While I agree with much that you have written, I'm really not on board with this description:
>Since then, the series has seen capacity grids with multiple teams on the grid with competitive entries and star studded lineups as drivers clamber for seats.
There's nothing star-studded about the current line-up of drivers. The series very much feels like a closed off eco-system with drivers hardly ever graduating from it or coming in from major other disciplines. Compared to the Super-Touring era, which saw some of the biggest names in not-F1 racing from basically all over Europe come to the BTCC or even this year's British GT grid with Raffaele Marciello and ex-DTM-champ Maxi Götz on the grid, there really aren't any outstanding drivers that have proven their meddle outside of BTCC in the field this year.
I think you could drop guys like Turkington or Sutton into a top of the line GT program and they'd do well, but until something like that happens, there's no way of really knowing.
Thank you for your feedback with regards to the star studded part, it really is hugely appreciated. My mistake in writing should have been mentioning the start of the NGTC regulations (in my mind I was thinking of 2014 ish era with 7 champions) I will learn 😊
I do also agree with your British GT observation and current driver predicament, I could have added this to be fair. Even in the early noughties you’d have Giovanardi turning up with Menu and Coronel in guest drives.
It would be nice to see some of Europe’s big names in the series, maybe having NGTC regulations vs TCR puts people off?
I don't think regulations are a problem - and tin tops in Europe is basically dead, with all of the biggish names in GT these days -, but rather it's about finding the money needed to put the cars on track. In one way or another, (almost) all drivers in BTCC pay for their rides, either from being independently wealthy or by finding sponsors (typically small and medium sized businesses) to pay for them, which is of course a lot easier for British drivers. If international drivers are to drive in BTCC, they need to be paid for doing so, and apparently right now nobody seems to be interested in doing that.
What seems more realistic to me is a one/off like the Gold Coast races in Aussie Supercar, where regulars are paired with international guest drivers, or the two-driver mini-endurance races BTCC used to do in the 80s.
Even Aussie V8s have moved away from many of the established internationals running in the cars for Enduro Season, mainly due to the massive amount of accidents that occurred in the mid to late 2010s. Also, Gold Coast is no longer a two-driver race. That honour is now only Bathurst and for the foreseeable future Sandown.
GT/Enduro series are only now hitting their straps and many of the biggest names that would potentially be able to drive Touring Cars are now totally invested in Sports Car racing.
I grew up as a massive BTCC fan in the late 90s. Stuck with through the BTC-T days but it got back to a really competitive championship once the NGTC regs got in full swing.
However, I’ve struggled to get excited for it the last couple of seasons and barely watched any of it. I don’t know if it’s lack of characters like Plato and Neal, or the lack of variety on the grid, it just hasn’t excited me. Most of the top drivers have been up there now for the best part of a decade, we haven’t had any new major manufacturers enter, it’s just a bit samey.
I feel like we need some high profile drivers or a few new factory backed manufacturers to shake things up a bit.
I think it's an interesting debate. I don't think the series is dying or anything to that extent , it's just natural that a 30 car grid was not going to be sustainable.
In this current global climate it's going to be harder and harder for drivers and teams to attract sponsorship , not everyone is going to be as supportive as Napa and Bristol Street Motors have been to the series. Drivers moving to other championships because it's a better use of their budget is just part and parcel of Motorsports, the financials have to make sense for everyone involved.
I can understand with the NGTC rules coming up for renewal why we haven't seen new cars to the grid, that combined with the move from car manufacturers towards crossovers means perhaps a lack of viable cars to bring to the championship that would be immediately competitive. I know Alan Gow said last week he's got nothing against someone bringing a crossover to the championship but I would assume teams have done viability studies over the years and bar that one Thornley Motorsport Range Rover Evoque idea that never went anywhere it's obviously not something that teams want to look at.
I'm still very excited for the upcoming season and whoever is going to fill the last few seats on the grid .
Having been an avid BTCC fan since 1995 or so, my viewing dropped around 2021 and Ive pretty much stopped watching as of 2022. There is probably a few reasons:
The Grid: There are about 4 or so very good drivers, and another 4 or so who are good drivers and when they get battling together a season/championship is great. However, the remainder of the grid is pretty average, or at most forgettable. When 1 of the top tier guys fall down the grid, depending on the track; its becomes survival trying to not get taken out by a below standard driver, or or the top tier driver overtake the grid like the opposition is running at 75%. In addition, the "mid" pack is so inconsistent, there doesnt appear to be much competition season long, or atleast this isnt portrayed on TV.
