Nick
17th November 2008, 21:07
So it looks like we are at the beginning of an economic recession (or in political language an 'economic slowdown' and I thought it would be interesting to try and get a 'real idea' of how we think 2009 is shaping up - rather than the normal 'Rumours or Ideal threads' - so here goes....
Vauxhall CONFRIMED: 2 x cars (1 more possible)
Gio & Neal are both confirmed
O-Cole - they will run if they can find sponsors
However it is likely that Vauxhalls BTCC budget will be cut with GM in the position thht they are (and with no other works teams confirmed, they will at least win the manufacturers championship!) they are going to be reliant on other sponsors
Prediction 2 cars
Team Dynamics NOT CONFIRMED (possibly 2 - 3 cars)
TD will do well to keep Halfords next year, retailers will be hit and Halfords are possibly at a stage where they think the sponsorship has run its cause. Interesting that the car when Pinkney tested carried the Honda "H" on the roof and with Chilton saying that Honda personnel were present at the lst race, it would be likely that Honda step up to become a manufacturer team (I would not be surprised to see TOCA dropping or waving their fees just to get another manufacturer into the series)
Chilton is likely to be retained, despite his performance last year - as he can bring some cash to the team and is still seen as a name for enticing sponsors, etc - Sheddon (according to MN he is supposed to have fallen out with the team and it is unlikely to know how the credit crunch has affected his personal sponsors) - Pinkney would make sense (if the team runs 3 cars) as he can bring cash to the team and despite him not been a frontrunner his experience would probably be beneficial to the other drivers and to the team as a whole
Prediction 3 cars (3 cars would split the costs more effectively)
Team RAC 1 CONFIRMED (possibly 2-3 cars)
If BMW do return they would probably choose between WSR or Jackson M-Sport (despite Motorbases strong performance towards the end of the season) with WSR the most likely destination due to their experience of running works cars for Ford, Honda & MG. RAC will no doubt be feeling the crunch due to their parent companies financial activities however I would predict that RAC would still have a marketing budget that would be able to fund the sponsorship.
Turks is confirmed
Jelley despite his performances (or lack of) his ability to bring a large budget to the team should enable him to keep his seat, however he may look else where like TOC did
Van Der Ende would be a fantastic addition to the team and the championship (as the championship desperately requires some international drivers)
Prediction 3 cars (as TD 3 cars would split the costs more effectively)
Jackson M-Sport NOT CONFIRMED (possibly 0 cars or 2 cars)
Despite their awesome performances in the last two years it would be unlikely to see BMW appoint the small family run team as their official works team. It would be more likely that the team continue as a private team, running 2 cars the 2007 and 2008 car or Jackson M-Sport could move to the WTCC to test themselves against the best or possibly Jackson would be poached by WSR or if another works team enter........
Jackson WTCC or BTCC Works deal
Prediction 0 cars
Motorbase Performance NOT CONFIRMED (possibly 2-3 cars)
After a fantastic season, it is likely that Motorbase will return to the series, however it will be interesting how far long they can continue as they appeared to be running on a budget far lower than what seemed possible to purchase 2 Schnitzer cars and run them to the standard that they did.
Collard to continue due to his ability to bring some budget and his performances
S Kane to continue if he will have to find more budget
Adam if he can provide some funding he would be a good signing
Prediction 3 cars (again like TD and WSR it makes sense)
Northern South
They must be a favourite to pick up any works contracts that are available or alternatively if they can find a budget from the contacts that they would have amassed during their work with Seat, they may return with 2 x privately run SEAT cars.
Prediction 0 cars
John Guest - CONFIRMED 1 car
A Jordan confirmed and will no doubt claim his first win!
Prediction -1 car
Air Cool / GR Asia NOT CONFIRMED (possibly 1-2 cars)
After Joness performances in 2008 he is sure to be in a good position to secure a works seat (if they appear) if not there would be no reason not to continue with GR, who have proved that they are a top team. GR would appeal to drivers looking to enter the BTCC with a SEAT Leon due to their experience in running Leons in both the WTCC and BTCC.
