BTCC - Temporada 2009

[(555]

BTCC Temporada 2009

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Cita:

Descripción y normas:
El BTCC actualmente está basado en el reglamento S2000, igual que el WTCC, pero permiten correr con los antiguos BTC a los equipos más modestos (Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch, Honda Integra...). Los Vectra, Civic y el nuevo Ford Focus son coches S2000 homologados unicamente para correr en el campeonato británico.

El calendario se compone de 10 fines de semana, en cada uno se llevan acabo 3 carreras, los domingos; mientras que los sábados se hacen ls entrenamientos libres y la sesión de clasificación.
- La parrilla de salida de la primera carrera está determinada, lógicamente, por los resutados de la clasificación.
- La parrilla de salida de la segunda carrera está determinada por el resultado en la primera carrera.
- La parrilla de salida de la tercera carrera es el resultado de la primera pero invertido un número de posiciones que se determina "por sorteo". Al finalizar la segunda carrera, el ganador de ésta tiene que hacer de mano inocente, en un recipiente hay bolas con los número del 6 al 10. El número que salga será el "poleman" de la tercera carrera. Por ejemplo, si el número seleccionado es el 7 parrilla de la tercera carrera sería:

1 - El 7º de la segunda carrera.
2 - El 6º de la segunda carrera.
3 - El 5º de la segunda carrera.
4 - El 4º de la segunda carrera.
5 - El 3º de la segunda carrera.
6 - El 2º de la segunda carrera.
7 - El 1º de la segunda carrera.
8 - El 8º de la segunda carrera.
9 - El 9º de la segunda carrera.

Al igual que en el campeonato del mundo, aquí también se aplican lastres:
1º 45kgs; 2º – 36kgs; 3º – 27kgs; 4º – 18kgs; 5º – 9kgs. Estos lastres se aplican antes de empezar la segunda y tercera carrera. Además al acabar cada evento, estos mismos valores son aplicados a los cinco primeros pilotos de la general de campeonato.

Todos los coches tienen un único suministrador de neumáticos, Dunlop.

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Calendario 2009:

Brands Hatch 05/Apr/2009


Thruxton 26/Apr/2009


Donington Park 17/May/2009


Oulton Park 31/May/2009


Croft 14/Jun/2009


Snetterton 02/Aug/2009


Knockhill 16/Aug/2009


Silverstone 30/Aug/2009


Rockingham 20/Sep/2009


Brands Hatch GP 04/Oct/2009



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Equipos y pilotos:

- Equipos oficiales.
Vauxhall Racing - Vauxhall Vectra
www.tripleeight.co.uk
#1 - Fabrizio Giovanardi www.fabriziogiovanardi.com
#5 - Matt Neal www.mattneal.co.uk
#77 - Andrew Jordan



- Equipos privados.
Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing SEAT - Seat León
#9 - Adam Jones www.adam-jones.co.uk
#85 - Dan Eaves


Team Aon - Ford Focus ST
#10 - Tom Chilton www.tomchilton.com
#20 - Alan Morrison


Tempus Sport - Chevrolet Lacetti
#17 - Harry Vaulkhard
#?? - ???? ????


RML - Chevrolet Lacetti
# 3 - Jason Plato

Team Dynamics - Honda Civic
#52 - Gordon Shedden www.gordonshedden.com
#55 - David Pinkney http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Pinkney


Team RAC - BMW 320si E90
www.teamrac.co.uk
#4 - Colin Turkington http://colinturkington.homestead.com/
#44 - Stephen Jelley www.stephenjelley.com


Airwaves BMW - BMW 320si E90
www.motorbaseperformance.co.uk
#11 - Robert Collard www.collardracing.co.uk
#12 - Jonathan Adam www.jonathanadamracing.co.uk


