BTCC

[Edwin]

Does anyone else watch this, I thought it was time I got around to starting a thread about it. Although over half the season has already gone ¬_¬

They are racing at Knockhill tomorrow, it will be shown on ITV4 from 11am to 6pm (I think) with all three BTCC races being shown live with the support races in between.

In case you haven't been watching there are some things you might want to know: BTCC is in a transitional period between the old spec S2000 cars and the new NGTC cars, there is supposed to be parity up until 2012. However this hasn't happened mainly because the teams have been allowed to build "hybrid" cars that use the more powerful turbocharged NGTC engine and the heavily modified S2000 chassis. This lead to a bit of an argument.

This should all be cleared up now, as the turbo cars have had their boost reduced up to the point where they were about as fast as the S2000 cars at the last event. All of these rule changes haven't stopped the racing from being exciting, with bumping, rubbing and crashing still a major part of the show. The support races aren't bad either.

[Rossell]

A part of the thrill for me was to watch big saloon and family cars, cars you'd normally see on the road, like Mondeos and Primeras going at it. That sort of waned really with smaller hatchback stuff going on in the last decade. However the new NGTC rules have me excited.

Cars like an Audi A4, Toyota Avensis, and a Skoda Octavia planned for next year make me wonder what sort of year 2012 will be.

[Edwin]

The Focus/Leon/Civics are pretty big cars these days

I think the Civic is being replaced by a civic saloon next year, so it will more family car-ish. The Skoda might make it to the last race of this year, more for testing than trying to win.

[Rossell]

Plus I believe the brand new Focus has just won its first race this afternoon.

Edit: Decided to watch Round 2 today. Was a lot of fun to watch that. Didn't stick around to watch Round 3 but judging by the controversy I wish I had.

[Nethlyn]

Just tuned in after going out shopping and the end of the F1 repeat v happy that I joined it at lap 7 of 22 and the sun's setting right now, so it could be a night race by the time it's over - , and then there's the MotoGP on iPlayer, all in all a good weekend for wheels, even if you don't know the big names.

[EDIT] That shows how much I know about Touring Car pace! Never saw 15 laps disappear so quickly! Good close-fought win between champion and runner-up, as opposed to F1, and respect to the guy that brought the car home with one bonnet pin loose.

[Edwin]

The lap time was around the one-minute mark, so they get through the laps quickly enough. I didn't want Neal to win the championship Shedden was much more deserving IMO.

Also a wild Vulcan Bomber appeared and flew over the track during the second race.

[Nethlyn]

I'll have to catch the second race on ITV Player, didn't realise a different championship was decided earlier on. Just catching my first Goodwood Revival set of highlights with a co-commentator that sounds like Murray Walker, plus I'm loving the Aston Martin DB5 safety car

[Nethlyn]

Forgot the season opening yesterday, and it was bloody Easter! With nothing else on!! That won't happen again, although I'm sure some of it is on ITV Player. Since they were the opening races at least there's nothing decided.

[Heed]

The first race yesterday was cracking. Plato was running first for the last 6 laps or so then on the final bend the bloke in 2nd place knocked him off the track and into the gravel. Much better viewing than the F1 for thrills and spills.

[Rossell]

And a big shout to Dean Stoneman in the Porsche Cup.

[Edwin]

I remember this thread!

Torndoff went well in the other MG, having a competent team mate should help Plato this year. Still not sure about the soft tyre bollocks.

The races don't appear on ITV player, they didn't last year, you have to watch dodgy youtube versions instead.

[Nethlyn]

Ah right, it's not like I've got time to stream back the whole thing, sounds like they will do Saturday edited highlights like last year then.

[Edwin]

The highlights are on ITV Player this year, I've just got around to watching the races from this weekend
https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/british-t ... ngton-park
Adblock or similar is recommended.

The racing seems a lot cleaner so far this year, there was far less deliberate ramming by everyone. I don't think there was any serious damage done to the cars this week, apart from one relatively slow crash at the start of race 2. Thankfully the soft tyre hasn't produced the F1-style pack shuffling 'overtakes'.

[Nethlyn]

With all the other sport going on, got lost this season again, will have to use the next highlights Saturday/ITV Player to catch up ready for the next Sunday.

[Rossell]

Been watching when I get the opportunity. Seems to have been some great racing this year with some proper twat moves. Last one I watched was Plato somehow forgetting there was a Passat on his right when he turned in.