Unrealised BTCC Entries/Rumours
Discussion
the front runners of the 1988 British Rally Championship (Lovell, Wilson, Llewellin, Metcalfe, McRae) were due to race as part of a two driver BTCC race in 1988. However they were stopped as they did not have the correct licence.
Before going with the Subaru Levorges, BMR pitched Nissan to use a Pulsar.
Before going with the Subaru Levorges, BMR pitched Nissan to use a Pulsar.
Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
the front runners of the 1988 British Rally Championship (Lovell, Wilson, Llewellin, Metcalfe, McRae) were due to race as part of a two driver BTCC race in 1988. However they were stopped as they did not have the correct licence.
Before going with the Subaru Levorges, BMR pitched Nissan to use a Pulsar.
Jimmy McRae, Mark Lovell, Malcolm Wilson, David Llewellyn and Dave Metcalfe I presume?Before going with the Subaru Levorges, BMR pitched Nissan to use a Pulsar.
The Trackstar team originally intended to run a trio of Audi 80s for Robb Gravett, Mike Smith and Jonathan Palmer in 1991.
LukeBrown66 said:
The one I miss most is Mark Rennison, he bought a Rouse car for 89, did a round I think then his deal fell through, he was massive talent in rallycross before this.
Rennison managed 3 races in 1989.I will believe when I see it but I can't see Jordan King making the jump despite his recent test for Motorbase.
The drivers in the run for the second Volvo seat in 1999 were Matt Neal, Tim Harvey, Vincent Radermecker and Jan Nilsson. Nilsson and Harvey shared the second S40 in the 1998 Bathurst 1000, and Harvey even tested for Volvo several times during the pre-season.
If Peugeot had continued into 1999, they would have kept both Radisich and Harvey.
Both Renault and Nissan were chasing after Aiello for 1999; had he gone to Renault he would have partnered Jason Plato.
Alfa Romeo considered entering BTCC if the Italian Super Touring series was cancelled at the end of 1999, with Giovanardi driving one of the cars. In the end the Italian series were replaced by a European championship, and Alfa raced there instead. Giovanardi wanted to race in BTCC in 2000, regardless of what team.
While Tarquini did make a few apperances in 1999 for Honda, there was some mid-season speculation that Honda and JAS would pull out of STW and race with Tarquini and Kristensen alongside Kox and Thompson to bolster Thompson's title chances. In July, a third works car was "likely", with either Tarquini or Kristensen as the driver. This would be run by JAS, and depended on Honda withdrawing early from STW.
Paul Morris was to have run in a second Team Dynamics Primera, but a lack of engines put a stop to the plans.
After Peugeot withdrew, Paul Radisich was in contention for the Nissan seat which eventually went to Aiello.
After winning the Renault Spider series in 1999 Andy Priaulx was looking for a BTCC seat; had Renault stayed on for another year a Plato-Priaulx pairing would not have been unlikely. Priaulx did however get to test the Laguna.
Damon Hill was offered a test in Team Dynamic's Primera in 1999
Volkswagen were looking at entering BTCC in 2000, but decided against it
Radermecker was talking to Team Dynamics about racing a second Primera in 2000, but went to Vauxhall instead
Laurent Aiello was on the verge of joining Honda for 2000. However, Kristensen got the drive instead
Vauxhall and TOCA were co-operating to put a gas-powered Vectra on the grid for 2000, but shortages of funds saw the programme canned. Mark Ticehurst was to race the car as an independent entry
Greg Murphy was a possible driver for Vauxhall for the 1999 season, but this speculation was before Muller became a free agent with Audi quitting.
Fredrik Ekblom tested for Renault ahead of the 1999 season, and was an outside possibility for the second drive.
If Peugeot had continued into 1999, they would have kept both Radisich and Harvey.
Both Renault and Nissan were chasing after Aiello for 1999; had he gone to Renault he would have partnered Jason Plato.
Alfa Romeo considered entering BTCC if the Italian Super Touring series was cancelled at the end of 1999, with Giovanardi driving one of the cars. In the end the Italian series were replaced by a European championship, and Alfa raced there instead. Giovanardi wanted to race in BTCC in 2000, regardless of what team.
