2024: BTCC chat & discussion

2024: BTCC chat & discussion

Author
Discussion

clarki

1,320 posts

221 months

Thursday 6th June
quotequote all
Do Sutton and Ingram get paid well in the btcc??

They’re both great talents and Sutton is particularly exciting to watch, I’d have thought other championships would have made them BIG money offers by now.

Dynion Araf Uchaf

4,518 posts

225 months

Friday 7th June
quotequote all
clarki said:
Do Sutton and Ingram get paid well in the btcc??

They’re both great talents and Sutton is particularly exciting to watch, I’d have thought other championships would have made them BIG money offers by now.
from what I have gleaned from the TINGRAM youtube video is - he's not rich. But the income he gets is probably from sponsorship. He's probably one of the few that doesn't pay top whack, so can trouser the difference.

I believe that Sutton does get a retainer, and again what he can earn from any sponsorship he is probably able to keep a portion of it.

If I had to put a number to it, I'd say that across all revenue streams ( inc tuition, merch, sponsors etc) its probably around the 80k mark.

However I think the point to make is that, they are not paid drivers in the sense of BTCC in the 90's with the £500k retainers. They are business (marketing) people and they earn as part of an effort to raise money and diversify their skill set around driving.

Sponsorship
Merch
Youtube
Tuition
team retainer
other driving activities - manufacturer days for example.

TheBinarySheep

1,189 posts

53 months

Friday 7th June
quotequote all
Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
from what I have gleaned from the TINGRAM youtube video is - he's not rich. But the income he gets is probably from sponsorship. He's probably one of the few that doesn't pay top whack, so can trouser the difference.

I believe that Sutton does get a retainer, and again what he can earn from any sponsorship he is probably able to keep a portion of it.

If I had to put a number to it, I'd say that across all revenue streams ( inc tuition, merch, sponsors etc) its probably around the 80k mark.

However I think the point to make is that, they are not paid drivers in the sense of BTCC in the 90's with the £500k retainers. They are business (marketing) people and they earn as part of an effort to raise money and diversify their skill set around driving.

Sponsorship
Merch
Youtube
Tuition
team retainer
other driving activities - manufacturer days for example.
Is this the same for all drivers? or are there some that simply get paid a salary?

Dynion Araf Uchaf

4,518 posts

225 months

Friday 7th June
quotequote all
TheBinarySheep said:
Is this the same for all drivers? or are there some that simply get paid a salary?
the only one I think gets a salary is Turkington at BMW.

When Priaulx was racing for BMW in the 2000's he was on a retainer of £120k, and the same again if BMW were the manufacturer champions.

I doubt that Turkington will be on that much.

A few drivers may get cars provided by the team of the OEM - look like TINGRAM certainly does.

But the answer to your question, is that in almost all cases the BTCC drivers are self employed and have to find their own money to both race and live.

Maybe Chilton has a trust fund or something, and one or two others may have strong familial connections with businesses. Even Matt Neal was a Director at his Dad's business M-F and raced at the weekend. He may have got paid to race, but suspect he earned as part of the teams profits from sponsorship.

Lots ( all ) professional drivers are limited companies, limting their liability if they can't find the money they said they would. There will be a handful not earning anything at all racing in the BTCC, and only earn from other non racing revenue streams.

Sammo123

2,119 posts

183 months

Friday 7th June
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Apparently Bobby Thompson is having to sit out this weekend due to budget issues! Such a shame. He was quick in that BMW!

fourstardan

4,546 posts

146 months

Friday 7th June
quotequote all
Im up at Thruxton tomorrow, any tips for where to watch from?

We've got grandstand tickets but wouldn't mind some action elsewhere.

Speed Badger

2,795 posts

119 months

Friday 7th June
quotequote all
Sammo123 said:
Apparently Bobby Thompson is having to sit out this weekend due to budget issues! Such a shame. He was quick in that BMW!
Oh no, really?! I thought he had just secured a big sponsor and had the rest of the season lined up. This reminds me of when Giovanardi won a couple of races at Thruxton when he came back in a Vauxhall with I believe clothing sponsor UNIQ. They subsequently pulled their sponsorship citing they were not prepared for the increased attention for their brand, or something like that.

