BTCC rumours thread 2016

8000 Views 37 Replies 12 Participants Last post by simcor, Feb 11, 2016

simcor

Discussion Starter · Sep 6, 2015

Seeing as other website have rumours threads for the following year, lets have one here, it can be about rumours you may have heard or alternatively you may make wild assumption and inaccurate guesses here, all are welcome lol

My predictions so far are.

1. Jordan to leave MG 888 after this season, as he just hasn't really made enough progress during the season, yes he has hauled good points a lot of the time and keeping in with a chance of the title, but I have not seen the pace or the aggressiveness most of the time we saw him with in the Honda.

2. Goff to stay with MG 888, he has really surprised me this year quite often finishing ahead of Jordan, who is a more experienced driver at the end of the day. If he has enough funding with all his sponsors.

Make up anything you like it's just for fun.

1 - 20 of 38 Posts

mattie007

· #2 · Sep 6, 2015

I think 888 will switch to another manufacturer unless MG decide to use the lighter Mk2 model. The 6 is still a quick touring car but the opposition has caught up and overtaken them. Plus I don't think there's much more development left in the mk1. Goff is getting better and could grab another win but Jordan just hasn't gelled aswell as I thought he would. He's still in with a shout of the title but needs 3 or 4 wins in the last 2 rounds.
Maybe Rob Austin to buy a couple of MG's?

simcor

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 6, 2015

RAR to buy a couple of new MG's would be an interesting development, however I think he favors RWD so unlikely unless he made them rear wheel drive.

He has however lost the Exocet sponsorship after this season so will need some more sponsorship.

How would the MG6 fair if it was RWD I do wonder, with the amount of structural changes over a road going car I would imagine it would not be that hard to make any of the cars RWD.

I doubt it would ever happen though and I am not sure I want Rob racing MG's anyway.

mattie007

· #4 · Sep 6, 2015

He's said he will go to FWD if that's what it takes to move up the grid.
If MG move away from 888 I think Goff may buy a car and run his own team, seems to have plenty of backers!

Splop

· #5 · Sep 7, 2015

With Support our Paras losing the backing from Infiniti, maybe they could buy the MGs from 888 should they decide to upgrade?

Rockey5uk2001

· #6 · Sep 8, 2015

I think with Andy Jordan getting back involved with Rally Cross.

I would be very suprised to see him in touring cars next year.

simcor

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 13, 2015

AJ in Touring car times.

Andrew Jordan said:
Andrew Jordan set to leave Triple Eight after a winless 2015
Andrew Jordan says he needs to be in a car to challenge for poles and wins in 2016, after a trying and ultimately winless year with Triple Eight Racing.

Jordan was still mathematically in the championship hunt going into Brands Hatch, with many consistent weekends in his MG6 GT keeping him just about in touch with the leaders.

But the faint hope was extinguished after the first race, and now the 2013 champion says he will be considering his options once his contract with Ian Harrison’s squad expires.

“I need to assess everything. I have a contract with Triple Eight until 14 days after the weekend and after that I will look around,” said Jordan to TouringCarTimes.

“I need to be somewhere where I can at least challenge. I’ve said this to all my sponsors – I’m not one who stands here and says ‘I’m the best driver on the grid in every session on every day of the year’ because in this championship, that doesn’t happen.

“But on my day, I should be up there and I’m better than I’ve been this year. Everyone has their good days and when I have a car under me that I can work with, I’m a pole challenger, a race winner challenger.

“I need to be somewhere I can do that. I’ve got to stick to my contract and when that’s up I’ll have a look.”

To be honest I expected more from AJ this year, Plato proved the car was good enough to be up the front most of the time and scoring good points. Goff has shown great pace with the car and was often qualifying ahead of AJ and scoring better finishes than AJ.

So yet again looks like we will be looking at another new driver for next year.

It is a shame the 3 is too short to enter the BTCC as that would be an interesting change for next year if it was possible.

simcor

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 13, 2015

Just been looking at the rules on the BTCC site for entering a car in the BTCC.

Says vehicle length has to be 4.4m minimum, yet the figures I can find for the Civic and the A class are both less than 4.4m, admittedly the Civic only by 1cm and the A class only just under 4.3m, the Focus is 4.3m also.

Assuming the Parkers figures are from the manufacturers and up to date.

As the 3 is just a smidge over 4m I wonder if the 3 could be used as long as the car is designed so it is 4.4m long or near enough like the others?

Just a thought like and that is assuming the figures are right but it's hard finding exact figures on some marques websites.