Team KWR - MG ZS
http://www.teamkwr.net
#28 - Jason Hughes

Maxtreme - SEAT Toledo.
#27 - Liam MacMillan

Team AFM Racing - BW 120d
#16 - Nick Leason

Sunshine.co.uk - Honda Integra
#15 - Martyn Bell
#29 - Paul O’Neill

TH Motorsport Racing - Honda Integra
#50 - John George

Boulevard Team Racing - Vauxhall Astra Coupe
#63 - Martin Johnson

Fuente: www.btcc.net


http://www.spotterguides.com/content/view/22/45/
http://www.spotterguides.com/images/...btcc_09_v1.pdf


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Sitios web:

www.btcc.net
www.btccpages.net
www.btccinfo.co.uk
www.btccaction.co.uk
www.touringcartimes.com

BTCC - Temporada 2008 http://www.forocompeticion.com/foro/...ight,btcc.html

[(555]

Cita:

BTCC: Vauxhall pasó por Guadix

Data: 23/02/2009 17:15

El Circuito Guadix ha recibido recientemente la vista del mejor equipo del Campeonato Británico de Turismos o BTCC.

Hablamos de Vauxhall, de cuyos coches se encarga VX Racing, que se desplazó al trazado granadino con las evoluciones "2009" realizadas a sus Vectra para afrontar la temporada próxima en las mejores condiciones posibles. La marca británica llevó a estos tests a sus dos mejores pilotos, a los veteranos Fabrizio Giovanardi y Matt Neal - entre los cuáles suman los cuatro últimos títulos del BTCC-, que se amoldaron perfectamente a sus nuevas monturas en un circuito que por su trazado recuerda mucho a los de las islas sajonas. El único ausente fue el recientemente fichado Andrew Jordan, de 19 años, que no viajó a Guadix.

El reto de Vauxhall pasa por volver a sumar un nuevo triplete ganando en las clasificaciones de pilotos, equipos y constructores, y además de repetir Giovanardi lograría tres títulos consecutivos, un hito sólo logrado antes por Bill McGovern, Win Percy y Andy Rouse. Entre sus rivales, además de los BMW y Honda, no podemos desdeñar los nuevos Ford Focus S2000 desarrollados por Arena Motorsport y a los que el voluble Tom Chilton ha realizado el shakedown en Silverstone.

Christian Traginer para SportMotores.es

[(555]

Cita:

James Thompson tests Tempus BTCC Chevrolet

Thu 29th January 2009 - James Thompson tests Tempus BTCC Chevrolet

James Thompson tests Tempus BTCC Chevrolet Double British Touring Car champion James Thompson has tested a Chevrolet Lacetti for BTCC newcomers Tempus Sport.

Thompson, who is currently without a drive for 2009, joined the team's confirmed driver Harry Vaulkhard at a recent test in Estoril.

Tempus Sport has been continuing its pre-season testing in Portugal after moving on from last week's test at Portimao. Unfortunately for the team, the weather in Estoril was also affected by the rain seen in Portimao last week, as well as fog, leaving them with less track time than anticipated.

Richard Coleman, Tempus Sport Team Manager said: "It was a fantastic opportunity to get a driver of the calibre of James Thompson in the car and his feedback was invaluable. A driver like James would fit in perfectly at Tempus Sport and I think he understands exactly what we are trying to achieve. We are certainly having serious discussions with James, but we are still talking to other drivers too, so it's too early to confirm our second driver."

James Thompson said: "I have raced against the Chevrolet Lacetti at tracks around the world over the last four seasons so I've seen how it has developed and I know what it's capable of doing. Getting behind the wheel of the car for myself was interesting and the Tempus Sport team certainly have potential, especially with their close relationship with RML, who make the car. It's still too early to say what I'll be doing for the 2009 season, but the BTCC with Tempus is definitely an option."

www.btccpages.com

Thompson y Plato ya hicieron test con varios equipos del BTCC durante esta pretemporada y habiendo todavía bastantes puestos libres no sería de extrañar que acaben corriendo el campeonato este año.

[(555]

Cita:

Volvo considering BTCC return

Friday, February 6th 2009

After a decade out of the BTCC Volvo is considering returning to the BTCC this year according to Autosport. The manufacturer has successfully been racing in the Swedish Touring Car Championship in recent years, where the small and sporty C30 is a proven race winner. With the project launching relatively late, Volvo have hinted that they may join the 2009 season mid-way, or just focus on entering in 2010.

