Notes from Brands Hatch trackside

• You're gotta admire the ticket touts who stand *right* by the sign saying "Tickets bought from touts will not be valid for entry."
  
• MSV - please put down some bark or *something* along that path up to Druids. After the rain everyone needed crampons and a sherpa to get up there.
  
• Porsches - 11 cars and 34 laps doth not a good race make.
  
• To those who seem to come and spectate just to see "some crash" - you can't then complain every time the safety car is deployed. Idiots.
  
• If the car park is somewhat muddy, best course of action to take is to gently apply the throttle in a higher gear. Don't just floor it - even if you do own a massive 4x4 there are some principles to driving slightly off the beaten track. Fools.
  

David Leslie 1953 - 2008

RIP David. One of the most colourful and yet most gentlemanly racers the BTCC saw. And the only man to get a podium finish for Proton.

Batchelor is back!

The man formerly known as touring car driver/owner John TopGear and John B&Q, and subsequently reviled by York City Soccer Club fans as John Batchelor has resurfaced; and this time he's looking to buy Mansfield Town and rename it after the fictional Sky One team Harchester united. Have a look here to see John field questions from rather loyal Mansfield fans who ain't too happy at the prospect...

The smack talk begins

Giovanardi on whether new team-mate Neal is a threat:

No. I am Italian. We have something called the Mafia.

Neal on Plato:

If I was his milkman I'd be delivering his milk at the wrong time.

Ooohh...

Off topic: F1 back to the Beeb - the important question...

...is what theme tune should they use for the coverage. Obviously. That's assuming the removal and swift execution of James Allen is a formality.

The BBC used the end of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" as the signature tune of their coverage right from 1978 to then end of the BBC era in 1996. Despite rose-tinted fan fawning over the Beeb's coverage, the BBC F1 intro was usually merely a brief compilation of of cars crashing and spinning accompanied to The Chain. However, check out the 1995 version, which was nicely understated yet captured the tension of the imminent Grand Prix:


And for reference, here's ITV's four attempts since 1997...

1997-1999 - pretty simple and a decent alternative to "The Chain" to be honest:


2000-2002 - pretty upbeat, electro-guitar-heavy rock styleee:


2003-2006 - eurch. A happy upbeat cheery teeny-rock number. Eurch.


2007-2008 - Moby's "Lift Me Up".

BTCC Drinking Game updated for 2008

Click here or on the link on the right for the 2008 BTCC drinking game. As ever it will be updated during the season (and most likely before round 1 if CMS and Xero enter!). Enjoy, but just remember the extended coverage hours means you might want to take it a bit easier... ;)

Xero update

Their first Lexus has been out testing at Oulton in a very fetching dark blue/yellow (head over to TCT for the pics) and there's also a "spy shot" of the 2nd on their website. Speculation has Tommy Erdos and Mark Jones set for the drives, but methinks it's Nick Adcock behind the wheel in those photos.

Dumb "Ask Alan Gow" question of the month - March

With his special red font and EMPHASISED captitalised WORDS as WELL to make HIS point, this month's award goes to robinbox for the following:

http://btcc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5829

I have been trying to find out if BTCC is going to be on TV and so far I AM still waiting to find out.... and if so what channel it might be on,

Surely with a race so close someone should know by now, I have been great fan of BTCC for SO MANY years but I cant get to the meetings live,

IS it going on TV or not and if so what channel PLEASE !

Goon. What mislead you? The big "BTCC ON itv4" graphic on the front page? The trailers on itv4 itself? The news story? The TV timetable? The rather obvious new numberplate designs for BTCC cars this year? Muppet.

ITV presenters confirmed

Good news: Harvey and Edwards stay on as commentators.
Bad news: Ted Kravitz is back. Grr. Although he can't do Brands Hatch next weekend so we enjoy Steve Rider instead! There's a blast from the past. Joining them will be former Gladiator and winner of the 1995 "Miss Wessex" competition Janie Omorogbe. She has been doing the BSB coverage so I guess she knows the score.

