What does everyone think about the first half of the BTCC season?

[DavidRobert]

As we've now finished the first half of the season, i'm just asking what has everyone thought of the season so far? I think it has been an amazing seaon so far, full of drama and excitement. It's also good to see more cars on the grid, and to also see the likes of T O C, Jackson do really well. I'm looking forward to the other half of the season, and like most other fans, i will be at Donington Park, which is also my local Track :D

[mattlovestbs]

right, here goes: -

Brands - slightly subduced start, but teams still getting used to the cars. Good to see Matt win in a car that didn't have much testing, and that we saw 2 future stars both doing well, Adam Jones and Mat Jackson, alongside T.O-C. 6/10

Rockingham - back to typical BTCC, plenty of carnage, and some very good racing, race 2 between TOC and Tom Chilton, and good to see Mat Jackson carry on his impressive form, and the new Vectra prove it has the pace. 8/10

Thruxton - typical Thruxton. Fast paced, Seat starting to show they haven't the pace of VXR, Team RAC or Halfords. Biggest Cheer was Dave Pinkney leading the 3rd race. 7/10

Croft - VXR continued dominance of the series, Darren Turners 1st win, which was well deserved. Went to prove that this is going to be a year for the Manufacturers. 1st BMW Win for Turkington. 7/10

Oulton Park - Weather made this the best meeting of the year so far. Good to see Flash get a win, he's proving he's faster than Matt Neal (finally), Mat Jackson getting his 1st win, and another strong showing from Mat Jackson. he's a future champion. 9/10.

What do i expect from the remaining 15 races?

More damaged cars, some immense racing - Donington, Snetterton and Knockhill to provide that. Hopefully a few new drivers to bolster the grid, and some more new winners and a title fight to be put alongside the 2004 fight, going down to the last race.

could the 2007 BTCC be the best ever??

and oh - Andy Priaulx to be at a BTCC meet so i can meet him ;)

[nealfan]

As a whole the championship so far has been excellent. VXR have improved alot since last year, TD have built an excellent civic. Good to see the likes of TOC and Jackson racing in the championship. Bit disapointed in seat, was expecting them to disapear with the championship as they have the upper hand of already been s2000 spec

[laurat]

i think it is going pretty well to be honest but i do think now that it is into the second half - it needs to start hotting up a little more than it has been doing!!! We need to be seeing a lot more action and a heck of a lot more determination from the top 4 or 5 drivers - cos there is a championship to be won and one of them has to in it!

[thompp]

Its been good, but so far not as good as last year which I thought was a great season, even though we've had bigger grids in 2007. This year the most "interesting" racing has been due to large number of incidents rather than great moves. I agree with laurat's comments about the competitiveness between the top drivers. I'm hoping Donnington will match last year's classic racing.

[turk06]

donington was fantastic last year, i cant wait for this year. i cant really comment on the rest of the season cas i cant remeber what i done yesterday. i think i may have went to work but i aint sure cos my garage isnt full of vauxhalls any more. to many nissans. i cant remeber if i have a new job. i just remeber anything.:confused:

[MGMattL]

Personally this year has been GREAT!! Whether thats because of the racing, or because we (my wife and I) have got to know certain of the teams better this year, I'm not sure - but we certainly are enjoying it more than previous years where we are effectively cheering for a car rather than the driver within.

[ted]

its been a good year so far, (not as good as 2004) i guess the good thing about 3races is it makes the dvd better cos of more action. still miss pit stops though. plus i hope it rains more to mix things even more ( i sure you lot who stand in the crowd dont agree!):D

[CharlieJ]

donington was fantastic last year, i cant wait for this year. i cant really comment on the rest of the season cas i cant remeber what i done yesterday. i think i may have went to work but i aint sure cos my garage isnt full of vauxhalls any more. to many nissans. i cant remeber if i have a new job. i just remeber anything.:confused:
Turk... you need to keep away from ASDA - stop buying so much of that cheap beer. ;)

[laurat]

well to be honest as each year goes on I feel as though I've learnt a heck of a lot from each team - there is always new stuff to learn and as the old saying goes - 'you leant something new every day'

[ted]

...........then you forget the day after:)

[dovearch]

I think the new spec has made for much closer racing and very much looking forward to attending my first race of the season at Donnington - Did the same race last year so I hope it's as good a day again.

The only dissapointment for me this season has been the loss of coverage on motors tv .. still ITV coverage is pretty good and the btcc web site even better!