Volvo director of motorsport Derek Crabb told the magazine: “After the success we’ve had in Sweden with the C30 with five poles and two wins for Robert Dahlgren, a couple of series’ became interested in us. Britain is a market I’d really like to get into. It’s a good chance to re-establish Volvo as a sporty brand, like it was before when we last a big presence in touring cars.”

However the company is not willing to enter unless several conditions are met. In Sweden the company has adopted a particularly green stance, with the cars displaying ‘Green Racing’ paint jobs.

“It has to be a sponsor-led project and those sponsors need to fit in with our green image,” added Crabb. “Getting those in line is very important. I don’t just want deals that will get us through a year. I want a three-year deal from sponsors and we’re nearly there.”

The model which Volvo would choose to race is also unclear. A current agreement between the BTCC and STCC means that the C30 as raced in Sweden would be eligible for competing in the UK, but the company could also choose to race a completely new model such as the S60. Several teams have been approached about running the project, including former BTCC champions Team Dynamics.

Volvo has a strong history in the BTCC, first entering in 1994 when it raced the radical 850 estate. Since then the manufacturer has achieved 21 wins and took Swede Rickard Rydell to the 1998 championship.

www.btccaction.co.uk

[(555]

Cita:

Arena Fords to run under Team Aon banner

Mon 2nd March 2009

Arena Fords to run under Team Aon banner Arena International will run its Ford Focus STs under the Team Aon name in the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The team revealed its title sponsor at today’s Brands Hatch pre-season event, with its only confirmed driver, Tom Chilton, on hand to put the car through its paces around the Kent track.

The pictures here show the distinctly liveried Focus at Brands Hatch.

Arena and Chilton tested for the first time at Snetterton in late February and have stated their intentions to put in an intensive programme of work ahead of the new season.

www.btccpages.com

[(555]

Y un vídeo que encontré de los test de Chiltoin en Brands Hatch.



Con la entrada del Focus es una pena que SEAT se haya marchado de forma oficial aunque el Cartridge World Carbon espero que mantenga el nivel gracias a los coches (ex oficiales del WTCC 2008) y a Adam Jones.

Otro de mis preferidos Matt Jackson, que corría con el 320si de BMW UK Dealers, de momento no tiene programa porque ha perdido un patrocinador (crisis )

Falta un mes para que esto empiece

[Daniel]

Gracias por el hilo (555, es uno de los campeonatos más interesantes de todos. ¿Así que Plato sigue sin confirmar nada? A ver si encuentra equipo pronto, porque el campeonato sin él perdería bastante.

Muy bonito el Focus, es una gozada volver a ver un Ford en circuitos.

[eloyf1]

Buf, espero que para este Focus no hayan usado como base el que se usó en el WTCC

[Daniel]

O por lo menos que lo hayan afinado un poco más....

[(555]

Cita:

Jonathan Adam confirmed for Motorbase

Jonathan Adam has been confirmed as the second Motorbase Performance driver for the British Touring Car Championship 2009. The 24 year old Scotsman was Cura Cup champion in 2007 and 2008.
“This is a huge opportunity for me and I have to thank David Bartrum and Motorbase Performance for giving me the chance to drive in the BTCC," said Adam.

By Johan Meissner
Wednesday, 11 March 2009 09:32 CET

Adam tested for Motorbase Performance at the end of the 2008 season at Brands Hatch where he impressed the team greatly.

“I’m delighted to have secured Jonathan Adam for the 2009 season. We tested him last October having come to us very highly recommended, and his professional approach impressed us.

From the first moment we started working with him in the garage and in the car we realised he was keen to learn and very ambitious," said team boss David Bartrum.

Adam will team up with already confirmed Rob Collard in the BMW-team. The Scotsman's previous experiences span from gocart to Formula Ford and Renault Clio.

"This is another big step up but the BMW 320si is a great car and Motorbase is an ambitious team determined to move forward very quickly, and I want to help it do that. The team has found some very good set up options from last season and understands how to make the car perform, so I think we will show good pace throughout the year," said Adam.