SpudLink

6,134 posts

194 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
Tim Harvey has said it many times, and I totally agree. It is not safe to use a pile of heavy tyres to police track limits.
Motorsport it’s already dangerous. The race organisers should not be making it worse.

GlobalRacer

271 posts

15 months

Sunday 9th June
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I agree but lets not forget the only reason they are there is because the drivers cheat. It's within their control to make sure there is no need for them.


732NM

5,220 posts

17 months

Sunday 9th June
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You still don't make the track more dangerous to police it. Same with sausage kerbs, they are idiotic.

GlobalRacer

271 posts

15 months

Sunday 9th June
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So what is the solution?

732NM

5,220 posts

17 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
GlobalRacer said:
So what is the solution?
Same solution as before the idiots introduced these dangerous additions.

GlobalRacer

271 posts

15 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
732NM said:
Same solution as before the idiots introduced these dangerous additions.
Let drivers cheat then? I don't like the tyre barriers or sausage kerbs either but I don't like that people seem to think that drivers are the victims in this scenario.

When we've had penalties for cutting chicanes in the past people complain that it's not consistent or that their favourite driver was forced to do it etc etc. Lets not pretend that it was all roses and unicorns before sausage kerbs and tyre barriers turned up.

732NM

5,220 posts

17 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
GlobalRacer said:
Let drivers cheat then? I don't like the tyre barriers or sausage kerbs either but I don't like that people seem to think that drivers are the victims in this scenario.

When we've had penalties for cutting chicanes in the past people complain that it's not consistent or that their favourite driver was forced to do it etc etc. Lets not pretend that it was all roses and unicorns before sausage kerbs and tyre barriers turned up.
So let's injure and kill drivers then. Because that what these idiotic additions can do.

MB140

4,145 posts

105 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
No way will pointsy keep that result.

I’m a massive massive Tingram and Cammish fan. You can argue all you like he overtook by leaving the track.

The overtake on hill appeared to be under a yellow flag ( although it seems the yellow was shown for no reason.

Dynion Araf Uchaf

4,518 posts

225 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
732NM said:
Same solution as before the idiots introduced these dangerous additions.
At that particular corner

Cones in a line from apex to pit wall
Or a small gravel trap closest to the circuit between the black lines below



Edited by Dynion Araf Uchaf on Sunday 9th June 17:25

SpudLink

6,134 posts

194 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
Fun day of racing. Especially the classic Minis.
Good day for Cammish.
Very good day for Sutton. Badly damaged car early 2nd race but still good points. And first win of the season. Keeps finishing the weekend leading the championship.

Adrian W

14,120 posts

230 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
How can you leave the circuit, cut the corner and no advantage gained, if there was a brick wall there it would have been the end of his race

cuprabob

14,942 posts

216 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
DanCam said:
Next race at Snett will be interesting with 3 tyre compounds to use in the 3 races. Combined with the hybrid we could see a massive lap time
Delta swing.
Congratulations Dan on the 3 podiums clapclapclap

fourstardan

4,546 posts

146 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
We went up yesterday and it was really good value for money for a day out.

The son loved it but got a bit too much by mid afternoon, the stands with the toy cars completely sent him dollally.

We had the grandstand tickets which was nice to sit down and have a scoff.

Organisation into the event was good, although it was Saturday. Parking good.

Paddock area was really good, it was great to expose the son to all the tune up noises, wheels being changed, the engines on display, he was asking me questions about the parts on the engine of one of the minis and it kept me on my toes! Future PH'er.

Also a good selection of catering, although some of it quite expensive, a lot of these events are absolutely diabolical for choice/speed but it was nice to have everyone on offer.

Just a shame there isn't more racing in the southwest!