[hoppers30040]

Well i missed thruxton and oluton but liking this year than last year. Andy

[Eunos]

To be fair alot of Drivers had alot of new Motors and everything.

The BMWs and Civics were still alittle Green to Begin with which kinda gave Plato and his Seat a good headstart.

Giovanardi got to grips with the Vectra quite Quickly and now is Platos biggest Threat, It's only really Croft and Oulton that the Civics and Bemmers are starting to show off their Potential as front runners.

It's been good so far and it's nice not to see one driver running away with it.

Giovanardi and Plato are looking Good but i dare say it's not to late for somebody like Neal or Turkington to make a Last Minute attack.

I belive in 2008 if not alot changes it could be a lot more Competitive.

[laurat]

ah it's definitely not too late for someone to come along and break what is currently the fight for the championship between plato and gio

[BTCC2]

The only thing lacking from the 2007 championship so far has been a battle between Plato and Giovanardi. That would be amazing!!!

[laurat]

oh there is still time don't you worry!

[turk06]

...........then you forget the day after:)
or five mins later in my case.

[laurat]

yeah five mins later in your case it certainly is - you're not a good one for keeping time then?
i don't know - it is definitely a man thing cos most of the women i know are all good time keepers including myself!

[bigred]

interesting start to the season, lots of new metal on the go, new teams and drivers. the only concerning thing for me is the amount of contact and destruction of cars. maybe its just a failing memory but i cant remember any other season when so many cars dont make it to the grid on all 3 races. what mite be worrying is the end of the season when every point becomes more important and the bigger teams start wheeling out 3rd cars to help there main drivers

[laurat]

ummm...i know what you mean!

[DavidRobert]

Don't think that will happen

[laurat]

nah me neither david!

[turk06]

it always does happen nearer the end of the season bigger teams who can afford more cars roll them out in support of of the exsisting drivers. its mainlt to boost chances of winning cos if you have an extra rear gunner it can only help.

[ted]

i think smaller teams better start buying lottery tickets. with all this damage going on and high bills to pay, i bet some of them wont be around next year. i hope some teams from the stcc join in as well

[b2uk]

5 Minutes later? with me its instantaneous!

I'm liking the racing this year.. lots of excitement..
i.e. Thruxton - 7 cars into going into the chicane at thruxton, 4/5 wide.. filtered down and all got through safely!

[laurat]

all exciting aint it?
never mind the smaller teams winning the lottery - where's my winnings - can't win anything to save my life!

[turk06]

who would think a little peice of tarmac would be so popular that all of those cars are desperate to get onto it??? it has been a cracking season so far and i think that the correct driver is in the lead at the half way point. gio has shown his pure class so far this season. i just hope that the next half of the season just keeps getting better and that gio can hang on.(by the way my screen name was given to me by my fiance who is a big turkington fan. i have tried to change it but dont know how. i want gio to win....i9 might let turkington come second though:D )

[laurat]

nah plato to win!

hey we may get a surprise and someone might just come hurtling through and take it from both of them...

[turk06]

yeah turkington or maybe neal. its real hard to se past there already at this piont in the season

[laurat]

yip half way through and the battle is on!

[turk06]

still think its gonna be giovanardi though the man is fantastic. when he gets in front he just dont get passed even when he aint the quickest

[laurat]

well the best man of the sport will win and we'll have to wait til 14th Oct to see who does it!

[dannybo]

well the best man of the sport will win and we'll have to wait til 14th Oct to see who does it!
Ive got a funny feeling its going to be all square again after Snetterton with Matt Neal and probably Flash closing the gap to the top two.
Its been brilliant up to now and I see no reason for that to change, in fact I reckon its gonna be a thriller!

[mattlovestbs]

Ive got a funny feeling its going to be all square again after Snetterton with Matt Neal and probably Flash closing the gap to the top two.
Its been brilliant up to now and I see no reason for that to change, in fact I reckon its gonna be a thriller!

Flash and Matt have suddenly found form - i think Plato will win it, but Flash and Matt will be up there, could see Matt being 2nd.

all it'll take is for Giovanardi to have a bad weekend again and Flash and Matt to have a win apiece and another podium and its all up for grabs

[turk06]

speaking of bad weekends what about vauxhalls luck at donington, chilton just seemed to go from one crash to another and gio had a whole host of things go wrong. first a knackered engine then no wipers. couldnt get much worse.

[laurat]

well the best man of the sport will win and we'll have to wait til 14th Oct to see who does it!

what more can I say eh?