How good does that look? I wish all the cars were actual saloons running, the hatchbacks look well but a saloon body in touring cars is just right imo.
You never know what Plato will turn up in And he does have a knack of creating a good team around him, it has to be said.
Cannot really see him switching to RWD though, for all the moaning. Colin is the only one making that work, a bit like Ducatti and Stoner in MotoGP. Plato will be in a FWD car.
Infiniti BTCC challenger will be rear-wheel drive
The Infiniti Q50 which competes in next year’s BTCC will be rear-wheel drive, championship officials have confirmed.
At the launch of Infiniti Support Our Paras Racing last week, driver Derek Palmer Jnr said a decision hadn’t been made on the drivetrain of the Q50.
But series officials have since confirmed to TouringCarTimes that the car will be rear-wheel drive.
Under the NGTC rules, the cars must mirror the drivetrain of their road-going equivalent. In the case of the Q50, it is rear-wheel drive.
The only exceptions on the current grid are the rear-wheel drive Audi A4s of Rob Austin Racing. The road-going car is front-wheel drive, but due to it having a longitudinally mounted engine, it wasn’t possible to build it as a front-wheel drive car due to the technical constraints of NGTC.
TOCA will implement a series of technical and sporting regulation tweaks for the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, including a plan to better equalise the performance of front and rear-wheel drive cars.
TOCA has come into criticism for failing to ensure a better performance balance of the rear-wheel drive cars compared with their front-wheel drive conterparts, specifically the BMW 1-Series of new champion Colin Turkington.
With this in mind, and the prospect of more RWD cars entering the series next year, TOCA says it will increase the current level of success ballast 'considerably' from 45kg, though the exact figure hasn't been determined. Furthermore, RWD cars must carry the ballast as far forward in the cabin as possible in order to better equalise the performance.
In addition to these changes, the new draft reveals the second of the three BTCC race will see its grid determined by the fastest laps of race one, a format that has been used to success in the British Superbike Championship. Race three will remain a reverse grid format.
Full regulations as released by TOCA (not final, subject to amendment before 2015 season)
- The amount of success ballast will considerably increase from the current level of a maximum 45kg's. The exact increases will be finalized following further analysis. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) cars will carry their success ballast as far forward in the cabin as possible, in order to better equalise the front to rear weight balance between both drivetrain formats.
- Cosworth and Xtrac will independently analyse the start-line performances and in-gear acceleration of front and rear-wheel drive cars with a view to more equalising them through engine management programming.
All engines have now been re-tested and re-validated by both TOCA and an independent specialist company – this will result in a boost level being set for each car/engine type for the season. As the larger amount of success ballast will have a greater effect than before, the lap-time boost level adjustment can be dropped.
- Each car must still use the Dunlop Sport Maxx 'Soft Tyre' for one race per 9 events* but each car must use them three times in race 1, three times in race 2 and three times in race 3 during the course of the season. (*Thruxton event does not apply as the soft tyre is not used at the venue)
- The grid for race 2 at each event will be set in the order of the fastest lap times achieved in race 1. If during race 1 a driver changes one or more tyres of the same type then any quicker lap time (if achieved) after that tyre change will be discounted.
- It is anticipated that The Jack Sears Trophy will be awarded to the top 'Rookie Driver', providing enough new drivers enter to make it worthwhile. Otherwise it will be awarded to the top single-car team of the year.
Well, in fairness, the increased ballast will affect all cars.
I have no idea what "analyse the start-line performances and in-gear acceleration of front and rear-wheel drive cars" means, nor "a boost level being set for each car/engine type"?
But this is how BTCC works, they will penalise or change rules or whatever, to make sure the championship goes to the wire, and that nobody runs away with it.
Anyone get to see Colin Turkington today? Got a glipse of the car as it was getting loaded back on the trailer. Eamonn Holmes was also knocking about. Not sure the two are connected
Meant to post this last week, but my girlfriend went into town last Friday morning to "return some clothes" she had bought the night previous. I expressed my disappointment at the fact I was in Uni and could not get to see Colin at Argos....It was also my Birthday....
I came home to this
The wee buggar has went in and waited for him, spoke to his wife and kids and then had a good conversation with Colin about me missing this, how big of a fan I am and congratulating him on the championship. She nearly even came out with her disgust at Plato's shunt in Race 2 at Brands but didn't (well proud of her if she had of)
Can't believe I didn't hear about his visit until now. Shame it wasn't a saturday, he'd have gotten bigger crowds.
I don't suppose anyone knows where to get BTCC teamwear? There's a honda yuasa jacket I quite fancy but I don't fancy the £120 it seems to be everywhere.
Im hearing rumours concerning WSR ,
firstly Plato is seriously "courting" them
re a drive next year and secondly
WSR has lost its Ebay sponsor money . .
Watch this space . .
Plenty of rumours around...Andy Priaulx and ColinTurkington were linked to a WTCC drive with Munnich Motorsports,and the Plato one with WSR is doing the rounds at the moment.It's going to be interesting to see what comes about as Tesco would probably move with Plato and WSR are in need of a backer.....
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