Carl Breeze

[snoopy]

A mate of mine who was helping to tidy up the pits at Rock on Sunday overheard an argument between Vic Lee and Carl Breeze - apparently it ended in some swearing and storming off. Could this be the end of Breeze, it does seem he is almost there to keep the numbers up.

Carl has not exactly been performing well this year - so much hype coming in last season but has not delivered - I was not at Rock but looking at Motors it appeared that Eaves was kicking his ass even after losing his wheel and starting again from the back - seems to be a theme that - when they do keep the cars on the track Eaves is always quicker with the same car

Would love to see how quick Dan would be in one of the factory backed front running cars. I think we would see a new champ - would show how average Neal / Muller / Morrison are!!

[cos]

Breeze is a good driver - he won the 2001 Formula Renault championship after all - but he hasn't got the hang of Touring Cars just yet. I know some people will say that it's only his first full season in a front-wheel-drive car and we should give him time, but Andy Priaulx didn't have any trouble adapting from slicks-and-wings to BTCC cars.

On the other hand Breeze's car is always the one with the problems, and his was only just being put together at Mondello, so it could just be down to the car...

[Claw]

He's been unspectacular ever since he entered the BTCC.

Bye Breeze, you frankly not a good TC driver.

[Claire]

Carl is doing ok, I am a big supporter of Team Halfords and have to agree that they are having a very tough time with the 307, and the mechanical failures are not helping either driver get track or development time. Carl had an independent win at the end of last season and although he usually is behind Dan the difference in thier times is fractional. Given more time he will be just fine.

[snoopy]

True - but Carl is just not as quick. He has the same car - same developments - same support - same data - but is slow and always seems to moan whenever you hear or read quotes from him. On reflection Dan Eaves is a lot more positive and is always on hand for chats or photos and is very upbeat about the future - met him at Brands and was really impressed - a nice bloke and a damn good racer - shame he is in the 307 and not in a Honda or Vauxhall.

[Toto]

So how come the BTCC officials who looked into the incident thoroughy with use of TV footage failed to find Leslie had been at fault?

[Moderator 3]

Please keep this thread related to Carl Breeze.

[snoopy]

Fact - Carl Breeze appears to be fed up / out of favour with VLR
Fact - Leslie was in the wrong at Silverstone
Fact - He was very defensive about his style to the press after the race
Fact - Eaves is quicker than Breeze and with the right car - probably the majority of the current crop


FULLSTOP

[Rob]

Originally posted by snoopy
Fact - Carl Breeze appears to be fed up / out of favour with VLR
Fact - Leslie was in the wrong at Silverstone
Fact - He was very defensive about his style to the press after the race
Fact - Eaves is quicker than Breeze and with the right car - probably the majority of the current crop


FULLSTOP


FACT

doesnt make a blind bit of difference how good he is
The peugoet is a tank and i cant see it moving from the back end of the grid.

[Reynard]

Originally posted by Rob
doesnt make a blind bit of difference how good he is
The peugoet is a tank and i cant see it moving from the back end of the grid.

The basic problem is that the car is still very new and is lacking in development - and it shows.

As you know, there was considerable debate as to whether the 307 would actually be seen on track this year and at one point, VLR were actually contemplating using the old car as a stopgap measure. Running a very new car straight out of the box in a competitive series such as the BTCC takes a lot of guts and the risks are pretty comprehensive.

As a result, every race is in effect a test session in which both the drivers (Eaves and Breeze) and the team's technical personnel are constantly learning about the car. And since VLR isn't a works team, they don't have oodles of cash to throw at the car in order to find a quick fix.

If you think about the Astra Coupe, its competitiveness is the result of some three years worth of continuous development, much of this based on a wealth of data accumulated over this length of time. 888 know their car, know how it will work at each circuit and what effect a particular set-up change will have. MG are in the same situation with their ZS as it also is in the third year of development and the team and drivers have got the car working well as results have proved.

