Independent Champion

[John]

Know its still early but at this stage who gets your vote for indy champion?

[MG-ZS EX260]

ive got my fingers crossed for Gareth Howell in a ZS, he is working on a deal to drive a ZS this year, and i hope it happens, i will be absolutely gutted if he isnt in the BTCC this year, he is a huge talent.

[lauz]

i hope that gavin pyper will get the GA drive and win the indapendents championship. come on gavin.

[John]

I think Kaye should have the best chance as Synchro are pretty experienced now, James has been around a while and isnt likely to do something stupid (knows how to drive for a championship) and the car is pretty good spec from what I gather so he might give the works Civics a run for their money. Hopefully he'll finish nice and high in the overall championship too :) Only disadvantage I can see is that he only has one car (ie no team mate to help him out if needed) but the same is true for Collard Racing as well.

[Sarah]

Originally posted by MG-ZS EX260
ive got my fingers crossed for Gareth Howell in a ZS, he is working on a deal to drive a ZS this year, and i hope it happens, i will be absolutely gutted if he isnt in the BTCC this year, he is a huge talent.


Totally agree. Gareth would get my vote too. I hope he announces something soon.

[MG-ZS EX260]

yeah, gareth is wicked, and he says he is securing a deal to drive a ZS, interesting as MG (works team) have postponed their launch date due to 'negotiations with sponsors' i think this may be for 1. obviously a new sponsorship deal and 2. for a third or 4th works driver (but are 4th works driers allowed? i dont know much about the rules!)

[John]

There wont be 4 works MGs - theyre struggling to get 3.

Vauxhall basically ran 4 works cars last year so its allowed, just expensive!

[MG-ZS EX260]

Originally posted by John
There wont be 4 works MGs - theyre struggling to get 3.

Vauxhall basically ran 4 works cars last year so its allowed, just expensive!

how can you be sure? :confused: and pls dont say 'it said so in motorsport news!' lol

[Stuart]

Much as I would like to see Rob Collard do well, James Kaye is going to clean up this year.
I can't believe how long he has been overlooked - the guy has been so under-rated for so many years it's untrue!
James is going to be the Matt Neal of the 2003 season!

[John]

Pre-season rumours usually turn out to be fairly accurate - everyone was expecting 3 Honda and 3 Vauxhalls before it was official, but there's been nothing about MG running 4 cars. TAK were basically their satellite team (although they were run as an independent team - slightly cheekily) and they are not returning. It may be that there will be another deal along those lines which would see 4 MGs but we're getting a bit close to the start of the season now.

I'm just being realistic and feel that the best we're going to see is 3 works liveried cars - MG seem to be cutting back on their motorsport spending not just BTCC but Le Mans too.

I'd love to see 4 MGs and would like to be proved wrong because anything that improves the grid size is a good thing, but usually find it best not to get my hopes up then I'll not be dissappointed. (Look at Pug in 2001 - they were running 3 cars at all rounds and a 4th at 4(or5?) events, but in the end it was 2 cars with Slight only appearing at Donington and Matt leaving after Rd1) :(

[John]

Originally posted by Stuart
James is going to be the Matt Neal of the 2003 season!


Thats the good thing - I wouldn't be surprised if he was the second quickest Honda behind Matt - as he's consistently overlooked by works teams (much as Matt was) then the best thing to do is to go and beat them in your private car!
:)

[McKay]

True. Matt Neal could of been champion a few times by now

[Ann]

I wonder if anyone can guess who I voted for?!! :p

[John]

Originally posted by Ann
I wonder if anyone can guess who I voted for?!! :p

Erm........... do we get a clue!! ;) (apart from the avatar and signature of course!) ;)

[thommo_fan]

i'd love to see gavin pyper win it but james kaye and rob collard will both be very strong, i'm really looking forward to them 3 having some right old ding dongs.