The season start of the BTCC 2009 is three weeks away and the young Scotsman is eager to go. The goal for him is to challenge for podiums and a win.

"The goal is to get podiums and challenge for a win as soon as possible. I can’t wait to get started," said Adam.

Motorbase Performance BMW will also unveil its new 2009 livery and sponsorship partners at the high-profile event.

www.touringcartimes.com

Ya tenemos el segundo integrante del equipo Motorbase. Con 25 años ha pasado por Fórmula Ford, Clio Cup (ganada en 2005) y Copa León (ganada en 2007). Su web: http://www.jonathanadamracing.co.uk/

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Cita:

BTCC: Volvo could join one race in 2009

The British Touring Car Championship might see a Volvo entry this year. Not in the form of a new team, but in the form of the Swedish Touring Car Championship team Polestar Racing making a guest apperance.
"This would be a further evaluation of a possible full BTCC involvement, supported by British dealers," said Volvo Motorsport director Derek Crabb to Autosport.

By TouringCarTimes Friday, 13 March 2009 12:27 CET

According to reports the Volvo-team could be present during the Snetterton race on August the 2nd with one car for Robert Dahlgren.

Crabb also mentioned that a World Touring Car Championship appearance this year is not excluded yet. Last year Dahlgren took part in the WTCC race at Brands Hatch.

Recent information to TouringCarTimes has indicated that there might be other reasons of the interest from Volvo/Polestar on BTCC.

Last year was the first year in STCC for the team with the new C30-model. The team got to run the cars extra light due to the fact that they were nationally homologated and in a development progress.

The Volvo's really got up to pace during the final races with Dahlgren taking several pole positions and winning the two final races.

For 2009 the cars are likely to be slapped with more weight, to be equal to the other cars in the championship.

This is something the Volvo-team is not pleased with and the reports of the team looking at both BTCC and WTCC could be a way to influence the STCC organisation not to raise the weight.

Serious lobbying efforts or just evil rumors? Stay tuned for more news!

www.touringcartimes.com

Rumore rumore acerca de una posible participación del C30 en BTCC o WTCC. Al parece el año pasado el Volvo tenía menor peso que el resto de la parrilla del STCC por ser un coche deutante, y este año le han aumentado el peso así que Volvo piensa en participar en alguna carrera de BTCC y/o WTCC para dejar ver a la organización del campeonato sueco que no tienen superioridad a pesar de ser más ligeros.

[Daniel]

¿Seguimos sin noticias de Plato?

[(555]

No, ni Plato, ni Oslow-Cole, ni Thompson, ni Turner (era de es esperar por su acuerdo con Aston Martin). Veremos si el jueves hay novedades en el Media Day.

[Daniel]

Jo, pues menuda lista de bajas....

Menos mal que este campeonato es un valor seguro, aunque no se quien se lo va a poner difícil a Fabrizio....

[(555]

Cita:

No second driver for Aon or Tempus - yet

Thu 19th March 2009 BTCC newcomers Team Aon and Tempus Sport both have just a single driver named on the official entry list for the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.

However, both teams are understood to be in the advanced stages of discussions and there is a good chance that each will field an additional car from the opening round of the season at Brands Hatch.

When questioned at today’s Rockingham media launch, Team Aon driver Tom Chilton said, “At the moment I don’t have a teammate, we’re still looking. We have a second driver lined and he has put a deposit down, but we’re still waiting.”

Full story to follow.

www.btccpages.com

Cita:

Alan Morrison returns with Team Aon

TouringCarTimes has received information that Alan Morrison is expected to be announced as the driver of the second Team Aon Ford Focus in the British Touring Car Championship 2009. The deal is expected to be revealed at the official Media Day tomorrow at Rockingham.

By Johan Meissner Wednesday, 18 March 2009 22:38 CET

Morrison was last seen in the BTCC during the 2003 season when he drove for Arena Motorsport (Team Aon) when the team ran Honda works cars.

Morrison's career started in motocross. He switched to four wheels in 1997, driving in the Ford Fiesta championship, winning the title in 1998.

