Time for the first big weekend of the 2019 national motor racing season, as the ever-popular British Touring Car Championship kicks off at Brands Hatch and the 77th Members’ Meeting – for some, the highlight of the entire sporting year – plays out at Goodwood.
In the current issue of Autocar magazine, Jim Holder looks ahead to the 2019 BTCC season and asks whether the series really was better in the halcyon 1990s Super Touring days. No surprise that BTCC kingpin Alan Gow argues the case for the present, although he has a point. The early days of the 2.0-litre era between 1991-’93 remain hard to top, but once crafty Alfa Romeo introduced rear wings and front splitters in 1994, the racing became progressively more processional. The crash-bang-wallop show on offer now is more entertaining. Never mind nostalgia, we’re in a golden era today.
In the right setting, the past remains an irresistible draw, and nowhere more so than at Goodwood. The Sussex circuit’s second coming now exceeds the original 1948-’66 period that’s celebrated each September at the Revival. But the rejuvenation of the old early spring meeting has really caught on since its return in 2014.
The inclusion of post-1966 machinery helps, especially the Gerry Marshall Trophy for Group 1 saloons of the 1970s and early 1980s. Perfectly recreated Ford Capris, Triumph Dolomites, Rover SD1s and many more, in fantastic period liveries and raced by star names from both today and yesterday, recall the multi-class pre-BTCC days that, for those of a certain age, mark the real golden era for tin-top tomfoolery.
But the high-speed demonstrations are arguably as much of a draw as the racing. The demos this weekend include a NASCAR parade, glorious Porsche 917s (in the model’s 50th anniversary year) and modern-era Le Mans sports prototypes. Nirvana. But the one that catches my eye is the BMW M1 Procar celebration – just because they’re rarely seen en masse.
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Push-to-pass isn't new...
I think your specs may be a tad rose-tinted... There's been contact in Touring Cars for decades, often championship-deciding. It's probably worse these days because the cars (especially with success-ballast) are so close in performance - the only way you can pass is often by a crazy manoeuvre or a gentle tap (and the cars are so safe you can survive the bad crashes a la modern F1). In the past, the cars tended to have very different characteristics so you could rely more on car performance to get you past (Mini in the corners, Galaxie on the straights ;-) Even Colin Turkington said he was totally drained after last season due to the tightrope you have to walk between winning and crashing out with the cars being so closely matched.
Actually, I've figured out the fix. The cars have to be road legal and the drivers have to drive to and from the circuit in their cars - crash it and you have a long walk home :-)
Total agreement with 289
Appalling message sent to young enthusiasts too .
BTCC...the new Banger racing
I used to enjoy watching this series in the very early days up to including the Super Touring era, but the current crop, are no better than Banger racers (demolition Derby).
I dont see professional driving at all and wonder what the gentlemen drivers of the 60's would make of this now.....completely chopping corners off, launching off kerbs and taking each other out....this is not racing, and I am surprised the authorities continue to allow this to continue.
The latest abhoration is BTCC drivers competing at Goodwood with priceless classic machinery, and here we are seeing increasing damage through the 'must win at all costs' attitude of BTCC filtering through.
This has to stop, track limits must be respected and enforced, barrelling into corners at unsustainable speeds using the car in front as a buffer should be dealt with by removal of licence.
Spectators who would find these changes dull can wander back to Banger racing...probably where they came from!