Muller & Thompson in ETCC

[cos]

...but it's only for the last few rounds of this season, so far. Yvan will drive a 3rd car for SEAT while Thompson is in a 4th works Alfa Romeo.

[thommo_fan]

maybe this is a sign of muller's future plans, he came quite close to joining SEAT in the ETCC for this year if you believe everything you read.

i hope he does stay to defend his title because the BTCC would be a poorer place without him

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

I may be reading to much into this but this could be two things IMO.

Muller And Thompson get to grips with an ETCC car because Vauxhall will run an ETCC Spec Vectra next year as predicted

or

Vauxhall will not return and Muller and Thompson are considering going elsewhere.

[Alan]

Well of course you could be correct Sim - but more likely a severe case of overactive crystal balls I am afraid!!!:D

I was told Mullers drive for SEAT was just a one off (and of course they have their drivers sorted for next year).

I do however share your concerns about Vauxhall.

[Croft fan]

This has happened before but with different teams. I will not be reading anything in to it. But I hope that they both do well. Not sure about Muller, as the Seat in ETC is not the fastest car.
But go anyway, and show the ETC drivers how its done.

[VkmSpouge]

I think it is just a one off end of season thing for Muller and Thompson. But I do hold fears that Vauxhall won't be back next season. I really do want them to stay (with Thompson and Muller) but I can't help but wonder what is left for them to do in the BTCC? They've won the Drivers, Teams and Manufacturers championships three years running. I do hope Vauxhall stay and reports that they are looking into the Vectra looks to be a promising indication that they'll be there in 2004.:)

[John]

Originally posted by Alan
Well of course you could be correct Sim - but more likely a severe case of overactive crystal balls I am afraid!!!:D

I was told Mullers drive for SEAT was just a one off (and of course they have their drivers sorted for next year).

I do however share your concerns about Vauxhall.

So Yvan won't be Jason Plato's team mate at SEAT then?! :D Could be ... er interesting!

[Alan]

Interesting? You ain't kidding John. Nope - don't think that will happen somehow!:D

[Croft fan]

In Autosport it is said that Seat will most likely keep its same drivers next year in the ETC so does this mean:-
1. There will be 4 ETC Seats in the ETC.
OR
2. There will be 2 ETC Seats in the ETC and 2 ETC Seats in the BTCC.
Answers on a postcard.

[KPC]

At the end of 2001 Thommo drove in the final supertouring ETCC for Honda to, then as now, act as a tail gunner for Tarquini. In that race Tarquini went off in the early stages and Thommo battled well ahead of the rest of the field with Matt Neal in his Team Dynamics Primera for 1st. Matt won.

At the end of the day they are just guest drives. Muller is set to return to his ice racing again this year and if memory serves there were rumours a while back that he would race for Kia. With all of the titles he has accumulated over the years I don't know whether he'd be that fussed contending the BTCC title next year... but who knows, eh?

ETCC drives are obviously good to get under your belt so early on, especially if either driver is to return next year. Makes the Vauxhall question all the more interesting.

[ATF]

Originally posted by KPC
At the end of 2001 Thommo drove in the final supertouring ETCC for Honda to, then as now, act as a tail gunner for Tarquini. In that race Tarquini went off in the early stages and Thommo battled well ahead of the rest of the field with Matt Neal in his Team Dynamics Primera for 1st. Matt won.

So Matt has won as an indie in the ETCC then! Never realised until now! How many other indies have won in the ETCC?

[touringlegend]

Matt Neal won that race, which just happened to be the last ever international touring car race run to Super Touring rules.

So another (UN?) interesting fact for you all..

[KPC]

I remember Matt had a slippery moment towards the end... don't remeber whether he recovered sufficiently or Thommo backed off... although it was superb racing and Jimmy would no doubt have taken the position had he the chance. A good win for Matt. They put the rest of the field to shame really.

[vitesse]

This end-of-season ETCC guest drive business is getting pretty serious- latest story is apparently the 3 regular works Alfa drivers and Thommo being joined by a fifth car for Giancarlo Fisichella....

[mark]

I read in Autosport today that Muller turned down an offer to go to Australia with 888 over there for next year. He said he prefers Europe and in particular would like to continue racing in the UK. If he did, it would most probably be with Vauxhall.

[Knock-on]

Ohhh, like a soap opera it twists and turns with rising hype and tension. All we need now is Dirty Den to walk Rolly down pit lane :D

With our dear sainted Mr Gow (Bless yer cotton socks Guv) mixing ETCC and BTCC regs, drivers coming and going, rumors of teams not competing etc, it's getting a bit frantic. At this rate, nobody is gonna know who is racing for whome in what until it's over.

I'm glad the seasons finished cause I cant keep up. :p Very exciting though.

Anyway, back to topic. The perenial Bridesmaid has done the job and been crowned BTCC champ. What next? I can see him going to ETCC next year and wouldn't be suprised if Tommo didn't go as well.

That would leave 2 seats and Owy.

What are Gavin and Gareth doing next year? That would make an interesting team.

Tune in next week for another thrilling episode of ETCC Enders.

[Sarah]

I think James & Yvan will stay with the BTCC. They would only consider ETCC if they were offered one of the top drives.

[Alan]

I am inclined to agree with Sarah on that, but I have to admit to a feeling that there is a slight possibility we will lose one of the two.

As for getting frantic - we go through this every year, and I won't even start to get excited until about the end of February!!:D

We always hope that things will get sorted early but it never seems to happen does it? I guess this is all part of the fun though, trying to second guess what will happen.

Any bets on Yvan in an MG?

[Alan]

OK Sarah you win! - after the article in todays Autosport it looks pretty certain that YM and JT will be staying with Vauxhall.

[Toto]

Originally posted by Knock-on

Anyway, back to topic. The perenial Bridesmaid has done the job and been crowned BTCC champ. What next? I can see him going to ETCC next year and wouldn't be suprised if Tommo didn't go as well.

That would leave 2 seats and Owy.

What are Gavin and Gareth doing next year? That would make an interesting team.

Miles out. Have you been reading Motorsport News the past two weeks? Looks like Owy's going to struggle to keep his seat at Vauxhall.