The 38 year old Northern Irish driver made his first apperance in BTCC in a Peugeot 306 in the season of 2000, driving in the B class, notching up 13 class wins.

In 2002 he got his first ever works drive and was team mate with Andy Priaulx. 2003 was his last year when his team mate was named Matt Neal. That year saw Morrison finishing an impressive fifth in the championship after clinching two race wins.

www.touringcartimes.com

Cita:

Official entry list released featuring 21 cars

The official entry list has been released for the 2009 MSA British Touring Car Championship. The list features 21 cars and drivers in seven different car makes.
"Of course the current economic climate is also putting our sport through a very tough time, for everyone and at all levels. So it makes the entry of 21 cars, which is only a couple down on last years average grid size, particularly pleasing and impressive," said series director Alan Gow to BTCC.net.

By Johan Meissner Thursday, 19 March 2009 09:32 CET

"I’m immensely proud of every entrant we have this year. There wouldn’t be a single team that didn’t go through a huge effort to put together their BTCC programme. In my book, that already makes them all ‘winners’."

The only previously unannounced entry in the list is number 63 of Martin Johnson. The 46 year old Brit is going to drive the Vauxhall Astra Coupé Kizilirmak Erkut drove selected races with in the BTCC 2008.

Johnson's previous experiences are mainly in Renault Clio Cup where he raced from 2000 to 2005. His career started with the Vauxhall Vectra V6 Challenge in 1999.

Number one on the list is Fabrizio Giovanardi for the second year in succession. The Italian could become the first driver since Andy Rouse to win three titles in a row this year.

The majority of the teams are currently at Rockingham for the official media day. A number of news have been and are going to be presented there.

ITV has confirmed that they will continue the live coverage of the championship with Steve Rider and Louise Goodman as presenters, series sponsor HiQ increases its marketing activities and the championship organisers will introduce a limit on the CO2 emission levels from the competing cars.

Stay tuned for more news and pictures from the media day!

Official BTCC 2009 Entry List

#1 Fabrizio Giovanardi VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra
#4 Colin Turkington Team RAC BMW 320si E90
#5 Matt Neal VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra
#9 Adam Jones Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing SEAT Leon
#10 Tom Chilton Team Aon Ford Focus ST
#11 Robert Collard Airwaves BMW BMW 320si
#12 Jonathan Adam Airwaves BMW BMW 320si
#15 Martyn Bell Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed Motorsport Honda Integra
#17 Harry Vaulkhard Tempus Sport Chevrolet Lacetti
#18 TBA Tempus Sport Chevrolet Lacetti
#20 TBA Team Aon Ford Focus ST
#27 Liam McMillan Maxtreme SEAT Toledo
#28 Jason Hughes KWR Sport MG ZS
#29 Paul O’Neill Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed Motorsport Honda Integra
#44 Stephen Jelley Team RAC BMW 320si
#50 John George TH Motorsport Racing with JAG Honda Integra
#52 Gordon Shedden Team Dynamics Honda Civic
#55 Dave Pinkney Team Dynamics Honda Civic
#63 Martin Johnson Boulevard Team Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupe
#77 Andrew Jordan VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra
#85 Dan Eaves Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing SEAT Leon

www.touringcartimes.com

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Cita:

George to return with Integra in 2009

Cornish racer John George has announced his plans to return to the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship for 2009, despite writing off his previous car in a spectacular accident in the final meeting of 2008.

George has acquired a new Honda Integra to replace the one that was written off at Brands Hatch in September 2008. The car will again be run by the TH Motorsport outfit from it’s Watford base.

Speaking of his purchase of the car that David Pinkney campaigned in 2006, George said “It just made so much sense for us to run the Integra again. Although we didn’t have a car we had numerous spares and all the tools and experience to run that car.” The machine written off last year has therefore been converted into spare parts for the new car.

However due to the plans coming together very late the earliest George is likely to see the car is this week’s media day at Rockingham. The car will once again be sponsored by JAG Communications, the company that George owns and operates.