Sumo

· #9 · Oct 15, 2015

I would imagine Honda, Ford and Mercedes have used US-spec cars to reach the 4.4M stipulation, with their bigger bumpers etc. Ford did this with the rally Focus to enable a big rear wing to be fitted and keep it within the cars 'footprint'. Highly probably the bodykits are based on US-spec front and rear bumpers..... just sayin', like...

rugby_dave

· #10 · Oct 17, 2015

mattie007 said:
I think 888 will switch to another manufacturer unless MG decide to use the lighter Mk2 model. The 6 is still a quick touring car but the opposition has caught up and overtaken them. Plus I don't think there's much more development left in the mk1. Goff is getting better and could grab another win but Jordan just hasn't gelled aswell as I thought he would. He's still in with a shout of the title but needs 3 or 4 wins in the last 2 rounds.
Maybe Rob Austin to buy a couple of MG's?

I don't think there is any difference in the shell weight, the road car saved weight by changing ICE equipement and drop the rear wiper motor etc.

If MG don't stay as a manufacturer entry I'd of thought Triple Eight would keep the MG's unless another manufacturer comes call soon.

But hopefully we'll see Goff in an MG, and maybe Aron Smith if things stay sour at BMR.

simcor said:
RAR to buy a couple of new MG's would be an interesting development, however I think he favors RWD so unlikely unless he made them rear wheel drive.

He has however lost the Exocet sponsorship after this season so will need some more sponsorship.

How would the MG6 fair if it was RWD I do wonder, with the amount of structural changes over a road going car I would imagine it would not be that hard to make any of the cars RWD.

I doubt it would ever happen though and I am not sure I want Rob racing MG's anyway.

Wouldn't be allow, cars have to use the drive they are in roadspec, or if 4wd is an option you're allowed to chose fwd or rwd.

Sumo said:
I would imagine Honda, Ford and Mercedes have used US-spec cars to reach the 4.4M stipulation, with their bigger bumpers etc. Ford did this with the rally Focus to enable a big rear wing to be fitted and keep it within the cars 'footprint'. Highly probably the bodykits are based on US-spec front and rear bumpers..... just sayin', like...

Car's used have to be able to be brought in the UK, so that rules out that. But I think that Alan Gow allows them to break that rule if its only a small difference.

mattie007

· #11 · Oct 17, 2015

I think Honda get round it because they would threaten to leave if Alan Gow said no to the Civics!
Really hope MG stay though, I've been to 9/10 rounds this year and although it's not been hugely successful it's been great watching Goffs first win and AJ battling at the top until the end.

Sumo

· #12 · Oct 26, 2015

rugby_dave said:
Car's used have to be able to be brought in the UK, so that rules out that. But I think that Alan Gow allows them to break that rule if its only a small difference.

Honda Integra anyone? Personal import only until after it appeared in the BTCC? Gow has a history of making it up as he goes along (or who his favorite team is) you know.....just sayin'...

simcor

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 27, 2015

News tomorrow from Andrew Jordan so I'm led to believe.

Also read a post saying BMR have bought 888 and are going to run two Jag XE's. Hopefully that is just a rumour and there is no truth to it. Otherwise we may not see MG in the BTCC for 2016.

simcor

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 27, 2015

What I would like to see is 888 to stay as it is and to get two MG3's on the grid in 2016. Doubt it would happen though but would be more good exposure for the 3. And would also tie in with the more powerful and Euro 6 engines that have to come next year sooner or later.

MGNorman

· #15 · Oct 27, 2015

I honestly can't see BMR buying 888. 888 is, by far, the bigger outfit and has been around for much longer. Wouldn't be surprised to see them running a different car in 2016 though. Highly unlikely to be an MG3 though as they are too small, not meeting the size requirements.

simcor

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 27, 2015

I also would be surprised if they were to buy 888 out as I said its just a rumour that is going around. To be fair with two of the models that are both under the 4.4m rules I see no reason why 888 should not be able to use the 3 all it needs is the bumpers extending slightly to make it 4.4m. Lol

EbeneezerGoode

· #17 · Oct 27, 2015

The MG3 is too small by quite a distance so think there's a little chance they'd be allowed to use it. If MG are to be racing surely it will be with the facelift MG6? Surprised they didn't race that last season.

simcor

Discussion Starter · #18 · Oct 27, 2015

You would think so I guess. Would be good to have the 3 racing through. The 6 has had the exposure and they didn't bother using the facelift as we were expecting this year.

Algo

· #19 · Oct 28, 2015

Andrew Jordan to announce something today expected to be moving to Motorbase and the Ford Focus.

simcor

Discussion Starter · #20 · Oct 28, 2015

Yep as expected he has moved to Motorbase. To be honest AJ has not become the driver I expected him to become. He said mostly the same about moving to MG as he has about Motorbase, looks like its de ja vue all over again. Plato proved how capable the car was to start with and has done so with the Passat CC and will with whatever car he drives. AJ in my opinion lacked something big this year and he can't blame it all on her car as Goff was often driving better than Jordan was.

1 - 20 of 38 Posts

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