BTCC YouTubey goodness #04

Infamous clash between David Leslie and John Bintcliffe at Silverstone in 1997. Classic choice language from the Leslie at the end, as ever.

More on Gore

team48's Matthew Gore - the BTCC's first ever Jamaican driver. And possibly the most unknown driver entered into the BTCC in recent years. Let's face it, we knew more about Farique Hairuman in 2004. Hairuman! Anyways, here's a few interesting facts about Matthew Gore.

• Born: Texas (!) USA on 24/07/79
  
• First started racing in 1995 with an '86 Toyota Starlet
  
• In 1999 he bought a '95 Mitsubishi Colt RS, coming 3rd overall in the Jamaican championship and 1st in the 2WD, 2DW Sprint, 2WD Rally as well as 2nd in the IP1 and MP1 circuit racing championships.
  
• Co-driver on various rallies in the Caribbean
  
• With sponsorship from "pimpjuice" in 2006 he acheived top 3 placings in sprints and rallies with a Lancer Evo VII and V respectively.
  
• Finished runner up in the Modified Production Class 3 of the Jamaican National Circuit Racing Championship by 0.6 (!) points, in addition to 2nd in the GTS championship.
  
• He's the second tallest driver in the 2008 BTCC.
  
• The tracks will be new to him, except Brands, Snetterton and Silverstone.
  
• Other drivers have already enquired of Matt Gore regarding supplies of Jamaican rum.
  

Gore's first impressions

I must say that this is a very big series here in Eng as they say its second to F1 as far as coverage,hipe,media and fans are concerned... the experience and professionalism is overwhelming.

It'll be a tough transition for him coming from Jamaica, where he's used to racing Evos and Subarus round rallies and the one road circuit in the country.

Media day

Enjoy Media Day all you who have managed to get the day off to trek to Rockingham. Just remember, as its name suggests, it's primarily designed for the media, so please don't complain too much about the lack of pitlane access/photo opps/burger stands etc.

Jamaica? No she went...

Rumour: Team48/Windrush Motorsport all set for a couple of Alfa Romeos to be unveiled tomorrow with Darelle Wilson and Jamaican driver Matthew Gore. Footballers Blisset, Barnes and Ferdinand are involved with the team, who have entered a few Britcar races previously. As for the name... 48 being 1948, the year the SS Empire Windrush brought the first wave of Caribbean immigrants over to Britain. Hopefully more to be revealed tomorrow...

Surprises

Will there be any surprises on the BTCC entry list comes next Tuesday? Annoyingly btcc.net have been pretty hot on the news this off-season, leaving little room for excitement come Rockingham next week. It's pretty much sorted there'll be 25 cars at least (that's assuming Kane and Collard are in with Motorbase, and AFM will definitely be running a 2nd car for Leason).

Xero - Autosport did say Nick Adcock and Mark Jones were set for the team, but nothing official has been announced. Their cars do look somewhat yellower than before, and that can't be the only development they've done since 2006.

Clyde Valley Racing - rumours are the joke team of the internet forums may yet appear... but with Toledos? And still Eaves and Neill?

A-Tech switch to GTs

As expected, A-Tech have swapped the BTCC for British GTs and will be campaigning the #10 Ferrari with Richard Marsh and Anthony Reid.

Also of note on the GT entry list is Paul O'Neill, who'll hopefully be getting his first full season of racing in yonks, and Luke Hines. Adam Jones is listed, but as Autosport reported a couple of weeks ago he's expected to do a full BTCC season (but with whom?) and fit in GTs when he can.

New liveries #4

Martyn Bell's Astra Sport Hatch out testing at Snetterton. AS you can see, it's pretty much identical to Erkut's car, but with prominent placement for his new sponsor.

New liveries #3

So farewell the familiar btcc.net numberplate; for 2008 it's all about ITV4. So hopefully no more moaners unable to find what channel the BTCC's on. Hopefully.