The combination of a relatively inexperienced driver - in this case Carl Breeze - and a brand new car needs to be cut a bit of slack.

[The Stig]

One or two very cynical and unnecessary comments above.
Should an employee betray what was clearly a private, albeit heated conversation with VL and Carl, and then make it availible for the start of a discussion here ?

Morrison, Muller and Neal are distinctly not average.

The success/domination, call it what you will, of Vauxhall recently, puts pressure on all the teams to keep up and try to overtake. Imagine having that pressure with a brand new car which was still being built up to the last minute of the first race weekend.
Hats off to all at VLR including, Carl Breeze, for their efforts so far.
I really hope they are able to turn the corner and the second half of this season for all concerned, rewards their hard work and effort.

[Nikh_mg]

Talking about people going from single seaters to BTCC, Warren Hughes did it very well, he has always been on Reids pace, but Reid has that edge, if HE was in an Astra he really would shine, I love MG but the car aint competative enough, it was good at the Rock thanks to the tight track, but they are too underpowered. I think Reid is better than the majority of the drivers out there.
1997 - Had pace in new car
1998 - Should have won the title, was unlucky that Rydell was on such great form that season

And some great performances in the MG, especially this weekend, I think he was better than the Hondas and Muller, they just have better machinery, I know this a topic about Breeze, but I had to say that lol

[Les]

It's a pity Vic Lee didn't do a MG and do their testing in private and arrive at the end of the season with a tested car (mind you they still had their problems).
They are caught in the situation of no testing except for the race weekends and you have no idea how the cars are setup - they might be running two seperate setups.

[cos]

Originally posted by Nikh_mg
I think Reid is better than the majority of the drivers out there.
1997 - Had pace in new car
1998 - Should have won the title, was unlucky that Rydell was on such great form that season


and would have won the title in 2000 if it wasn't for the daft dropped-scores points system.

[touringlegend]

Originally posted by Les
They are caught in the situation of no testing except for the race weekends and you have no idea how the cars are setup - they might be running two seperate setups.


Hit the nail on the head! VLR's bound to be running two different set up's on the 307's this year - just like Proton did at Thruxton with Leslie and Bennett.

Looking at the independents points though, whenever either of the 307's do finish, it is a solid points scoring place.

[Nikh_mg]

Originally posted by cos
and would have won the title in 2000 if it wasn't for the daft dropped-scores points system.

Forgot bout that lol:D

[Bajer]

I've just read the thread about Carl and would like to make some comments

I know Carl and his family well, and have followed his progress since his Formula Ford days.

Carl is a quick driver, but for various reasons he has rarely had access to the best equipment to work with. The VLR Peugeot 307 is a classic example, it's currently a dog of a car that was still in kit form when it arrived at Mondello.
Reliability has been horrendous, particularly for Carl and they have had virtually zero testing.

If snoopy looks back at the records he'll see that when Carl finally managed to get a few laps in the 307 he has out qualified Dan Eaves in 2 of the last 3 outings as team mates, and on the third their times were virtually identical.

Carl is spending an awful lot of his sponsors money to be in the BTCC and he needs to demonstrate to them that it's worth it.
We can all imagine the embarrasment and pressure he has felt when sponsors who are paying big bucks have come to support him only to find that VLR have been unable to get the car on to the grid. Even when he's managed to start a race the 307 has been uncompetitive so far. (but improving it appears)
I think that it was a good move for his career to switch teams, and that once he has got used to the Astra he will fly. Since the switch he has at least managed to compete and finish in both races.

Finally I should add that Carl along with his parents is showing tremendous courage in competing at all this year.
Most of you are probably unaware that Carl's greatest supporter, his younger sister was tragically killed in a road accident just before Christmas, aged just 18.
They were an extremely close family group, and Sarah never missed a meeting all through his career, she was always by Carl's side in the paddock. and It must be extremely hard for Carl and his parents to be there at all. - so cut the guy some slack and let's wish him well.