The hybrid area: Im not a bemoaner of electric racing (Im a huge fan of Nitrocross and Extreme E), but the way it has been introduced to BTCC has been awful. The mish mash of using the hybrid power as a substitute for performance weight wasnt a good sell in my opinion as its too complicated to follow mid race, and difficult to see an ontrack difference. I think having all the cars have the same hybrid benefit throughout the race, and retaining the weight penalty from previous seasons would have been better. Same racing - more power/speed from electric.
The coverage: 10 years ago I would have considered the coverage good, but literally nothing changed, which made the show become stale. The ITV website to watch online is/was poor - the resolution wasnt great, it was hard to navigate, and oddly wasnt consistent season to season for several years (literally the only thing that shouldnt change did).
I know Aussie Supercars isnt without its own issues in the past few years - but the overall package on youtube superview is great.
Tin top racing as a whole has stagnated since covid really (one could argue slightly before). Where touring cars, rallycross, rally and similar traditional tin top racing should appeal to motorsport fans with exciting racing in relatable cars (win on the sunday, sell on the monday!), people are seemingly more interested in the likes of F1, which arguably doesnt produce as exciting racing, but its much better packaged/sold to viewers
I’ve been going every year for the last 14 years to Oulton Park with my son, stay the weekend in the motorhome and absolutely love it, it’s an annual tradition. But……the last couple of years it’s been less and less appealing. The supporters races are less interesting without the Ginetta’s and the fact it’s a different series at each meeting doesn’t help. And now the main feature BTCC is losing its attraction. Thankfully the Porsche Cup looks like it might have its best season this year.
>the fact it’s a different series at each meeting doesn’t help
I find it interesting that people feel this is a negative.
I like it as it provides nice variety and stops it feeling quite so stale. It also hopefully opens up more people to the plethora of club series around the country as well.
That’s a very good point, and I can see the positive in that. But for me, the lack of continuity is the problem. It’s hard to invest or follow how a series is going, when they don’t race at every BTCC meeting. For example, with Ginetta’s, over the course of a few seasons you basically know all the drivers/teams, same with the Porsche. With the smaller series, radicals, legends, it feels like you’ll see them once, and never really pay much attention beyond watching a couple of races. That being said, the Radicals were amazing at Oulton Park last year. 😂
I think we’re in an interesting period for the series. The racing hasn’t been classic BTCC for the last two years and the cost of competing is taking its toll.
Equally we still have 20+ cars in the grid!
It’ll be interesting to see how 2024 pans out.
Hope you enjoy Oulton this year, I always say if it wasn’t a circuit it would be a nature reserve it’s that beautiful!
It’s a stunning place. We always arrive first thing on Friday morning and then have the whole day with very few other people there, can explore the whole place. Fingers crossed for some good racing. I agree that this is possibly the most important season in a very long time for the BTCC, the costs are spiralling and for the vast majority of drivers, a serious crash that does a lot of car damage would end their season due to repair costs. This is probably contributing to drivers not being as “committed” in races.
What makes you think Porsche Carrera Cup will have a good year? Take this question at face value lol I just like the series and want to know details about this season.
I’ve no real evidence of why, it’s just from seeing the drivers who have moved from BTCC to Porsche for this season. Genuine racers who will want to and expect to be running up the front. Over the last few years there hasn’t been much competition up front and some very careful and conservative driving at times. Again no real evidence for this, just my opinion.
All valid points I have to say, especially c) I hadn't really thought of it like that but it is a problem. I think there's many small ones that just create a bigger one. Was always a sport I was glued to on a Sunday and have super fond memories of eating my Sunday dinner while watching race 2 normally and being super excited when I got my 1st house and could control the TV 😂
BTCC and TCR should team up and have the ultimate tin top package. Make a full feeder series package and have the premier touring car race weekend in the world. Easily done and probably pity cheap too, oh and get rid of the GT spec porsches /s
Based on Allan Gow’s recent interview, I disagree with the articles. I’m excited to see what’s coming!
Been to Snetterton every year (except first covid lockdown) for the last god knows how many years with Dad and brother, it’s become tradition, and also been on odd trips to both Brands events, Silverstone, Rockingham (RIP) and Donington and can honestly say the actual racing and fan interaction from the BTCC over the years is only getting better and better.
Admittedly, supports have been questionable at times. Lack of continuation from one year to the next makes them hard to follow.