“It will be great to get back behind the wheel again,” added John. “I have only had a few laps since Brands in September 08 so I expect I will be a bit rusty, I have been out on track days with my coach John Pratt during the winter so it really shouldn’t take to long to get back up to speed. I am really looking forward to working with Trevor and the team at TH again it all ended very sadly for us last year when I had that big smash, so it will be good to see them all again. I am hoping for some better results this year, we really didn’t have the luck in 2008, we went quicker at all but one tracks yet we just didn’t feature in the positions though we should have, but that’s racing. This year is going to be hard as we have a tiny budget.“

www.btccaction.co.uk

Cita:

Makes championship rules changed

The British Touring Car Championship organisers have created an expanded manufacturers/constructors title. The title is for the manufacturers and/or teams who design and create their own cars. The cars eligible for this sesaon are Vauxhall/VX Racing, Honda/Team Dynamics and Ford/Team Aon.

By Johan Meissner Thursday, 19 March 2009 12:06 CET

BTCC series director Alan Gow thinks the new title will give recognition for teams and manufacturers that have created their own cars.

“This expanded championship will produce added competition within that category, whilst also providing greater recognition for those teams who have used the BTCC’s local homologation regulations to introduce cars of their own design, as opposed to those who have bought cars already developed by other manufacturers and/or teams," said Gow to BTCC.net.

Points will be allocated as per the previous Manufacturers’ Trophy – to the top two cars across the line to be nominated by each entrant prior to race day.

Team Dynamics and Team Aon are still eligible for the Independents championship title.

www.tourigcartimes.com

Cita:

Dynamics' new look!

Team Dynamics has today shown off a stunning new livery that will appear on both its Honda Civics in this year’s HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Gordon Shedden tested the Civic in its black and silver colours at Rockingham ahead of the BTCC’s official Media Day launch at the Northants circuit tomorrow (Thursday).

Public admission tomorrow is from 1.00pm onwards and free. The day will provide fans with their first glimpse of the 2009 BTCC grid in action as this year’s ‘runners and riders’ participate in an official afternoon test session on track. Those attending will also have access to the BTCC paddock and pit lane garage roof terracing for a close-up view of each the teams' 2009-spec cars.

www.btcc.net

Cita:

Airwaves unveils Motorbase sponsorship

Wrigley’s Airwaves has today unveiled a sponsorship deal with Motorbase Performance for the British Touring Car Championship season 2009. The team has been renamed to Airwaves BMW.
"Airwaves® is delighted to secure our sponsorship with Motorbase and we’re looking forward to a successful season for ‘Airwaves BMW’ in 2009," said Wrigley's marketing director Toby Baker.

By Johan Meissner Wednesday, 18 March 2009 09:42 CET

"Motorsport is a perfect brand fit for Airwaves® and our ‘KICK UP A GEAR®’ vision. The HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship is no different due to its adrenaline fueled nature and exciting racing," continued Baker.

Motorbase Performance team boss David Bartrum is ecstatic over the deal with Airwaves.

“They have a proven record in motorsport, and with the tremendous end we had to 2008, we feel we have a superb chance of competing for race wins and podiums from the start of this season.

“We’re excited about the opportunities to work with a brand like Airwaves® and are looking forward to demonstrating the value of ‘Airwaves BMW’ both on and off the track to them.

“It’s great news for the championship that brands like Airwaves® feel it is a place to be and we’re eager to impress as we continue to build a championship winning team.”

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is a recognized leader in confections with a wide range of product offerings including gum, mints, hard and chewy candies, lollipops, and chocolate.

www.touringcartimes.com

La principal novedad del día, aparte de la lista de inscritos es el cambio del campeonato de constructores que deja de ser solo para constructores y ahora es campeonato de equipos. Así, los equipos que han hecho su propio coche (Dynamics y Aon), podrán optar al hasta ahora llamado título de constructores.

Por otra parte, los Civic de Dynamics dejan de ser narajnas, y el equipo Motorbase pasa a llamarse Airwaves BMW.

Todavía falta por saber quien llevara el segundo Focus y el segundo Nubira.

[RaLLy]

........de lo que fue el BTCC entre 96-98......

