussieV8]

Well 50 then.:cool:

[lauz]

i dont think that long distance races would be a good idea because it would get boring in the cars aren't all racing side by side, which is what would happen.

[John]

Lauz - did you see Bathurst in 1998 with Matt Neal and Rickard Rydell - you cant tell me that was boring!

I think it would make a nice change once in a while.

[lauz]

nope i didn't see it

[John]

You'll have to borrow my video of it then - sure Aussie will agree it was a pretty cool race.

Not much contact or side by side racing but didnt know who was going to win til the end.

[McKay]

Is it available from duke? if you got it off the web could you pm me the site please?

[John]

I just recorded it off Grandstand. I dont know if they're available to buy or not. Aussie might know though - we just have to wait for the other side of the world to be awake for his reply!! ;)

[Mocko]

It IS on Duke.

[Claw]

I recorded both Bathurst 97 & 98 off Grandstand and both were excellent races. A long distance race would be good, but I don't think the current BTCC cars would last the race.

[AussieV8]

Guess what I'm awake but not for long as its nearly midnight here and I have to work tomorrow starting at 4.30am (on my B/day).

Yes I have to agree they might not have been V8's but the 4cyl's put on a brillant race.

I actual worked in the pits that year with the Mazda 626 car 71 as he is from the Mazda Car Club.

Send me a pm and I'll help you out with some sites for our cars here.

Still think a long distance race would be a cracka.:D

[cav1995]

Hate the thought of using Rockinghams oval but it would probably be the choice of circuit for an endurance race.

[Claw]

BTCC on oval for and enduro would be rather dull. The BTCC doesn't do oval.
Best place in Britian would probably be Brands GP.

[AussieV8]

I totally agreed Claw 50laps around Brands GP what a race.

Two drivers, tyre and fuel stops and you might even see a proddie up in the top five.

[Paul Rayner]

Is there an Aussie GT championship?

The British GT Championship is trying all sorts of different race lengths this year, from 40 minutes to 1000km. They have driver changes, so I don't see why Touring Cars needs to go that way when there's already a championship that does it.

[AussieV8]

Paul

Not sure what sort of cars they use in the British GT's but we have many catergories here that do long distance races not just the V8's.
The BTCC is your national title races and why not have enduro's for them to see how they would perform over a long distance.
They could schedule the races in the off season.

[Paul Rayner]

The British GT championship is for sportscars, things like TVR Speed 12s, Lister Storms, Saleens.
The British GT championship is also a "national title race", although it's not as big as the BTCC.
As for the off-season, that's not an option in Britain, because of the weather. People might stand being in a covered stadium watching a football match in the cold of winter, but they won't stand around all day at a race track. That is except for a few of us who would be daft enough to!

[Cleland Fan]

Get the tourers in a mini version of the Willhire race. ;)

[Alex]

Nope, we had a race like that in 1990, but I have seen it and was not a big fan.

[Mocko]

Originally posted by Paul Rayner

The British GT championship is also a "national title race", although it's not as big as the BTCC.


But for some daft reason it's considered a club championship (judging by Autosport).

Next year REALLY promises to be great with the GT Cup class.

I'd like to see a nice long race but the actual race would have to be promoted to be a spectacle. Driver change, fuel stops, BTCC cars.... smells good.

[Reynard]

I believe they did several 1-hour races in the BTCC in the 1980s; I came across numerous references when I was sorting out some Autosport back issues. There were two - Donington & Silverstone, one hour in length plus a driver change, though that format was ditched when the BTCC switched entirely to the 2-litre formula in 1991.

Other than that, they resurrected the Tourist Trophy as a non-championship end of season event for a couple of years in the mid 90's, but that didn't last long and the final running of that was in 1997.

[John]

Whats the official reason for ditching the TT? I liked that, especially as other cars came in (eg the German Audis) and there were guest drivers (didnt Slight drive a Honda in 97?)

Wish they'd bring back a similar non-championship end of season event. (Mind you I wish they'd have more than 10 rounds of the championship but that doesnt look set to change!)

[burfield17]

i think that a long distance race in da BTCC would be a great idea, you know, to finish of the season in style

[AussieV8]

Have a Bathurst style race around Brands or somewhere with support class racing and use it as the grand final. :)