A Jones if he doesnt get snapped up by a works team or WTCC team there is no reason why he would not stay with the team
Adam / J Welsh / T Boardman it would make sense for a driver with plans to run a SEAT Leon to use GR Asia
Prediction 1 car
CVR CONFIRMED -2 cars
D Eaves
TBC
Prediction 2 cars
Robertshaw NOT CONFIRMED (possibly 2 cars)
Running 3 cars last year appeared to stretch the team too far. Despite the preseason pace the dated Chevrolets seemed to struggle as did the team with a lack of data. The team also struggled with funding throughout the season, with the cars visibly lacking sponsorship. Would doubt that the team would want to run 3 cars again, but who knows!
H Vaukland
M Allison he seemed to get on well with the team abd if he can get budget there would be no reason why he could not return
Prediction 2 cars
Other Predictions
KWR -1 car
Arkus 0 cars
JAG 1 car
BTC Racing 0 cars
Techspeed 1 car
PREDICTED GRID SIZE = 20 CARS
New Manufacturer Entrants
Honda good chance of part funding a TD team but would they want the team to run Accords or Civics?
BMW for a relatively low cost they could enter the BTCC with a works team via Jackson, WSR or Motorbase
Volvo possible though the C30 choice would buck the trend to manufacturers moving back to larger cars
Ford if they move to the Focus for WRC a return with a Mondeo or Focus would make sense, the new head of Ford Europe is a fan of the BTCC
KIA there is a rumour that KIA and Dynamics are close to a deal
Skoda depends on how VW want to position their brands, but now their works seems complete with SEAT it might make sense for the organisation to concentrate on Skoda
Mitsubishi they appear to be moving to circuit racing and have a close relationship with ex BTCC Championship team TWR
Teams to partner manufacturers
Dynamics
WSR / Jackson M-Sport / Motorbase
Arena are they still in business? The website has not been updated for years!?!?!
Tom Walkinshaw's new team
Prodrive
Northern South
Vauxhall CONFRIMED: 2 x cars (1 more possible)
Gio & Neal are both confirmed
O-Cole - they will run if they can find sponsors
However it is likely that Vauxhalls BTCC budget will be cut with GM in the position thht they are (and with no other works teams confirmed, they will at least win the manufacturers championship!) they are going to be reliant on other sponsors
Prediction 2 cars
Team Dynamics NOT CONFIRMED (possibly 2 - 3 cars)
TD will do well to keep Halfords next year, retailers will be hit and Halfords are possibly at a stage where they think the sponsorship has run its cause. Interesting that the car when Pinkney tested carried the Honda "H" on the roof and with Chilton saying that Honda personnel were present at the lst race, it would be likely that Honda step up to become a manufacturer team (I would not be surprised to see TOCA dropping or waving their fees just to get another manufacturer into the series)
Chilton is likely to be retained, despite his performance last year - as he can bring some cash to the team and is still seen as a name for enticing sponsors, etc - Sheddon (according to MN he is supposed to have fallen out with the team and it is unlikely to know how the credit crunch has affected his personal sponsors) - Pinkney would make sense (if the team runs 3 cars) as he can bring cash to the team and despite him not been a frontrunner his experience would probably be beneficial to the other drivers and to the team as a whole
Prediction 3 cars (3 cars would split the costs more effectively)
Team RAC 1 CONFIRMED (possibly 2-3 cars)
If BMW do return they would probably choose between WSR or Jackson M-Sport (despite Motorbases strong performance towards the end of the season) with WSR the most likely destination due to their experience of running works cars for Ford, Honda & MG. RAC will no doubt be feeling the crunch due to their parent companies financial activities however I would predict that RAC would still have a marketing budget that would be able to fund the sponsorship.