[(555]

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/for...d.php?t=120972

Algunas fotos de hoy para ver las nuevas decoraciones.

[DZR]

La de Turkington tiene algo diferente al año pasado que la hace mas bonita

Los Civic no iban negros?? porque sale naranja el de Pinkney??

[(555]

A lo mejor es el coche de pruebas (si es que tienen un coche para pruebas que no lo se), o tendrán pensando pintarlo antes de la primera carrera. La noticia si que dice que ambos Civic serán negros.

[eloyf1]

Me encanta Rockingham

[eloyf1]

El Ford Focus no parece ir muy bien...

Cita:

Turkington heads Rockingham test

By Jamie O'Leary Thursday, March 19th 2009, 20:38 GMT

Colin Turkington topped the timesheets for WSR at the first official British Touring Car Championship test of the year at Rockingham.

The BMW driver's benchmark 1m23.609s time was set within the first hour of the afternoon session, as Turkington completed 64 laps in total.

Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi was second quickest for Vauxhall, 0.388 seconds slower. Giovanardi was the only man other than Turkington to dip under the 1m24s barrier, his best lap coming inside the final hour of running.

An impressive third quickest was Turkington's WSR team-mate Stephen Jelley, while Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan ensured that all three works Vauxhalls ended up in the top five.

Gordon Shedden was the best of the Team Dynamics drivers, setting the sixth best time of the day in his Honda Civic, with Harry Vaulkhard's Tempus Chevrolet and Rob Collard's Motorbase BMW next up.

Dave Pinkney in the second Dynamics Honda was ninth as the only Techspeed Honda Integra present completed the top 10. Both Martyn Bell and Paul O'Neill took turns in the car during the afternoon.

It was a bad day for new Motorbase recruit Jonathan Adam, who had his test cut short after just six laps due to a rear differential problem with his BMW. He stopped the car out on the circuit, resulting in the only red flag of the day while it was cleared.

Tom Chilton was another to lose time, an overheating issue with his Ford Focus forcing the Arena team to re-map it. He did, at least, manage to return to the track for the final 15 minutes of the session.

Series rookie Martin Johnson also had his session come to a premature end. The former Renault Clio Cup racer lost the electronic display on his Boulevard Vauxhall Astra and called it a day so as to prevent himself from needlessly over-revving the engine.

Pos Driver Car Time Gap
1. Colin Turkington BMW 320si 1:23.609
2. Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall Vectra 1:23.997 + 0.388
3. Stephen Jelley BMW 320si 1:24.140 + 0.531
4. Matt Neal Vauxhall Vectra 1:24.193 + 0.584
5. Andrew Jordan Vauxhall Vectra 1:24.223 + 0.614
6. Gordon Shedden Honda Civic 1:24.329 + 0.720
7. Harry Vaulkhard Chevrolet Lacetti 1:24.746 + 1.137
8. Robert Collard BMW 320si 1:24.823 + 1.214
9. David Pinkney Honda Civic 1:25.287 + 1.678
10. Bell/O'Neill Honda Integra 1:25.506 + 1.897
11. Jonathan Adam BMW 320si 1:26.003 + 2.394
12. Liam McMillan SEAT Toledo 1:26.208 + 2.599
13. John George Honda Integra 1:27.001 + 3.392
14. Tom Chilton Ford Focus ST 1:27.218 + 3.609
15. Martin Johnson Vauxhall Astra 1:27.519 + 3.910

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73789

[Daniel]

Esperemos que le saquen algo bueno al Focus

[eloyf1]

Jason Plato con Chevrolet

Cita:

Plato to race RML Lacetti at Brands

By Jamie O'Leary Wednesday, April 1st 2009, 13:38 GMT

Jason Plato, SEAT, BTCC, Brands Hatch 2008Jason Plato has made a last-minute entry into this weekend's British Touring Car Championship season-opener at Brands Hatch.

The 2001 champion, who has been without a drive since SEAT quit the series at the end of last year, has signed a deal to race a 2008-spec Chevrolet Lacetti run on an independent basis by the crack RML squad.

