BTCC Test at Rockingham?

[Amanda]

Does anyone know if there will be a BTCC test at Rockingham before the meeting in June? I have looked at the MST website and there is nothing listed.

[Peter Briggs]

As it is a new circuit for the BTCC there will be a short test on the Fri.the day before qualifying.

[Amanda]

Thanks for that Peter.

See you at Thruxton!

[Les]

We were just talking about this - you must have read my mind.

Disappointed it is only a short test - hubby just fancied a day out trackside.

[Amanda]

Les ~ I suppose we could go anyway! Any excuse to spend some time at a track!!:D

[motormouth]

Yup, it's described as a "familiarisation test" - just to make sure nobody makes a fool of themselves into the chicane at turn one in front of the paying public!

[Ann]

I'm all in favour of the guys getting a chance to familiarise themselves with the circuit. I don't want them having any arguments with those walls if at all possible!

[bramble]

Originally posted by motormouth
Yup, it's described as a "familiarisation test" - just to make sure nobody makes a fool of themselves into the chicane at turn one in front of the paying public!

I cant wait to see the whole BTCC field charging through there - it's going to be fantastic!

[Peter]

The drivers having little knowledge of the circuit could be a gem for the fans. For the first time in years, the experienced and drivers will no longer at an advantage. I imagine there may well be quite a few incidents that weekend.

[The Stig]

In which case I'm delighted I intend to go. Let's hope for nothing like the carnage that seems to have taken place at the ASCAR meeting though.

[lauz]

i think that it will be strange watching the touring cars at rockingham considering all that i have seen at rockingham has been the ascar. it will be good tho. i wonder if the crowd will be as big as it was at the ascar.

[Amanda]

Stig ~ nothing could be like the ASCAR meeting!

Lauz ~ I have only ever seen ASCAR at Rockingham too so am looking forward to seeing the BTCC there.

I would be surprised if the crowd is 40,000. I would like to know how many of the 40,000 that were at ASCAR either had free tickets or were there to see Busted!

[lauz]

well i was there to see the ascar and seeing busted was just an added bonus.

[touring fan]

I think the infield course should provide some good racing, that first chicane will be interesting (might as well not bothering to put in those plastic markers cos they'll all get knocked down) and the hairpins should produce some close action. Plus there's the chance to try a flatout move past someone out of turn 4 of the oval and down the staight.

[Peter]

I'd love to see the cars tackle the oval some time! You may think I have gone mad, but DTM will have a go on the full Lausitz oval this year- interested to see how that goes!

[bramble]

Originally posted by touring fan
(might as well not bothering to put in those plastic markers cos they'll all get knocked down)

Could be downright dangerous. Last time a race used that chicane (the Caterhams), going considerably slower than the BTCC will; they sent pretty big bits of those markers into the grandstands.

[acorn]

Originally posted by Peter
I'd love to see the cars tackle the oval some time! You may think I have gone mad, but DTM will have a go on the full Lausitz oval this year- interested to see how that goes!

not quite correct. the eurospeedway site says they will use turns 1 and 3(remember it's a tri-oval) plus the infield from just before turn2 rejoining between turns 2 and 3. actually i'm surprised they're even doing this as some of the drivers were showing definite signs of wussying(fearing major wrecks at turn 1). you also have to assume they'll be running a compromise set-up to suit the high speeds through the banked turns plus the slower left/rights on the infield. they won't be able to use a set up that's optimised for either.