How come Turkington and Chilton get top 10 numbers when they didnt finsih in them?

[John]

The entry list (in Toca News) seems to have Turkington down as #5. Can someone explain that one based on the fact he finished 14th in the championship?!? #5 is Andy P's number (even though he's not entering this year the rules in the past mean that #5 would therefore not be used) Also Chilton has #7.

Sorry but in my opinion top ten numbers are EARNED based on the previous season's positions and shouldn't be given out to drivers who failed to finish in the championship's top 10.

An official explanation would be appreciated!!

[Alan]

Don't quote me on this John - but I think I read somewhere that unused numbers can be allocated at the discretion of the organisers.

I can't remember where I read this but it might answer your question.:)

[Stuart]

Have to agree totally with John on this one. The top ten numbers are a privelage of attainment not to look good in the raceday programme or promotional photos which I guess is what this is all about...

[Bill]

It does seem unfair that these drivers have taken these numbers. David Leslie clearly didn't take up his well-deserved 7, as PSP use 15 and 20 for historical reasons, but these numbers should be a privilege.

After all, nobody has been allowed number 1 in previous years, as they weren't the reigning champ, so I see little difference. Doesn't seem quite right to me.

[thommo_fan]

i reckon turkington has number 5 because reid has number 4 and hughes has number 6, so MG probably wanted their cars to have the numbers 4, 5, 6.
don't know why chilton has number 7 tho.

[McKay]

How come Turkington and Chilton get top 10 numbers when they didnt finsih in them?
Turkington has 5 but Priaulx finsihed there. Turkington finsihed 14th actually.
Chilton has 7 but that is David Leslies finishing place. Chilton finsihed 15th. Could soemone explain becuase i thought you could only have a 1 - 10 number if you finished in the top ten the season before.

[tvgod]

Heres how it works...

The champion driver (if he returns) gets car number one.
If he drives for the champion team, then they also get number 2 for his second driver.

Numbers are then allocated based on the positions of the teams in the championship last year, unless drivers want to use another number for any reason (but they can't choose a number which would be allocated to a team which finished higher)

This is the same system used in Formula One (and pretty much every other championship).

With three-car teams this year, that means

Vauxhall have 1,2,3
MG have 4,5,6
Honda have 7,8,9

[John]

Originally posted by tvgod
Heres how it works...

The champion driver (if he returns) gets car number one.
If he drives for the champion team, then they also get number 2 for his second driver.

Numbers are then allocated based on the positions of the teams in the championship last year, unless drivers want to use another number for any reason (but they can't choose a number which would be allocated to a team which finished higher)

This is the same system used in Formula One (and pretty much every other championship).

With three-car teams this year, that means

Vauxhall have 1,2,3
MG have 4,5,6
Honda have 7,8,9

Erm......... since when?? In FIA championships maybe but this is not an FIA event. Top 10 drivers get position of last season. Anyone finishing outside top ten get choice of number, if there are more than one class then Class A may have #1-49 and class B #50-99

If this has changed to the FIA system then appologies but I have seen no mention of that anywhere.

And btw Matt Neal is #3 and he drives for Honda so that 1,2,3; 4,5,6; 7,8,9 system doesnt actually work anyway - sorry!!

[John]

Oh and by the way who's changed the title of my thread?! Cos its not even spelt right now! :rolleyes: :mad:

[Bill]

John, you're totally right, and I can't believe that the system has been changed. After all, in 1997 we had Biela 1, Menu 2 and Rydell 3, all in different teams taking their position from last year.

I wouldn't have a problem with an FIA system, but we don't have one, instead we have a confusing mess, which would appear to a casual spectator to follow last year's order, where here it doesn't completely.

[tvgod]

Originally posted by John


And btw Matt Neal is #3 and he drives for Honda so that 1,2,3; 4,5,6; 7,8,9 system doesnt actually work anyway - sorry!!

...it does work - O'Neill chose not to take 3, so it became available for another driver.

[John]

Heres the list:

1
Thompson, James
GBR
VX Racing
Vauxhall Astra Coupe

2
Muller, Yvan
FRA
VX Racing
Vauxhall Astra Coupe

3
Matt Neal
GBR
Honda Racing
Honda Civic Type-R

4
Reid, Anthony
GBR
MG Sport & Racing
MG ZS

5
Turkington, Colin
GBR
MG Sport & Racing
MG ZS

6
Hughes, Warren
GBR
MG Sport & Racing
MG ZS

7
Chilton, Tom
GBR
Honda Racing
Honda Civic Type-R

8
OÃ*Neill, Paul
GBR
VX Racing
Vauxhall Astra Coupe

9
Morrison, Alan
GBR
Honda Racing
Honda Civic Type-R

All these are championship order from last time (except Chilton and Turkington - 7 being Leslie's position and 5 being Andy P's position). Thats the way it works and in the past #5 and #7 would have been un allocated.

In 2000 we didnt have Koxy and Leslie on the entry list but they made an appearance during the season (with their correct numbers - 2 & 7) If they had been allocated to other drivers then this wouldnt have been the case.

It might not be such a problem if they were being given to drivers with proven track records (eg Plato and Kaye) but theyre being given to drivers who have never finished in the top ten of the championship.

As for the top ten system being confusing - when I was younger I found it really helpful as it told you who had been a front runner the previous season. It only gets confusing when random drivers are allocated the numbers - now people will think these two finished 5th and 7th in 2002!! Hmmm....... :rolleyes:

Rant over!! ;)

[The Stig]

Do you suppose the teams and some drivers are not fussed by the numbers on their cars. Would many prefer to have, for superstitious, or whatever reasons their personal preferences. To what degree are drivers compelled to wear the official number. There appears to be a heck of a lot of latitude.

[davydriveshaft]

Have you heard you lot, you sound like a bunch of girls who care's what number Turkington and Chilton as long as the racing is fantastic and action packed. now just shut and get a life

thanks you

[*MaNgOmAcHeR*]

Originally posted by tvgod
...it does work - O'Neill chose not to take 3, so it became available for another driver.

No, Neal takes third because he finished third.

[Moderator 2]

Ok guys - enough is enough.

The numbers 1 -10 inclusive are allocated on the basis of 2002 results. If numbers are not taken, either through absence or choice, they can be reallocated at the discretion of the organisers.

I think that is enough discussion on this subject so I am locking this thread.