406s

[John]

Ages ago there was talk of the 406s making a return for O.Park but that seems to have gone quiet lately.

Any news?

[cos]

No news on it yet. I thought Team Griffin had planned to run a 406 at Donington not Oulton, but evidently not. At the moment I think the team has budget to run 1 ex-VLR 406 for Julian Griffin (they have decent backing from Lloyds plc and others). Tim Harvey said he would be helping to test the car along with Julian as well.

[Croft fan]

Team Griffin are not running untill next year, which is a shame, but it is something to look forward to.
Good luck to Team Griffin next year.

[VkmSpouge]

I hope Team Griffin do well next year. It will be interesting to see how far VLR have developed their 307s compared to the old 406s.

[Croft fan]

Alot of people said that the 406 was an uncompetative car but I dont think it was. There was a number of races last year where they were right up at the front of the grid, but it was let down by non-finishes. I think that most of this years cars have gone along way with development and therefore with a new team developing the 406 they could unlock some more speed from the car.
As for being faster than the 307. I think that car is going to be like the Honda, show potentional in its first year and then show its true worth the following year. Its a good little motor car, and can only go forward.
Hope that the 406 and the 307 show good from next year.

[VkmSpouge]

It would be good to see either a Team Griffin car or a VLR car high up on the grid in amongst the Hondas and Vauxhalls.:)

[Croft fan]

Did you see Autosport from yesterday? It says that VX Racing is going to test a BTCC vectra against an Astra coupe. I think the Vectra might be a bit big for the rules for it to do well, but I hope that its not. I like the big four door cars, like the MG and the Proton (is the Proton a four door, I have never noticed?).
I would also sound like there will almost certianly be a works Vauxhall team in the BTCC next year. Even though they have not announced they are taking part.
I hope to see all of the works teams back next year, with new cars (most with same modles and some with new shapes like the Vectra) so that privateers can buy this years cars and meaning more cars on the grid.
But dont forget about this year there is still one round to go. Hopefully Turkington can get another win and hope that Morrison can get his first win of the year.

[VkmSpouge]

I don't know whether switching to the Vectra is a good idea. Vauxhall already have a winning package with their Astra coupe but I suppose it would depend on how much development potential is left in the Astra.
I don't mind whether the cars are big like Proton (@Croft fan, I believe it is a four door car:)) or small like the Peugeot 307.
I would hope that all the works teams stick aorund next year (Proton have already confirmed for next season haven't they?) and perhaps a few more privateers in ETCC or BTCC spec cars.

[Croft fan]

The Astra has been around for 3 years now and I can not imaigine there is much develpoment left in it, but if it still wining races then why not. Allot of people were saying the the 406 had ran out of development and that is why VLR diched the car, but I think that there is always room for improvment, and the cars can only get better. But we will have to see.
Proton have confirmed, MG are waiting to confirm (hope they do, and with the results lately why would'nt they?)
I thought the Proton was a four door, just wanted to make sure it was, so thanks.

[VkmSpouge]

I sure do hope that MG confirm for next season, Turkington is a superb talent while both Hughes and Ried have scored wins this year.
The last time Vauxhall switched touring cars to the Vectra it wasn't very good. I believe it was 1996 when they first used the Vectra after the championship winning year with John Cleland and the Cavalier (I might be wrong though).

[tourringcar fan]

With the private teams taking over the "sorted" works cars and works teams with new cars should make things interesting.

Surely team griffin should be running an astra :p

[VkmSpouge]

I think ideally Team Griffin would love to run brand new Astras with all the latest developments:D They probably went for the old VLR 406s because (dare I say it) they were cheap, though I sure that wasn't the only quality that attracted Griffin to them.:)