Rayovac Team Varta Join BTCC and Kaye Confirms at Syncro

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

28.2.03 Rayovac Team Varta join BTCC
It is confirmed that the John Batchelors BTCC production team will no longer race under its former name of Team B&Q/Jet/York City, but will instead race under the name of Rayovac Team Varta.

Plans to work along side Vic Lee Racing's Peugeot team have been scraped, and John will once again run a pair of Honda Accords of which were riddled with engine problems last year. However Batchelor hopes that this year the teams luck will change with the arrival of a new engine supplier. Young gun Tom Boardman (formerly of Edenbridge Racing), will be competing for the team alongside Jim Edwards JNR, who returns for the team for a second year.




28.2.03 Syncro Motorsport step up to BTC-T

Syncro Motorsport have confirmed they will join the ranks of the BTCC Touring class in 2003, with a Honda Civic Type-R driven by production champion James Kaye.
Syncro will run one of the Honda Civic Type-R's which have previously won races in the hands of the Honda Racing 2002 BTCC touring team, and Kaye and the team will hope to be bringing the privately entered car to victory again. Syncro Motorsport are on of a number of last years production class teams to step up into the main arena. Collard Racing have confirmed they will enter Aaron Slights old Barwell Motorsport Vauxhall Astra with Rob Collard at the helm, whilst Gary Ayles Motorsport plans to run a pair of BTC-T Vauxhall Astras in the championship. The plans of Vic Lee Racing are Unknown.

[John]

I saw that about JB&Q and have to say I was very dissappointed, we were all expecting great things, 307s with the possibility of having some links with VLR in touring and its basically the same as last year but with a driver swap. Presumably its things outside the control of the team that has resulted in these decisions being made but it seems that each year there are great plans which never seem to come off :(

Oh well - I am a fan of the team so will support them again - but I don't know what the chances will be as the Accords are a bit past it now compared to the leading production cars (BMWs, Civics and Alfas).

While we're on the subject can I ask who or what Rayovac and Varta are because I've never heard of those names before. :confused:

Ta

[lauz]

yyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeesssssssssssss tom boardman has a drive!!!
shame that it isn't in a 307. i hope that the accord's are better this year than they were last year.
great news for james kaye aswell.

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Originally posted by John

While we're on the subject can I ask who or what Rayovac and Varta are because I've never heard of those names before. :confused:


Rayovac are a battery maker I think. There main colour is black so I dont want to think what the car will look like ;)

[Les]

Rayovac were a sponsor last year - from Ireland I believe.

Tom is really pleased to have something confirmed. He was thinking the old pink Pug would have to come out of mothballs ;). He is just hoping to get some track time prior to the season starting.

Jim is just pleased I'm pleased (stock up on the tea bags Ann for Mondello!)

Season looking very good to me


:D

[John]

Can you still get spare parts for the Accord then as there will be an increased demand for bumpers if Tom's driving!! ;) Just kidding! :D

[Les]

heh I've got one in the loft!!!

[John]

any idea what Hylas plans are for this season then?

are these the same cars as last season? Take it if they are they didnt find a buyer in autosport then?

[Steve Mach]

Great news to see James Kaye back it just proves what the production class can bring.
James can drive his own championship and prove how good he is in a "happy team".
Go for it.

[The Stig]

That's ok isn't it ? - JB&Q/J/YC, as was, back on the grid with apparently decent finance. Got to give people credit for persevering. Tom Boardman is entertaining and will bring the team on. A healthy production series now isn't necessarily a bad thing is it. Forward thinking teams have to have aspirations. Some of todays Production teams might be tomorrows Tourers. James Kaye will be a worth a watch and Rob Collard definitely deserves some better luck. Just need VLR to firm up and we must be nearly there.

[Craig Antill]

Originally posted by John
any idea what Hylas plans are for this season then?

are these the same cars as last season? Take it if they are they didnt find a buyer in autosport then?

Hyla's plans are simple - he's gonna fight for a seat elsewhere to prove to everyone that he CAN drive. Unfortunately for him he was drafted in to a team last year that could not provide him with a car that would last more than about five minutes before blowing up. A car that made JSM look like professionals. Because of the number of blowups people automatically blame Hyla but the truth was it simply wasn't his fault. And that is something that those who were there are well aware of.

It is my personal view that he should have been offered a seat in the team this season but there is no room in this sport for 'doing the decent thing' and so he missed out to someone who was ringing funds to the team. Same old story for him I'm afraid :(

I believe he has a number of options but everything always comes down to money. Sadly neither he, nor Team Varta (or whatever it's called) has any at present. It's all very unfair, but that is motorsport for you. Whatever he ends up doing I wish him the very best of luck and look forward to seeing him back in a car worthy of his name.

[mark]

Varta are also a battery/electronics manufactuer.

[John Batchelor]

A couple of things re the Team.
rayovac team Varta is a working title at present the official team name will be announced at the media day.
I can now also reveal that the cars this year will also include a Peugot 307 driven by Tom, the Accord will be piloted by Jim and has been totally re-engineered for the job.
from a sponsorship point of view it will help us greatly to have a foot in two different camps like this, although it does present a challenge from a logistics front.
As usual the team welcomes anyone to come and meet us at the events and is really pleased with the suport that everyone has given us up to press.
Cheers
John

[John]

Originally posted by John Batchelor
I can now also reveal that the cars this year will also include a Peugot 307 driven by Tom, the Accord will be piloted by Jim and has been totally re-engineered for the job.

That sounds hopeful! Does the fact that Jim has the Honda mean that the Honda is expected to be the quicker / more consistent of the two or is it just because he's driven it for the past two seasons?

Also is the 307 going to be ready for the start of the season or introduced part way in?

Best of luck though, sounds promising :)

[John Batchelor]

The 307 is pretty much ready now, the question is will another car make an appearance making us a three car team?! Remember we have an excellent test/development driver in Hyla Breese, it would be good, if it could be done, to get him out racing.

[Frank Rizzo]

Craig - excuse me if this comes across wrongly, but are you still associated with the team? You're post seems a little critical and even dismissive of a team that you clearly have had close ties to in the past - just wondering. (Also seems odd that John has also come onto the same thread to clarify things.

Either way, good luck to Jim, Tom, John (and Hyla) and team this year.

[lauz]

tom in a 307! that is great news! i hope that this means that he is going to be in with a good chance of winning. I can't wait until the first round in dublin!

[Les]

this gets even better!!:D :D :D :D

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Fantastic news :D :cool: :D :cool: :D :cool:

[lauz]

i wonder if tom's 307 is going to be pink?

[Les]

I very much doubt it as the old one was only pink because that was the colour it originally was.
Not that I would mind having a pink car out there or a black and pink car.

[Craig Antill]

Originally posted by Frank Rizzo
Craig - excuse me if this comes across wrongly, but are you still associated with the team? You're post seems a little critical and even dismissive of a team that you clearly have had close ties to in the past - just wondering. (Also seems odd that John has also come onto the same thread to clarify things.

Either way, good luck to Jim, Tom, John (and Hyla) and team this year.

Just my opinion. Maybe I'm too soft for this game.

[Ann]

Glad to hear it is true about Tom in a 307 - should be good :D

Good luck to both drivers (or all 3 if that does come off) & the team as a whole.

[thommo_fan]

good news that a 307 will be in the production class, hopefully there will be a couple in the touring class as well.
i'm very happy james kaye is in the touring class.