[Windy]

At least the "bad luck" has moved to the Hondas:

 

[jasons1]

Matt Neal however, I think his favourite word must be "boost". I'm not sure if it was Croft where he said the Honda's were 7mph slower by the end of the pit straight, strange really as I thought they looked quite competetive.

and at snett today all the teams have been allowed a boost increase except honda, the honda is 9mph slower on the straights.

Neal is within his rights to moan about boost.

This is not about the best team or the best car, its about so called affordability and encouraging more private entries and television.

 

[Stu]

and at snett today all the teams have been allowed a boost increase except honda, the honda is 9mph slower on the straights.

Neal is within his rights to moan about boost.

This is not about the best team or the best car, its about so called affordability and encouraging more private entries and television.

Hasn't that just reversed what happened earlier in the season so they are back to all being the same now?

MG had their boost cut but Honda didn't earlier in the year.

 

[jasons1]

At least the "bad luck" has moved to the Hondas:

that bad luck is another crappy toca part, the aluminium flexi fuel line and could have happened to any car in the session. It was the fuel hitting and igniting on the turbo that caused this extent of the fire.

Hats off for turning it around so quick, sad it didn't work out for them though.

All the teams are unhappy with the sub standard toca parts (and there has been recent meeting regarding this) and one example of this was the fractures in the subframe 888 had with Platos MG, but this is not an isolated case and many teams are suffering the same probs and more.

The bad luck is from the toca parts.

 

[jasons1]

Hasn't that just reversed what happened earlier in the season so they are back to all being the same now?

MG had their boost cut but Honda didn't earlier in the year.

the honda's run such a small amount of boost if it was lowered any more it would not be worth having a turbo on the car.

9mph slower is a lot in a race, they don't expect a win from a power circuit such as snett, but the fact it puts in credible lap times goes to show its probably one of the best cars on the grid - I wouldn't be surprised if it still finishes top 5.

 

[Stu]

And the MG's were 8mph slower after they had their boost cut at one of the previous rounds. Different cars work better at different circuits.

This year is far fairer than may now they aren't trying to slant them for NASP cars and even more so to make the poor performing diesels competitive.

IIRC at the last few races the MG's and others were allowed less boost than the Honda's run today, so not sure your comment on the Honda boost being so low is correct or even relevant.

 

[Stu]

BTCC Technical Director Peter Riches added: “It's a two-stage programme; firstly, we've flow-tested all the engine heads used by all teams in order to establish the baseline engine values and their respective boost levels for the start of the year.

“Then after two rounds the defined mathematical calculation kicks in and will determine if – and by how much – any adjustments should be made to boost levels of any engines for the next event. It's an automatic process and is almost exactly the same methodology and system used in the World Touring Car Championship, except they use weight adjustments and we use boost adjustments.

“The strength of the test programme and adoption of the on-going boost calculation is that everything has been done with the full support of all our teams and engine builders.

“The calculation figures are currently being finalised in conjunction with all the teams and once done it's very much a 'set it and forget it' job… the numbers will simply and clearly provide the straightforward answer to any adjustments to be made during the season. It's an entirely transparent process to ensure the performance levels of the relevant S2000-turbo and NGTC cars are equalised during the season and not open to any subjective opinion or debate – it just happens.”

This was how it was calculated originally in February, which explains why different cars are at different levels.

 

[Windy]

This was how it was calculated originally in February, which explains why different cars are at different levels.

I assume that is why the teams never comment on it, only certain drivers.

 

[jasons1]

"to ensure the performance levels of the relevant S2000-turbo and NGTC cars are equalised during the season"

couldn't agree more and basically what I said in my earlier post, although I think toca's idea of performance levels are more relevant to race wins than much else.

If people actually knew the illegal boost cuts that were thrown at the honda team hours before the race start last season (there is a time frame for such changes that was not adhered to) then people would be more open minded to the truth about what actually goes on behind the fa-card of touring car racing. This information is known not just by the honda team or other btcc teams in the pit lane but by supporting teams such as clio cup teams who have corroborated this information. This is not a story, something made up, idle pub talk but fact.

 

[Stu]

Probably have more of an understanding than you think as I know one of the team principles.

All of the teams have grumbles over one thing or another. Some just make more of a meal of them than the others.

 

[Windy]

9mph slower is a lot in a race

Although it is a lot, there could be many reasons for it. The fact that the MG is a Fastback while the Honda is "stylish" could well make more than 9mph difference!

 

[top_man_eldo]

Who's gonna bet that Andy Neate will finish outside the top ten for the next two races at Snetterton?

 

[DC6532]

Windy, did you really say the Civic was stylish? It's bloody hideous! Fair enough the front end is quite handsome but the arse looks terrible and really spoils the car, I think the next gen may look quite different. Our humble MG6 in comparison looks great from all angles. As for Andy Neate, I've met him and he seems a nice guy but he just isn't producing the goods, if (touch wood) Plato went out through injury then that's it, MG might aswell pack up until next season.

 

[Windy]

Windy, did you really say the Civic was stylish? It's bloody hideous! ...

No, did you not notice the "" marks

I suspect you are right about the next gen looking different, style before aerodynamics is not as acceptable as it was.

As for Andy, I think we have had enough rounds now to see his true ability and this rounds qualifying was typical.

Plato is going to have a hard time winning the championship now unless the Hondas have some more of that toca supplied "bad luck" in the races rather than practice.

 

[zr-td-nutters]

just a shame the teams cannot do what they want and tune the cars as much as you could get out of them and not have all of these regulations and complications.

 

[Stu]

That was the cause of the field dropping so drastically and BTCC nearly folding. They have to control the costs whilst making it competitive in this day and age to get the teams to enter.

 

[zr-td-nutters]

That was the cause of the field dropping so drastically and BTCC nearly folding. They have to control the costs whilst making it competitive in this day and age to get the teams to enter.

Fair enough i guess some teams have a lot more money then others for research and what not sometimes i do think the officials put there fingers in to much though.

 

[Jonny H]

I read this thread and at first thought yeah Andy is a bit of a waste of time, but then he's been mid table for a few races and has had problems so maybe we should give him our support.

Plato is a legend and can carve his way through the cars with ease, Andy just need to regain is confidence and I think we'll be onto a winning team.

Regarding Andy's worth, he's clearly a cleaver man, the company he's a director of have some clever tech and according to the things I've read Andy is the inventor and patent holder for some of these technologies. However not sure if you'd call him personally "wealthy" as his company only has £8 million net worth and a few years of negative trading to recover from...they are clearly however doing something right as the worth has shot up 2009 on.

http://companycheck.co.uk/company/03191734

Plus loads of investors and other directors to keep happy. Of course this does not take into account any personal royalties Andy may get on the patents he holds, but still I don't think that he can afford to play the racing driver without support.

Good luck this weekend MG!

 

[radion_auto]

What does his business acumen have to do with touring car racing?

 

[MGJohn]

What does his business acumen have to do with touring car racing?

Shrewd business move .. ??

If I were he and bringing money to the outfit as it appears to be the case, I too would make it a condition that I get to play with the cars .... on the track