Plato, 41, is unsure if his deal will be extended to include a full season of racing, but is excited to be remaining in the series in which he made his name.

"This was too good an opportunity to miss." Plato said. "The BTCC has played such an important role in my life, so being at Brands Hatch is hugely important to me personally.

"At the moment, we don't know how long we'll be around. We're trying tremendously hard behind the scenes to put together a full programme for 2009. Right now, I'm just very excited to be teaming back up with some good friends and respected colleagues at RML."

Plato, a 47-time race winner in the BTCC, said he would not be content to run at the back of the field.

"We are so going into this as the underdogs, without a shadow of a doubt. But I've got great confidence in RML's ability to engineer a racing car and I've got to draw upon all my experience because I'm probably going to be a bit rusty.

"If we can get within 20 per cent of what Brawn GP did in Melbourne then we'll be doing well. We're certainly not there to make up the numbers," said RML boss Ray Mallock, who signed Plato when his squad ran the works SEAT team in the BTCC in 2004.

"There's a convenient gap in the WTCC calendar, meaning some of our personnel were available for Brands and we have some 2008 kit still lying around so it would have been a shame not to put it to good use at Brands Hatch.

"Plus, Jason is very well known at RML - it's a perfect combination and we're all delighted even if it is a last minute entry that we can be on the BTCC grid together again."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74134

[Daniel]

Ojalá pero no será April Fool's day? Y nos la quieren meter doblada??????

[eloyf1]

Cierto...

[Daniel]

Bueno en todo caso la temporada empieza ya y siempre es un gran campeonato, aunque me da que este año Giovanardi se lo lleva de calle.


Edit: En motorsport forums dicen que no es un April's fool... A ver si es verdad....

[(555]

Parece que lo de Plato es verdad, hay declaraciones de Giovanardi al respecto y todo.

Por otra parte ya está ocupado el segundo Focus.

Cita:

Alan Morrison confirmed for Team Aon

As TouringCarTimes exclusively reported more than two weeks ago - Alan Morrison returns to the British Touring Car Championship with Team Aon.
“My deal has come together very late, but I’m really looking forward to racing with Mike and the team again," said Morrison.

By Johan Meissner Thursday, 02 April 2009 18:42 CET

The 38 year old is going to drive the all new Ford Focus along side team mate Tom Chilton. Team boss Mike Earle is thrilled to have Morrison onboard.

“It has taken Alan a while to get his deal sorted and that’s not surprising in these hard economic times, but I’m delighted he’s done it and very happy to have him back.

He hasn’t had any preparation and it will be tough for him to start with, but he will get there," said Earle.

Due to the lateness of the closure of the deal, Morrison has missed all pre season testing and will arrive at the BTCC premiere this weekend at Brands Hatch with little knowledge of the new car.

"I’ve not driven anything for five years and haven’t had a chance to try the Focus yet so this first event is really going to be a test session for me. I know the team will do a fantastic job and make the challenge enjoyable," said Morrison.

www.touringcartimes.com

[(555]

Ya he visto las tres carreras del primer meeting de este año. Para los interesados, solo la carrera 1 y 3 están entretenidas, la segunda es algo más sosa.

Así como resumen, pues decir que los Seat no están y los Focus ni están ni se les espera El Chevrolet de Plato me sorprendió gratamente, si pueden sacarle algo más no lo descarto para nada. Aunque el equipo Vauxhall vuelve a estar muy fuerte este año con Giovanardi y Neal (era hasta cómico ver como adelantaban a todo el mundo siempre en la misma curva...) y también Andrew Jordan que en la sunda carrera remonta más de 10 posiciones. Parece que la cosa va a estar entre Vauxhall y los BMW del Team RAC y Motorbase Airwaves.

Mañana pongo los resultados, así que será mensaje spoiler

Os dejo este control de Plato en la primera curva que nada tiene que envidiar al de Giovanardi hace uno par de años

[eloyf1]

Me parece mejor incluso que el de Giovanardi, que al fin y al cabo pierde dos puestos y se va por la hierba... En cambio Plato, queda limpio, y pierde sólo un puesto