Well, this is going to be the hardest preview I've written yet...
The 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship boasts an amazing 31 drivers with 14 models of car from 11 different manufacturers. Amongst those 31 drivers are 7 different former overall champions, 13 different race winners and 4 former Independent Champions.
Ok, those are the numbers...
However, to choose a title winner from this is like predicting the lottery numbers for next Saturday...
Bloody Difficult bordering on The Impossible!!!
But thats not going to stop me, so where possible I will use logic and common sense regarding the various teams and drivers.
Yes... I said Logic and Common Sense...
First of all we have Andrew Jordan joined by former BTCC entrant Martin Depper at Pirtek Racing with both drivers using the Honda Civic Hatchback. For Depper, this is his first go in a topline NGTC car and he has done plenty off testing during the off season. For Jordan its his 3rd year in a car that he is at one with, taking pole positions and wins alike in 2012 and 2013. So for me, logic and common sense suggests that Jordan is best placed for title No.2...
But then there is the lineup at MG/Triple Eight... MG are fielding three MG6's in what is the final year of a three year deal setup between MG, Tesco, Triple Eight and Jason Plato. What has been evident so far is that on a good hot day the car is fast and with the addition of Marc Hynes and the return of Plato and Tordoff to the lineup, they should be ideally placed to finally take a championship title, be it Drivers, Constructors or Teams.
Yuasa Honda shocked everyone in December by announcing they were debuting the Honda Civic Tourer this season, replacing the all conquering Civic Hatchback. Whilst the car maybe fragile to begin with, you can be certain that Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden will bring the car home and it never takes long for the team to make the Honda a reliable and front running challenger. Expect both Neal and Shedden to be in the hunt...
West Surrey Racing/ebay Motors are back with the BMW 125i Sport and an unchanged driver lineup of Colin Turkington, Rob Collard & Nick Foster. With a seasons running and more testing under their belt, the BMW was a genuine threat last year and will be again this year with pre-season testing showing it to be as quick as the Honda Civic Hatchback. Turkington has also said he feels he has the car to win a 2nd title whilst Collard is looking to target some race wins...
Motorbase/Airwaves Racing have caused one of the biggest surprises by signing 2007 & 2008 Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi to drive the new for 2014 NGTC Ford Focus with late signing Mat Jackson joining him in the team. Airwaves are long overdue a title win and have a strong lineup with Giovanardi and Jackson. Gio has done the majority of testing with Jackson getting in the car at Media Day. If both drivers get a handle on the car, they will also be in with a shout...Gio has made it clear only the title will do. Jack Clarke joins the team in a 3rd Focus under the Crabbies Racing banner and has also shown good pace in testing.
Team BMR Chrome Racing has also caused a stir in the BTCC Paddock. Warren Scott's team has encompassed Team HARD. and signed Aron Smith and 1997 & 2000 BTCC Champion Alain Menu to join Scott and Jack Goff in the team. Menu has admitted that he would have liked more time in the VW Passat but is happy that the team will gel and become a front running outfit. Smith and Goff are very happy with the Passat and the Insignia respectively with Smith targeting Pole Position at Brands Hatch. Scott will start the season in the 2nd Insignia before moving to a 3rd Passat later in the season. I'm expecting these guys to cause a surprise or two during the season.
Next up is a new team to the BTCC this year. United Autosports are entering their first season of BTCC but are an experienced team with years of sportscar racing under their belt. To prepare for this season, both James Cole and Glynn Geddie have been racking up the miles in testing so I'm expecting some regular top ten results from these guys, once they have gotten used to the hustle and bustle of the BTCC.
AmD Tuning have purchased a 2013 NGTC Ford Focus from Motorbase and signed popular driver Dave Newsham for this season. With his hands on a decent quick NGTC car, Newsham has proven quick in testing against the front runners and is looking to be a regular top ten runner. I believe this will be genuinely possible if he can qualify well. Dave is one of my dark horses for this season.
Another dark horse in the running is Rob Austin who returns with his fan favourite two car team (The NGTC Audi A4's known as "Sherman" & "Panzer") being joined by GT ace Hunter Abbott. Austin has reported back quick times in testing and is aiming for podiums after launching the Rob Austin Owners Group allowing fans to buy shares in the team. Abbott is well aware that he needs to find his feet before moving forward.
Adam Morgan and Ciceley Racing swap the NGTC Toyota Avensis for the new NGTC Mercedes A-Class and right out of the box the car has been quick with Morgan being quietly confident about qualifying and race pace. Morgan was a star performer last season, often being the quickest Toyota and being Jordan closest Independent challenger, so expect major surprises from the compact Mercedes.
Speedworks Motorsport have reduced down to one Toyota Avensis with Tom Ingram now on board whilst giving assistance to Handy Motorsport who are running an NGTC Toyota for Clio Cup racer Simon Belcher. Both drivers have made what is seen as long over due moves into the BTCC with both of them looking fast in testing with Belcher aiming for points whilst Ingram is after top ten finishes.
Robb Holland joins the BTCC for his first full season after several outings for Tony Gilham. He will be racing the Audi S3 saloon, bring the Audi count up to three. The car didnt run at Media Day but it did get some mileage at Silverstone so once the bugs are sorted, expect him to muscle into the action.
Meanwhile Lea Wood returns to the series for his 5th consecutive season with his family run team now competing under the Houseman Racing banner in an NGTC Toyota Avensis bringing the Toyota count up to five. This be his first time in an NGTC car but Wood is well known for his giant killing performances from previous seasons in less competitive cars so expect him to fly once hes up to speed and hassle the frontrunners.
Ollie Jackson joins Dan Welch at the Welch Motorsport operation as they expand to a two car team with both Protons getting updates. The team has also secured STP Title sponsorship along with Sopp+Sopp however did not run at Media Day due to supply issues. They will have a difficult start due to virtually no testing but once up to speed both drivers are fast and are capable of top ten finishes.
Finally we have two NGTC Chevrolets full time this season. Aiden Moffat has returned to keep hold of the "BTCC's youngest ever driver" title with his family run team having purchased Andy Neates Chevrolet Cruze Saloon for a full season. Although they had a big crash at Thruxton, the team is confident that they have the equipment to help Aiden move forward.
Meanwhile BTC Racing returns to the BTCC after six years away, armed with an RML designed and built Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback and regular driver Chris Stockton back at the wheel as well. The team is well aware they have the best oppurtunity to compete with the big boys and fully intend to. I expect both teams to offer surprises as the season progresses.
So thats all the runners and riders for the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. There are other changes for the season as well with Dunlop introducing a new version of tyre, the full International Circuit being used at Oulton Park and the promise of turbo boost parity being reduced further to enhance the racing now there is a full NGTC field of 31 cars.
What I cant tell you is who will be Champion...
Although I suspect that Plato, Jordan or Turkington are all due another title and are in the best place.
Remember I said this when the Finals Day arrives to see if you can congratulate me or laugh at me...
What I can tell you is that there will be plenty of panel bashing, flying wing mirrors, bumpers being ripped off and close door to door racing in what could be the best ever season of the BTCC that kicks off on Saturday with two free practice sessions and Qualifying. So if you find the Malaysian Grand Prix a bit of a letdown on Sunday Morning, pop over to ITV4 at 10.30am for some cracking racing that is guarunteed to entertain...
Oh, theres just one other thing to say before I go...
BRING ON THE TINTOPS!!!
Cheers
Phil!
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