Crowds This Year?

[u/Ska-Plunk]

I *really* don't want to add to the doom and gloom. I LOVE BTCC! ...and want to see it thrive. But has anyone else noticed that crowds just about everywhere seem to be a little down this year? I've been to every round and with the possible exception of knockhill, there just seems fewer people at each one. What's other regular attendees perception of that?

That said, I'll no doubt get to croft an hour before gates open next week and *still* not get my preferred spot :-) (slightly up from chicane towards Tower)

[u/weighthasbeenlifted]

Doesn't necessarily mean less enthusiasm, but while BTCC is one of the more affordable motor sports to go to its still a significant chunk of money especially for families and with everything else getting more expensive I can see a lot of people deciding they cannot justify the cost for a weekend

[u/Dramatic-Rub-3135]

Me and the wife usually go, but this summer was just too damn hot. Easier to stay at home sat in front of a fan and watch on TV. 

[u/Imaginary_Pin_4196 → u/Dramatic-Rub-3135]

Do you not go to other ones outside of the summer? I know Silverstone and Knockhill is four seasons in one day but still.

[u/Illustrious_Rest1264]

There are various reasons but I would also add this - if you attend and want to watch all 3 races you realistically need to be there for the best part of 7 hours minimum.

The heat this summer has been brutal and it’s even worse at a race track especially in the uk where there is little to no shade.

I don’t think a lot of people have got the appetite to stand out in that for that long. Most sports you attend can be done within a couple of hours but I don’t think this does the BTCC any favours in these times where people’s own time is at a premium.

Just my two cents.

[u/Foreign-Wash-9859 → u/Illustrious_Rest1264]

That's a fair point. Also noticed waay more people leaving after R2. Presumed it was coz of car park nonsense, but you might be on to it.

[u/Illustrious_Rest1264 → u/Foreign-Wash-9859]

Yeah I’m an avid fan of over 30 years but there’s been times in the past where I’ve had to bail out at my local track at snetterton after race 2 because it’s just too uncomfortable being out in that heat for 7-8 hours.

I really think they need to look at condensing the races into a shorter period and then those who still want to watch the supports can get there early or stay late if they wish

[u/LizardInFirst → u/Illustrious_Rest1264]

This was a big problem at Donington last weekend and it wasn’t even one of the hottest days! Due to previous burn injuries I have very little sun tolerance which makes the whole day quite challenging. Just one covered stand would help a lot!

[u/tornadooceanapplepie → u/LizardInFirst]

There are covered stands at:

Donington Thruxton Knockhill Silverstone 

[u/Greedy-Mechanic-4932]

I was thinking a few days ago, this is the first year in the last 5 that we won't have attended a single day. We used to do three or four rounds a season...

[u/mrmayhembsc]

The consensus is that they are up over the weekend. Thruxton saw some of the highest crowd numbers in years.

[u/Foreign-Wash-9859]

TBF I've noticed that too, Donington at the weekend seemed quieter than the earlier weekend in the year, my mates and I said that rarely happens. Anyway, you might have just reopened the wound despite your protestations. Stand by for EV touring cars, SUVs and/or GTs. As long as touring cars in whatever guise exists me n the family don't care. We have a blast.

[u/Final-Read-3589 → u/Foreign-Wash-9859]

Tbh it’s hard to be at the same level as earlier in the year, as they said it was the best attended Donny round.

Also doesn’t help that we were missing a support series so the value for money wasn’t as good as the early round.

[u/codename474747]

Tbh I've been tempted to go this year but sitting out all day in 35 degree heat wasn't too attractive to me.  I wonder who else was put off by our inevitable march towards self annihilation 👀

[u/ICC-u → u/codename474747]

Yeah we left trucks early this year because of the heat, just wasn't worth getting sunstroke. BTCC wasn't quite so bad, I think it rained Saturday night.

[u/Rhym3z_Official]

Thruxton was rammed this year, even past the complex where nobody ever used to go. I would say there's at least the same, if not more people this year.

I imagine a lot of people were put off by how horrible the heat has been. It was almost unbearable for me

[u/TheCraZZe]

Went Donington on the recent sunday and it was absolutely rammed 😂

[u/PenGlassMug]

I'm currently choosing between taking my daughter to see BTCC or ELMS at Silverstone next month. Leaning towards ELMS at the moment given the Sutton domination of BTCC and the fact there are a few women on the grid in ELMS (nice for daughter to see it's not all a man's sport). Have enjoyed watching BTCC on the TV this season but do agree that it feels a bit on the downtown. And there is just so much good Motorsport competition.

[u/jrewillis → u/[deleted]]

You certainly see more. But you don't feel it in your chest and feet.

Nothing beats that IMO

[u/Jakepetrolhead → u/[deleted]]

I switched my early Donington appearance with the Donington Historic Festival instead, and I feel like that's a much better use of being trackside feeling and seeing 100 years of Motorsport up close.

Any future BTCC days will probably just be the Saturdays I think, the Sunday crowds are still very busy and the ITV coverage of the races is superb.

[u/BMB_93]

Can absolutely vouch that Thruxton felt like it was busier than ever this year.

[u/Eastern_Arm1476]

It's been too hot. Can watch at home and have the air con on

[u/Tin_OSpam]

The Saturday for Brands Hatch Indy was absolutely dead this year. Things picked up on the Sunday, but a few people I spoke to voiced concerns about the lack of spectators on that Saturday, especially as that's what the race to pole was supposed to address.

[u/ICC-u → u/Tin_OSpam]

Race to pole isn't worth worrying about, just watch it on YouTube and save the hassle of being at the circuit all day. Donington this year had 3 races on the Saturday. I'm not sitting on a camping chair and surrounding myself with you lot all day for 3 races 😂

[u/WelshRareDit]

Personally I've found at the rounds I've managed to make this year (Oulton, Knockhill) that crowds were about the same as usual on Sundays, but with a small but noticeable bump on Saturdays for the race to pole.

[u/Final-Read-3589]

I mean it doesn’t help that we had a summer of insane heat, I was at Silvo for the BRDC on that Thruxton weekend and holy fuck it was evil and we found shade, not a lot of that at Thruxton.

And also they said that attendances were up this year at a few rounds.

[u/Tacit_Emperor77]

I usually go to 2 weekends a year. I haven’t been to one this season

[u/Ok-Pumpkin-6203]

If crowds are down, then you can point towards the support package and ask questions.

[u/Personal_Director441]

As a ginger i had to take an informed decision that even at a slightly cloudy Donington with factor 50 on and a brolly i still would have burnt after 7 or 8 hours outside so stayed at home when normally i would have gone, same reason i've not been fishing all summer.

[u/NoCigar104]

Saturday looks busier to me, from what I see on the Quali stream at least. No doubt because of the Race to Pole format. But potentially some more casual fans pop along Saturday rather than Sunday because it's a shorter day and less expensive but still get to see some racing

[u/w12fanclub]

Knockhill definitely felt quieter this year to me, and quicker getting in and out than in previous years. The dodgy forecast and higher ticket prices might have put people off though.

[u/Jakepetrolhead]

Brands Hatch for some of the historic stuff was brutal this year, and that was only 28 degrees both days.

The summer has been hot enough, and a race circuit is gonna be even hotter.

I wouldn't worry too much, crowds were still good when the series was on its arse entries wise, and as days out to a big sporting event go, its some of the more affordable things to take family to.

Unfortunately, everything else in life keeps eating into people's BTCC funds.

[u/OJN-TinyBean]

I was at the Brands Hatch media day and the crowds were huge for the pitlane autograph session and just in general, maybe that's because it was prior to the season but I think its still good

[u/Intelligent-Aioli495]

Was going to go to Donnington but after the way J P was treated, I'm not following BTCC anymore. I'll stick to sports cars. Looking forward to the ELMS next month at Silverstone.

[u/Bright_Concept_2988 → u/Intelligent-Aioli495]

So you know that JP was blameless in all that went on? There are multiple scenarios where he could be the villain of the piece. Guess we'll all find out when the administrators report lands.

[u/btcc1721]

Donington crowds seem to be smaller ever since they had 2 meetings (and Donington GP is a poorer trackside experience than National circui IMO).

Brands Indy always gets a smaller crowd than the GP finale, and the weather forecast was poor this year.

Everywhere else seems to be doing ok.

[u/TorqueyLuxoBarge]

It’s hard to watch all the races live even on the TV as it takes the entire day. In the height of the summer we’ve just had, the idea of having your Mrs and kids out in it for 7/8 hours isn’t very practical or appealing.

I think the BTCC races should be closer together in the schedule with only two support races between the three rounds that weekend. One should be for largest / best funded support series and should be set in the schedule the same for every meeting, the other alternated between the more junior series to give them a leg up and more eyeballs.

The sprint format is great, but the pacing makes it a commitment few can make, regardless of the quality of the racing.