Btcc, F3 & Gt

[Croft fan]

Is there going to be any races this year that have the BTCC, F3 & GT championships running together, like there was last year?
I went to the Donington for the last race of the season last year, which had the F3 & GT supporting the BTCC and it was fantastic. It was one of the best weekends of racing I have ever been to.
I hope that there is, but I have not heard anything about them.
I think next year with the V8 championship running with the F3 and GT it might make it difficult to have the 3 champs together.
Anyone know wnything about it?

[Amanda]

F3 will be with the BTCC at Donington in September. It is a three day meeting.

[Les]

It's a bummer that the GT's aren't there as well.

[Toto]

I disagree. I think the GTs dull as ditch water. They shouldn't be on the BTCC package at all. I go to BTCC race meetings to watch hard racing. Maybe two 25 minute races (including driver change pit stops) would be better. Exciting racing instead of this having to pace yourself rubbish and see the field split up by five laps after three minutes. Sorry, but the GTs are a complete snorfest and, with the exception of a rare battle here and there, were a dreadful advertisement for motor RACING in front of the 44,000 'spectators' at Rockingham at the weekend.

By the way, I love Le Mans 24 Hours and FIA GTs. Now that's entertainment. But I'd never put either of those with the BTCC. Different audiences.

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Originally posted by Croft fan

I think next year with the V8 championship running with the F3 and GT it might make it difficult to have the 3 champs together.
Anyone know wnything about it?

BMP have said that they do not want the SCV8 running at a BMP event weekend, so SCV8 will not be running with F3 & GT next year.



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Press Statement issued on behalf of BMP

To clarify any possible confusion, the SCV8 Series will not form part of any BMP series in 2004.

The BMP board has never considered the inclusion of SCV8 in any of it's series and no formal approach has been made to the board by SPL.

BMP is committed to growing its current race series which includes Britain's premier motor racing series, the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship, British Superbike Championship, powered by Halls, British Formula Three and British GT.

- Ends -

[Paul Rayner]

Originally posted by Sim_Da_BTCC_Man
BMP have said that they do not want the SCV8 running at a BMP event weekend, so SCV8 will not be running with F3 & GT next year.
In other words, the SCV8 championship will not be running next year. Glad to hear it. Might have made a good championship, but it's not needed, there's no room for it, and it would do more harm than good.

And I agree with Toto. GTs sound great, generally look great, but the racing isn't as exciting as Touring Cars. I'm sure there are some close battles through the field, but the field gets too spread out too quickly, making it very confusing to follow, especially if you don't know much about the series.

[Les]

Endurance racing is an aquired taste (and I am still aquiring it!). I just can't keep track of it all - heck I have problems with our pitstops but at least 90% of the cars are on the same lap!

Half the problems with GTs and EERC is lack of information for the watcher.
The scoreboard at Rockingham is excellent - can someone design one that can be transported from circuit to circuit?

[Alan]

The pole at Rockingham is very good - but it does have one drawback compared to the ones in the USA. There appears to be no facility to indicate how many laps down from the leaders a particular car is, and that is a problem with endurance races I think.

On the SCV8 front, while I agree that there are too many series out there, diluting resources so to speak, I do think that this would be a very good series if allowed to prosper. After all the comments I have read on this and other forums about how good Oz V8 is, I think they should be given a chance.

[Les]

it's only on really long races do you need the laps - it is unlikely that you are 2 laps down from the car in front.
What you do need is a pit/not pit flag. The team has to be really good to keep track and then tell you whether to push or not

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Originally posted by Paul Rayner
In other words, the SCV8 championship will not be running next year.

Wouldn't think so, but heres what SCV8 said after the BMP anouncment



SCV8 CHAMPIONSHIP FORGES AHEAD WITH PLANS


Monday 4 August 2003 - Following a press announcement from BMP with regard to the SCV8 Championship, the organisers Supercar Promotions Limited (SPL) have responded with an update on the plans for its introduction of SCV8 into the British motorsport calendar next year.


ìWe are continuing to move forward with our plans for the SCV8 Championship,î said one of the series directors, Roger Etcell. ìAt no point have we anticipated or expected to be part of any BMP series. We have a sound multi-year business plan which clearly sets out our goals for introducing this new championship and it does not require us to be part of any existing ëpackageÃ*. The overwhelming, highly positive, response we received from our industry launch last week proved that our championship is already eagerly anticipated and thereÃ*s huge support for us. We have no doubt that weÃ*ll quickly establish ourselves and will, at the appropriate time, make public our calendar of dates and locations for each round of the championship.ì


The first step for the SCV8 was to apply for an MSA championship permit and this application, through its nominated club, was successfully submitted last month, subject to standard details being finalised.