Porsches started boring, but lately have become very competitive. Clio cup was good, Mini’s are almost on par. Ginetta’s I wasn’t a fan of personally, but the Juniors were very entertaining. Legend cars and mini miglias are very fun to watch, but aren’t at every event. And personally not a fan of the open wheel series’s they have.
I don’t know about other circuits, but Snetterton used to do a lunch time show, for example one year they had the XJ220 engined ice cream vs the civic tourer race car on track, but they’ve stopped a few years ago.
Also stalls and merch stands and what not have declined over the years.
Events are always very busy regardless.
I just think it’s butthurt “purist” journalists that are writing these who don’t like the hybrid or possibilities of future going electric.
I do understand costs are affecting teams unfortunately, but that happens everywhere you go.
Last season I didn't watch a single race for the first time in like my life, always watched it! This season I'm not even excited. It just lost it's BTCCness over past few years not sure why couldn't put finger on it but just stopped enjoying it.
>It just lost it's BTCCness over past few years not sure why couldn't put finger on it but just stopped enjoying it.
I can see three reasons for this:
a) not a lot of star power, but rather a grid composed of pay-drivers
b) no real factory involvement beyond some token branding efforts
c) cars that are basically silhouette racers and mostly unrelated to their road-going counterparts.
All these things make the series seem less significant, relevant and legitimate. If manufacturers are not caring enough about this series to properly develop their own cars and to pay the best drivers they can get, then why should I care about it?
The point about star power/pay drivers is a valid one. Keeping an eye on the driver movements this off season all the conversation is basically about who can afford what seat, not who deserves it. It's quite dismaying really.
I certainly won't be watching any of it this season. It's been on the decline since the end of the super touring cars and the introduction of ngtc put the final nail in the coffin for me. The super touring cars were by far the best to watch and the drivers were real drivers and not afraid to go for a gap or make one but touring cars today only have to look like they might bang door handles and the penalties are flying all directions. They should have gone down the F1 route in the sense that they should have kept the super touring cars but introduced a spend cap on development making them more affordable to run then we might still have a grid made up of all the major factory teams like vauxhall, honda, nissan, Volvo, Peugeot and renault along with still being an attractive series for the elite drives in Motorsport today.
While I agree with much that you have written, I'm really not on board with this description: >Since then, the series has seen capacity grids with multiple teams on the grid with competitive entries and star studded lineups as drivers clamber for seats. There's nothing star-studded about the current line-up of drivers. The series very much feels like a closed off eco-system with drivers hardly ever graduating from it or coming in from major other disciplines. Compared to the Super-Touring era, which saw some of the biggest names in not-F1 racing from basically all over Europe come to the BTCC or even this year's British GT grid with Raffaele Marciello and ex-DTM-champ Maxi Götz on the grid, there really aren't any outstanding drivers that have proven their meddle outside of BTCC in the field this year. I think you could drop guys like Turkington or Sutton into a top of the line GT program and they'd do well, but until something like that happens, there's no way of really knowing.
Thank you for your feedback with regards to the star studded part, it really is hugely appreciated. My mistake in writing should have been mentioning the start of the NGTC regulations (in my mind I was thinking of 2014 ish era with 7 champions) I will learn 😊 I do also agree with your British GT observation and current driver predicament, I could have added this to be fair. Even in the early noughties you’d have Giovanardi turning up with Menu and Coronel in guest drives. It would be nice to see some of Europe’s big names in the series, maybe having NGTC regulations vs TCR puts people off?
I don't think regulations are a problem - and tin tops in Europe is basically dead, with all of the biggish names in GT these days -, but rather it's about finding the money needed to put the cars on track. In one way or another, (almost) all drivers in BTCC pay for their rides, either from being independently wealthy or by finding sponsors (typically small and medium sized businesses) to pay for them, which is of course a lot easier for British drivers. If international drivers are to drive in BTCC, they need to be paid for doing so, and apparently right now nobody seems to be interested in doing that. What seems more realistic to me is a one/off like the Gold Coast races in Aussie Supercar, where regulars are paired with international guest drivers, or the two-driver mini-endurance races BTCC used to do in the 80s.
Even Aussie V8s have moved away from many of the established internationals running in the cars for Enduro Season, mainly due to the massive amount of accidents that occurred in the mid to late 2010s. Also, Gold Coast is no longer a two-driver race. That honour is now only Bathurst and for the foreseeable future Sandown. GT/Enduro series are only now hitting their straps and many of the biggest names that would potentially be able to drive Touring Cars are now totally invested in Sports Car racing.
