406s to return?

[cos]

According to Autosport, Team Griffin, currently competing in the Clios this year, have bought up the remaining 2 VLR Pug 406s with a view to running them next year, but they might put in an appearance towards the end of this season.

[Toto]

This story also appeared in Motorsport News the day before Autosport.

It'd be good to have Julian Griffin involved. The team take great pride over the preparation of their Clio Cup cars and genuinely enjoy being part of the paddock. A good bunch.

[Claw]

Does Julian Griffin know what he's letting himself in for?

At least buy something competitive, and I think the Pug 406 (beautiful) has had it's day.

[Toto]

I had a good chat with Julian at the weekend. He's well aware of the 406 and its history etc and what he's letting himself in for. He's been offered an extremely good deal on them (Vic helpful as ever, seeing the bigger picture) and doesn't want to go buying the latest kit and throwing crazy sums of money at it in his team's debut year. They want to learn to walk before they can run. The 406 isn't going to be ludicrously far off the pace, nor that unreliable. A wise move, I think, and there's much to be said for his realism as opposed to the noise we hear from some first timers who go in claiming they're going to blow away the regulars ...

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

I understand that one of these cars is already run by Roger Moen abroad?

Maybe they can learn something from him, but I would think that its been modified to different championship regulations.

As for the cars being on the pace, well if they are, and if they beat the 307s, what a potential confidence blow that would be for VLR. Hopefully the 307's will be up to speed. From Croft it looks like Dan will certainly be on the podium soon (fingers crossed)

[bramble]

I would be surprised if the 406's finished anywhere else than last - but as Toto says, it's probably the best was to test the water.

[Cleland Fan]

Originally posted by Sim_Da_BTCC_Man
I understand that one of these cars is already run by Roger Moen abroad?

Maybe they can learn something from him, but I would think that its been modified to different championship regulations.


He's racing it in the Swedish Touring Car Championship. It's the same car, no modifications. As is Tommy Rustad's ex-BTCC Astra.

[watchthisspace]

so do we know anymore about the second pay driver assuming that, that is what he will be!! like many other btcc teams impress upon willing drivers

[Toto]

Er, no. They've only just said they've bought the cars and won't be entering until next year (unless Julian does a one-off on his own at Donington in this year's penultimate round). Please be patient. And why shouldn't teams ask drivers for money?

[Ed- the MG fan]

Actually Roger Moen is racing the third car Vic Lee built, the one Slight and Brezze drove. Good move I think to a first season in a less competative car to learn the ropes. I mean look at James Kaye and his team, they are always seem to be strugling

[watchthisspace]

not saying they shouldnt ask drivers for money, if thats how they go about there motor racing. But its often the likes of the younger drivers who dont have the money or the chance to shine! would we have seen James Thompson if Vauxhall had asked him to bring a stack load of money in 1995, Simon Harrison got a break in btcc with Peugeot in 1995 also, kelvin burt at Ford, John Bintcliffe, Jason Plato the list goes on, but we have gone through an age where drivers can only get on if they have big backing, Chilton, Bennett, Boardman, Hines, Blencowe etc etc

There are many young drivers who deserve a shot but cant cos they are underfunded like Hyla Breese, Gavin Pyper, Gareth Howell and im sure those loads ive missed.

Just would be nice to see these young guns making there way through guess we just have to hope rich boys with rich dads can drive!!

[Alan]

Diverging from the topic here somewhat, but it is called getting sponsors!!
This has become a major part of most drivers lives these days and if you can't get sponsors you can't drive - unfair maybe but that's the way it is.:(

Even the guys who have rich dads (and I think that is overstating it in alot of cases) have to find other sponsors - just look at their cars.

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Alans right. With the industry the way it is at the moment its going to stay this way aswell.

[Cleland Fan]

Originally posted by watchthisspace
not saying they shouldnt ask drivers for money, if thats how they go about there motor racing. But its often the likes of the younger drivers who dont have the money or the chance to shine! would we have seen James Thompson if Vauxhall had asked him to bring a stack load of money in 1995, Simon Harrison got a break in btcc with Peugeot in 1995 also, kelvin burt at Ford, John Bintcliffe, Jason Plato the list goes on, but we have gone through an age where drivers can only get on if they have big backing, Chilton, Bennett, Boardman, Hines, Blencowe etc etc

There are many young drivers who deserve a shot but cant cos they are underfunded like Hyla Breese, Gavin Pyper, Gareth Howell and im sure those loads ive missed.

Just would be nice to see these young guns making there way through guess we just have to hope rich boys with rich dads can drive!!

There are no longer situations like the Thompson, Harrison, Plato, Bintcliffe ones because there isn't as much money in the sport as there used to be. Those teams all had big backing from the manufacturer and big name sponsors like Valvoline and Total etc, so the drivers didn't need to bring any funding and were being paid for what they did. This isn't the case anymore. The world isn't in the best of financial health and that's had a knock on effect with every form of motorsport.

I don't think Phil Bennett should be in that list of drivers who have big backing. Because he doesn't have that. People confused him having a part in Egg sponsoring the team in 2001 with him having loads of money to throw around. Simply not true. He could have driven with Egg again last year, but would have had to pay again, so opted for Proton where he had a guaranteed 2 year contract and a paid drive. Something he had never had before.