Etcell continues, ìBMP are obviously fully entitled to state their position with regard to their championships and, of course, we respect this. Our door is always open for discussion with them or any section of the Industry as our aim is to offer a championship which benefits motorsport generally be it; fans, drivers, teams, circuits, manufacturers or engineering companies. The fact that the only 2 existing motorsport packages are both promoted by BMP presents the opportunity for a third series to be promoted independently to ensure that a spirit of competition is maintained for everyoneÃ*s benefit.î


ìSCV8 is a completely new concept and does not conflict with any existing UK championship. The cars of 550bhp, V8, RWD design are far removed from any existing technical regulations and the unique team franchise arrangement only requires Manufacturers to authorise the use of their brand for which Jaguar, Peugeot and Vauxhall have already been happy to do. With only 2 further brands required to meet our 5 franchise/20 car grid target together and the exceptional support and interest shown to date from many corners of the industry means we are now well on target with the critical path of our business plan.î



Ends

[Alan]

Um! 550bhp, V8, RWD - far removed from any existing regulations!!! I know it's a bit different but have they heard of ASCAR??:)

Point taken though and I still think it will be the nearest we get to the Oz V8's which do seem to produce some good racing (bit of an understatement there!!!).

[Racefan_uk]

At least with GT's the drivers talent plays a lot more part nowadays than modern day Touring Cars.

Even Matt Neal has been vocal in saying that the latest BTCC cars are underpowered and that drivers with very little experience can push at the front.
In GT's with huge amounts of horsepower the drivers have to prove their mettle. Some of the drivers I've seen having severe problems handling 270bhp in a touring car race wouldn't last five minutes in a GT event!

And as for keeping track of the racing, well, if you concentrate on what is happening on track its not that hard. I've been watching GT's for years and I've never had a problem, except at the Silverstone night race a couple of years ago, but it was dark! :D :p

Also, Toto points out that the GT race at Rockingham was a bad show for UK motorsport. At least half the field wasn't punted off the circuit by the other! If I want to watch a series where cars hit each other and put each other into the wall, I'll spend less than half the money and go and watch a banger race!

I like Touring car racing, I spotted Les at Rockingham last weekend and she was loving it! :p AND I'm sure she'll back me up in saying that there was a certain amount of action during the GT race too, especially the car she was cheering on!

[Les]

who what me????? cheering??? no!!! can't believe that.... ;)

Excellent first half for me - Steve was on a blinder - poor old Henry Taylor kept trying, even got past once on the oval but that Golf can brake. We just need to get the gear box sorted.

So where were you - why didn't you introduce yourself??? I love meeting people off the forums - putting faces to names.

[Paul Rayner]

ìAt no point have we anticipated or expected to be part of any BMP series."

So what was this that I received at the start of July, saying:

"Announced today, Tuesday 1 July 2003, the all-new SCV8 Supercar Championship is set to join the BRDC British F3/GT Series from 2004. This major new championship featuring V8-engined, 550 bhp rear wheel drive racing saloon cars will bring fresh momentum to F3/GT meetings and is sure to further enhance the appeal of these race events for race fans and new audiences alike.
Saying they didn't say what they said before loses the series some credibility in my opinion.

I agree with Alan that this championship would be a great spectacle, but that there just ISN'T any room for it at the moment. Not the drivers, not the funds, not the spectator interest. British Motorsport as a whole, not just BMP, should get behind the existing championships - BTCC, ASCAR, F3, GTs, and push them, instead of overcrowding the market trying to fill a gap which doesn't really need to be filled.

[Toto]

Originally posted by Racefan_uk
Also, Toto points out that the GT race at Rockingham was a bad show for UK motorsport. At least half the field wasn't punted off the circuit by the other! If I want to watch a series where cars hit each other and put each other into the wall, I'll spend less than half the money and go and watch a banger race!
Which is why GTs should never be on the TOCATour package. People go to BTCC meetings to watch fast, hard, exciting racing with a bit of panel crunching. Not dull, drawn out affairs featuring cars whose lap times are half a minute or so apart.

On saying that, I thought the driving standards in the SEAT races - the first in particular - boarded on disgraceful. I am staggered no action was taken by the officials. The thought of four desperate drivers fighting it out for a touring car drive in the two final rounds - at Thruxton no less ... need I say more?

ps: might I suggest, racefan, if you want to see some good banger racing, then Wimbledon Stadium on Sunday nights for £10 is good value for money.

[Racefan_uk]

Originally posted by Toto
Which is why GTs should never be on the TOCATour package. People go to BTCC meetings to watch fast, hard, exciting racing with a bit of panel crunching. Not dull, drawn out affairs featuring cars whose lap times are half a minute or so apart.

On saying that, I thought the driving standards in the SEAT races - the first in particular - boarded on disgraceful. I am staggered no action was taken by the officials. The thought of four desperate drivers fighting it out for a touring car drive in the two final rounds - at Thruxton no less ... need I say more?

ps: might I suggest, racefan, if you want to see some good banger racing, then Wimbledon Stadium on Sunday nights for £10 is good value for money.

I haven't found a BTCC race hard, fast or exciting for a long time, sorry Toto. And not all the GT races have had long gaps between cars in them, the majority have been pretty damn close. The opener at Donington for example was superb.

Completely agree about the SEAT driving standards, but then, if you were fighting for a works deal, flat in monaco and anything else that might be on hand in 2004, what would you do to get it? But it doesn't give a good account of what decent racing should be about.

Oh, and I can go to Skegness Stadium or Swaffham Raceway and watch a full evenings line-up of Stock Cars, Hot Rods and bangers for £6-7!
;)