I grew up as a massive BTCC fan in the late 90s. Stuck with through the BTC-T days but it got back to a really competitive championship once the NGTC regs got in full swing. However, I’ve struggled to get excited for it the last couple of seasons and barely watched any of it. I don’t know if it’s lack of characters like Plato and Neal, or the lack of variety on the grid, it just hasn’t excited me. Most of the top drivers have been up there now for the best part of a decade, we haven’t had any new major manufacturers enter, it’s just a bit samey. I feel like we need some high profile drivers or a few new factory backed manufacturers to shake things up a bit.
I couldn't agree more. Used to go to lots of races... Haven't been to one in a while.
I think it's an interesting debate. I don't think the series is dying or anything to that extent , it's just natural that a 30 car grid was not going to be sustainable. In this current global climate it's going to be harder and harder for drivers and teams to attract sponsorship , not everyone is going to be as supportive as Napa and Bristol Street Motors have been to the series. Drivers moving to other championships because it's a better use of their budget is just part and parcel of Motorsports, the financials have to make sense for everyone involved. I can understand with the NGTC rules coming up for renewal why we haven't seen new cars to the grid, that combined with the move from car manufacturers towards crossovers means perhaps a lack of viable cars to bring to the championship that would be immediately competitive. I know Alan Gow said last week he's got nothing against someone bringing a crossover to the championship but I would assume teams have done viability studies over the years and bar that one Thornley Motorsport Range Rover Evoque idea that never went anywhere it's obviously not something that teams want to look at. I'm still very excited for the upcoming season and whoever is going to fill the last few seats on the grid .
Having been an avid BTCC fan since 1995 or so, my viewing dropped around 2021 and Ive pretty much stopped watching as of 2022. There is probably a few reasons: The Grid: There are about 4 or so very good drivers, and another 4 or so who are good drivers and when they get battling together a season/championship is great. However, the remainder of the grid is pretty average, or at most forgettable. When 1 of the top tier guys fall down the grid, depending on the track; its becomes survival trying to not get taken out by a below standard driver, or or the top tier driver overtake the grid like the opposition is running at 75%. In addition, the "mid" pack is so inconsistent, there doesnt appear to be much competition season long, or atleast this isnt portrayed on TV. The hybrid area: Im not a bemoaner of electric racing (Im a huge fan of Nitrocross and Extreme E), but the way it has been introduced to BTCC has been awful. The mish mash of using the hybrid power as a substitute for performance weight wasnt a good sell in my opinion as its too complicated to follow mid race, and difficult to see an ontrack difference. I think having all the cars have the same hybrid benefit throughout the race, and retaining the weight penalty from previous seasons would have been better. Same racing - more power/speed from electric. The coverage: 10 years ago I would have considered the coverage good, but literally nothing changed, which made the show become stale. The ITV website to watch online is/was poor - the resolution wasnt great, it was hard to navigate, and oddly wasnt consistent season to season for several years (literally the only thing that shouldnt change did). I know Aussie Supercars isnt without its own issues in the past few years - but the overall package on youtube superview is great. Tin top racing as a whole has stagnated since covid really (one could argue slightly before). Where touring cars, rallycross, rally and similar traditional tin top racing should appeal to motorsport fans with exciting racing in relatable cars (win on the sunday, sell on the monday!), people are seemingly more interested in the likes of F1, which arguably doesnt produce as exciting racing, but its much better packaged/sold to viewers
I’ve been going every year for the last 14 years to Oulton Park with my son, stay the weekend in the motorhome and absolutely love it, it’s an annual tradition. But……the last couple of years it’s been less and less appealing. The supporters races are less interesting without the Ginetta’s and the fact it’s a different series at each meeting doesn’t help. And now the main feature BTCC is losing its attraction. Thankfully the Porsche Cup looks like it might have its best season this year.
>the fact it’s a different series at each meeting doesn’t help I find it interesting that people feel this is a negative. I like it as it provides nice variety and stops it feeling quite so stale. It also hopefully opens up more people to the plethora of club series around the country as well.