Turks is confirmed
Jelley despite his performances (or lack of) his ability to bring a large budget to the team should enable him to keep his seat, however he may look else where like TOC did
Van Der Ende would be a fantastic addition to the team and the championship (as the championship desperately requires some international drivers)
Prediction 3 cars (as TD 3 cars would split the costs more effectively)
Jackson M-Sport NOT CONFIRMED (possibly 0 cars or 2 cars)
Despite their awesome performances in the last two years it would be unlikely to see BMW appoint the small family run team as their official works team. It would be more likely that the team continue as a private team, running 2 cars the 2007 and 2008 car or Jackson M-Sport could move to the WTCC to test themselves against the best or possibly Jackson would be poached by WSR or if another works team enter........
Jackson WTCC or BTCC Works deal
Prediction 0 cars
Motorbase Performance NOT CONFIRMED (possibly 2-3 cars)
After a fantastic season, it is likely that Motorbase will return to the series, however it will be interesting how far long they can continue as they appeared to be running on a budget far lower than what seemed possible to purchase 2 Schnitzer cars and run them to the standard that they did.
Collard to continue due to his ability to bring some budget and his performances
S Kane to continue if he will have to find more budget
Adam if he can provide some funding he would be a good signing
Prediction 3 cars (again like TD and WSR it makes sense)
Northern South
They must be a favourite to pick up any works contracts that are available or alternatively if they can find a budget from the contacts that they would have amassed during their work with Seat, they may return with 2 x privately run SEAT cars.
Prediction 0 cars
John Guest - CONFIRMED 1 car
A Jordan confirmed and will no doubt claim his first win!
Prediction -1 car
Air Cool / GR Asia NOT CONFIRMED (possibly 1-2 cars)
After Joness performances in 2008 he is sure to be in a good position to secure a works seat (if they appear) if not there would be no reason not to continue with GR, who have proved that they are a top team. GR would appeal to drivers looking to enter the BTCC with a SEAT Leon due to their experience in running Leons in both the WTCC and BTCC.
A Jones if he doesnt get snapped up by a works team or WTCC team there is no reason why he would not stay with the team
Adam / J Welsh / T Boardman it would make sense for a driver with plans to run a SEAT Leon to use GR Asia
Prediction 1 car
CVR CONFIRMED -2 cars
D Eaves
TBC
Prediction 2 cars
Robertshaw NOT CONFIRMED (possibly 2 cars)
Running 3 cars last year appeared to stretch the team too far. Despite the preseason pace the dated Chevrolets seemed to struggle as did the team with a lack of data. The team also struggled with funding throughout the season, with the cars visibly lacking sponsorship. Would doubt that the team would want to run 3 cars again, but who knows!
H Vaukland
M Allison he seemed to get on well with the team abd if he can get budget there would be no reason why he could not return
Prediction 2 cars
Other Predictions
KWR -1 car
Arkus 0 cars
JAG 1 car
BTC Racing 0 cars
Techspeed 1 car
PREDICTED GRID SIZE = 20 CARS
New Manufacturer Entrants
Honda good chance of part funding a TD team but would they want the team to run Accords or Civics?
BMW for a relatively low cost they could enter the BTCC with a works team via Jackson, WSR or Motorbase
Volvo possible though the C30 choice would buck the trend to manufacturers moving back to larger cars
Ford if they move to the Focus for WRC a return with a Mondeo or Focus would make sense, the new head of Ford Europe is a fan of the BTCC
KIA there is a rumour that KIA and Dynamics are close to a deal
Skoda depends on how VW want to position their brands, but now their works seems complete with SEAT it might make sense for the organisation to concentrate on Skoda
Mitsubishi they appear to be moving to circuit racing and have a close relationship with ex BTCC Championship team TWR
Teams to partner manufacturers
Dynamics
WSR / Jackson M-Sport / Motorbase
Arena are they still in business? The website has not been updated for years!?!?!
Tom Walkinshaw's new team
Prodrive
Northern South