TBK-Light.com

Fortec have announced that they are looking to enter the BTCC next year as a 'works backed outfit'

Wow. This just keeps getting better!

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BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

It's not super touring works teams but this is pretty awesome. Especially if the balance near the front is good.

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theRacingLine.net
SportsCarArchives.com

I'm going to explode with excitement for next year ^.^

Fortec are exactly the type of entrant the BTCC needs. There are too many people out of their depth or just "living the dream" at the moment, so Fortec will help to balance the top-heavy nature of the entry.

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Check out the Touring Car Driver Database! (if you'd be so kind)
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The Motorsport news article that this was in pointed to Fortec's association with Mercedes. Now, remember when they entered V8 Supercars? They were keen to expand their Touring Car programme. That may be the possible 'works bit of it.

Something that hasn't been mentioned here yet is that Warren Scott has bought all of Tony Gilham's cars and that their two organisations will merge.

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Check out the Touring Car Driver Database! (if you'd be so kind)
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Oh wow. Any reason, or are we assuming the obvious with Gilham?

_________________
BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

It's the obvious, Gilham's skint.

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Check out the Touring Car Driver Database! (if you'd be so kind)
Motorsport playlists on YouTube

Damn shame. It was a valiant effort though.

_________________
BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

So the mystery financier bailed?

I'd forgotten all about that. Apparently he has numerous debts and has had to sell-up to pay them off.

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Check out the Touring Car Driver Database! (if you'd be so kind)
Motorsport playlists on YouTube

I tell you what I do find positive about next year. The teams we are talking about for 2014. The new makes on grid. The fact that Mercedes have allowed at least one of there cars in is really showing the NGTC and the BTCC is on to something good. We have really good young drivers in the series or looking very much to come into it like Michael Meadows (who has good sponsorship watch this space). BTCC is now clearly so attractive to teams and manufacturers that it wouldn't surprise me to have 30 NGTC cars on the grid next year, with 15/16 different makes represented and some really professional teams there in addition to the ones already on the grid. I'm excited and we havent even finished 2013 yet!

Starting to look like a few teams may be disappointed when their entries don't make it.

I assume there are reserves allocated? So if someone doesn't fill a spot or attend a race then someone else can?

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BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

Does Richard Dutton still own Fortec?

Yes

_________________
BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

Bloody hell he was old when I was a kid.

Don't think off the top of my head it works quite like that. Once the 32 entries are filled that's it. No more can be taken unless someone drops out.

Perhaps there needs to be a rethink about that then. There's been a few teams this year that have held on to entries throughout the year and yet have seemingly made little attempt (on the surface) to run a car.

_________________
BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk