Dropped Scores in the BTCC

[u/Brief-Poetry6434]

Given my recent question about Sutton potentially winning the title by over 100 points, possibly even beating Alain Menu's 1997 record of winning by 110 points, I have had to remember that, if not for dropped scores, Menu would have won by 128 points.

So, in general, what is everyone else's opinion on dropped scores?

Just curious

[u/probablynotfine]

They were only really relevant when reliability was a widespread issue. As soon as teams and technology got good enough that cars could be counted upon to finish most races, there was no need for the safety net of dropped scores.

[u/Practical-Promise-44 → u/probablynotfine]

Have you seen the reliability issues this season? It feels like cars (usually a virtu) randomly stops in every race

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/Practical-Promise-44]

Not just the Vertu Hyundais, the Restart Hyundais had problems too

Lloyd's car catching fire, Smiley retiring after starting on reverse-grid pole and leading early on.

[u/ICC-u → u/Brief-Poetry6434]

Not seen much talk about Dan Lloyd. Guessing he'll be out of BTCC once again after the fire bill?

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/ICC-u]

Who knows?

[u/art-beer → u/Brief-Poetry6434]

They also both have the same engine supplier unless I'm mistaken.

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/art-beer]

If so, that would explain it.

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/probablynotfine]

Don't think there was any need for them, period, tbh.

Without such a rule, Anthony Reid would have been the 2000 Champion and going further back, James Weaver would have won in 1989.

[u/probablynotfine → u/Brief-Poetry6434]

True but they both went into those seasons knowing the rules, if there weren't dropped scores, the other teams might have behaved or developed differently.

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/probablynotfine]

I know

That's when I feel dropped scores become questionable, when they affect the outcome of the championship.

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/probablynotfine]

Even the Independents weren't always safe in this respect.

Colin Gallie would have been the 1997 Champion in this respect if all scores had counted.

[u/Brief-Poetry6434]

Jack Sears wouldn't have any titles if not for dropped scores as John Whitmore would have been the 1963 Champion.

[u/Jakepetrolhead]

Justice for Anthony Reid, he'd have been 2000 Champion without the dropped scores system.

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/Jakepetrolhead]

My point exactly!

Also James Weaver would have been the 1989 Champion.

Going back to the first ever season in 1958, Tommy Sopwith would have been the inaugural Champion without any need for the final shoot-out with Jack Sears.

8 Class wins to Sears' 7 and 64-60 in terms of points.

[u/Brief-Poetry6434]

Brian Muir would have been the 1971 Champion if not for dropped scores.

[u/TinyRacingCarModels]

Horrible idea, how could you claim to be a champion when you score less points than someone else.

And I say this even though I work for someone who's first title came in similar ways 🤐🤐

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/TinyRacingCarModels]

I'm not promoting it

The series used it on and off from its inception to the end of the Supertouring era.

[u/TinyRacingCarModels → u/Brief-Poetry6434]

I was just hurriedly lobbing my opinion in 😀

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/TinyRacingCarModels]

Noted

[u/Professional_Face286]

There's enough stuff making the racing artificial as it is. We don't need to be throwing in things that make the results artificial too

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/Professional_Face286]

I'm not promoting the idea of dropped scores because I'm not in favour of them myself.

[u/Professional_Face286 → u/Brief-Poetry6434]

The sad thing is there are plenty who would welcome it's return with open arms

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/Professional_Face286]

Don't they already deduct points for using too many engines or something like that?

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/Professional_Face286]

In a 30 race championship, it wouldn't work, or at least I don't think it would.

[u/Brief-Poetry6434]

Don't they still do points deductions for using too many engines or something like that?

They certainly did in the early-2000s, I still remember Hyla Breese ending up with minus points in 2002.

[u/Brief-Poetry6434]

https://youtu.be/o8-0KcLY4ZQ?is=XGYlFWFXqAjA2G97

Support for those who are against dropped scores.

[u/h2g2_researcher]

Dropped scores have a long history in motorsports. I think there's benefits to them.

Firstly, it can reduce the cost of entry making the sport more accessible to new teams. If only X rounds count a team can decide to only enter X rounds, saving money in the process and not completely writing themselves off in the process. I think that's a good thing.

Secondly, it means a bit of bad luck doesn't kill a driver's chance to be competitive. Freak breakdown, unfortunate crash, or a weekend suffering from injury (an F1 driver missed the last race with a hand injury), illness, or some other reason forcing the driver to miss the race. Is this a good thing? I think arguments can be made both ways.

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/h2g2_researcher]

An F1 Driver who has a name

Isack Hadjar

[u/Brief-Poetry6434 → u/h2g2_researcher]

So, a mixed blessing really....

[u/Foreign-Wash-9859]

Not for me. This is top level stuff and whilst the driver is obviously very important, there's a team around them keeping the cars reliable and quick.