While Tarquini did make a few apperances in 1999 for Honda, there was some mid-season speculation that Honda and JAS would pull out of STW and race with Tarquini and Kristensen alongside Kox and Thompson to bolster Thompson's title chances. In July, a third works car was "likely", with either Tarquini or Kristensen as the driver. This would be run by JAS, and depended on Honda withdrawing early from STW.
Paul Morris was to have run in a second Team Dynamics Primera, but a lack of engines put a stop to the plans.
After Peugeot withdrew, Paul Radisich was in contention for the Nissan seat which eventually went to Aiello.
After winning the Renault Spider series in 1999 Andy Priaulx was looking for a BTCC seat; had Renault stayed on for another year a Plato-Priaulx pairing would not have been unlikely. Priaulx did however get to test the Laguna.
Damon Hill was offered a test in Team Dynamic's Primera in 1999
Volkswagen were looking at entering BTCC in 2000, but decided against it
Radermecker was talking to Team Dynamics about racing a second Primera in 2000, but went to Vauxhall instead
Laurent Aiello was on the verge of joining Honda for 2000. However, Kristensen got the drive instead
Vauxhall and TOCA were co-operating to put a gas-powered Vectra on the grid for 2000, but shortages of funds saw the programme canned. Mark Ticehurst was to race the car as an independent entry
Greg Murphy was a possible driver for Vauxhall for the 1999 season, but this speculation was before Muller became a free agent with Audi quitting.
Fredrik Ekblom tested for Renault ahead of the 1999 season, and was an outside possibility for the second drive.
David Coulthard was linked to a move to the BTCC with the Mazda works team in 1994, he would have partnered Matt Neal with Matt's father Steve Neal running the team and Noel Edmonds sponsoring them. If that had worked out, who would have stood in for Ayrton Senna at Williams after his death at Imola?
DanielSan said:
I thought that was 2014 and the cars were intended to be sold to an existing team. I wonder if Alex Morgan would have been one of the drivers as his father was masterminding the project?DanielSan said:
Rousesport built a Corrolla saloon Supertourer in 1997 to enter as a privateer in 1998 but the business closed before it happened if I remember rightly. Not 100% when they did close though.
I think part of the problem was that Toyota were not interested and ISTR that cars had to be homologated by the manufacturer/ importer. Might be wrong, though!The car is in NZ now.
Nononsensecapeesh said:
DanielSan said:
I thought that was 2014 and the cars were intended to be sold to an existing team. I wonder if Alex Morgan would have been one of the drivers as his father was masterminding the project?DanielSan said:
The car was shown in 2014 part way through the season with the apparent plan being to enter the season after if I remember rightly.
Either way, no one was interested.Peter Enckelman tried to start up Encke Sport in 2007, running Vauxhall Astra Coupés, drivers would have been Nick Beaumont, Daniel Buxton or Ed Tilley.
Shane Lynch and Eclipse Motorsport also looked into the possibility of entering in 2007.
Luther Blissett tried to enter the A-Tech Alfas under the Team 48 banner in 2008 with Darrelle Wilson and Matthew Gore driving.
Edited by Nononsensecapeesh on Wednesday 1st December 10:16
ISTR that Ford did a shoot out for a BTCC drive in the Mondeo, might have been about 94 - several drivers were tested and I think that Tiff Needell ended up quickest, however, Kelvin Butt (I think) got the drive, partly because there was an element within Ford that wanted a current up and coming single seater driver in the car. Anyone else remember this?
andy97 said:
ISTR that Ford did a shoot out for a BTCC drive in the Mondeo, might have been about 94 - several drivers were tested and I think that Tiff Needell ended up quickest, however, Kelvin Butt (I think) got the drive, partly because there was an element within Ford that wanted a current up and coming single seater driver in the car. Anyone else remember this?
A Shoot-out for 1995? Further enlightenment would be much appreciated.I know Ford had a Shoot-out for 1996 between Steve Robertson, Warren Hughes and Michael Vergers.
https://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/12/26/best-car... - Tim Sugden could have partnered Frank Biela at Audi in 1996.
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