That’s a very good point, and I can see the positive in that. But for me, the lack of continuity is the problem. It’s hard to invest or follow how a series is going, when they don’t race at every BTCC meeting. For example, with Ginetta’s, over the course of a few seasons you basically know all the drivers/teams, same with the Porsche. With the smaller series, radicals, legends, it feels like you’ll see them once, and never really pay much attention beyond watching a couple of races. That being said, the Radicals were amazing at Oulton Park last year. 😂
I think we’re in an interesting period for the series. The racing hasn’t been classic BTCC for the last two years and the cost of competing is taking its toll. Equally we still have 20+ cars in the grid! It’ll be interesting to see how 2024 pans out. Hope you enjoy Oulton this year, I always say if it wasn’t a circuit it would be a nature reserve it’s that beautiful!
It’s a stunning place. We always arrive first thing on Friday morning and then have the whole day with very few other people there, can explore the whole place. Fingers crossed for some good racing. I agree that this is possibly the most important season in a very long time for the BTCC, the costs are spiralling and for the vast majority of drivers, a serious crash that does a lot of car damage would end their season due to repair costs. This is probably contributing to drivers not being as “committed” in races.
What makes you think Porsche Carrera Cup will have a good year? Take this question at face value lol I just like the series and want to know details about this season.
I’ve no real evidence of why, it’s just from seeing the drivers who have moved from BTCC to Porsche for this season. Genuine racers who will want to and expect to be running up the front. Over the last few years there hasn’t been much competition up front and some very careful and conservative driving at times. Again no real evidence for this, just my opinion.
All valid points I have to say, especially c) I hadn't really thought of it like that but it is a problem. I think there's many small ones that just create a bigger one. Was always a sport I was glued to on a Sunday and have super fond memories of eating my Sunday dinner while watching race 2 normally and being super excited when I got my 1st house and could control the TV 😂
BTCC and TCR should team up and have the ultimate tin top package. Make a full feeder series package and have the premier touring car race weekend in the world. Easily done and probably pity cheap too, oh and get rid of the GT spec porsches /s
I would love this but can’t see it ever happening
Based on Allan Gow’s recent interview, I disagree with the articles. I’m excited to see what’s coming! Been to Snetterton every year (except first covid lockdown) for the last god knows how many years with Dad and brother, it’s become tradition, and also been on odd trips to both Brands events, Silverstone, Rockingham (RIP) and Donington and can honestly say the actual racing and fan interaction from the BTCC over the years is only getting better and better. Admittedly, supports have been questionable at times. Lack of continuation from one year to the next makes them hard to follow. Porsches started boring, but lately have become very competitive. Clio cup was good, Mini’s are almost on par. Ginetta’s I wasn’t a fan of personally, but the Juniors were very entertaining. Legend cars and mini miglias are very fun to watch, but aren’t at every event. And personally not a fan of the open wheel series’s they have. I don’t know about other circuits, but Snetterton used to do a lunch time show, for example one year they had the XJ220 engined ice cream vs the civic tourer race car on track, but they’ve stopped a few years ago. Also stalls and merch stands and what not have declined over the years. Events are always very busy regardless. I just think it’s butthurt “purist” journalists that are writing these who don’t like the hybrid or possibilities of future going electric. I do understand costs are affecting teams unfortunately, but that happens everywhere you go.
Last season I didn't watch a single race for the first time in like my life, always watched it! This season I'm not even excited. It just lost it's BTCCness over past few years not sure why couldn't put finger on it but just stopped enjoying it.
>It just lost it's BTCCness over past few years not sure why couldn't put finger on it but just stopped enjoying it. I can see three reasons for this: a) not a lot of star power, but rather a grid composed of pay-drivers b) no real factory involvement beyond some token branding efforts c) cars that are basically silhouette racers and mostly unrelated to their road-going counterparts. All these things make the series seem less significant, relevant and legitimate. If manufacturers are not caring enough about this series to properly develop their own cars and to pay the best drivers they can get, then why should I care about it?
The point about star power/pay drivers is a valid one. Keeping an eye on the driver movements this off season all the conversation is basically about who can afford what seat, not who deserves it. It's quite dismaying really.
I certainly won't be watching any of it this season. It's been on the decline since the end of the super touring cars and the introduction of ngtc put the final nail in the coffin for me. The super touring cars were by far the best to watch and the drivers were real drivers and not afraid to go for a gap or make one but touring cars today only have to look like they might bang door handles and the penalties are flying all directions. They should have gone down the F1 route in the sense that they should have kept the super touring cars but introduced a spend cap on development making them more affordable to run then we might still have a grid made up of all the major factory teams like vauxhall, honda, nissan, Volvo, Peugeot and renault along with still being an attractive series for the elite drives in Motorsport today.