New 2007 BTCC Regulations announced

[ZBOYD]

press release from BTCC.net

New regulations have today been confirmed by the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship ahead of its switch to the FIA Super 2000 formula in 2007.

Cars running to S2000 specification – the same as used in the FIA’s World Touring Car Championship – have been permitted to run in the BTCC since 2004.

But next year only those teams/drivers competing with S2000 cars in the BTCC will be eligible to win either the coveted Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ crowns. However, BTC-Touring cars, which have populated the BTCC grid since 2001, will still be permitted to compete and score points.

At a teams’ meeting last week the following measures were introduced:

- The base weights of all S2000 cars will increase by 30kgs to bring them in line with FIA regulations.
- All BTC-T cars’ base weights will also increase by a similar amount to maintain the weight differential between the two types of cars.
- Individual BTC-T cars/drivers may be subject to additional weight penalties during the course of the season, dependent on their outright performances.
- Entrants running BTC-T cars will still be eligible for the Independents Trophy’s Drivers’ and Teams’ titles.
- Only an independent team's highest-finishing car in each race will score points towards the Independents Trophy’s Teams’ championship.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow said: “I’m very pleased with the teams’ positive attitude in reaching a swift consensus on these important measures as the BTCC opens a new and exciting chapter in its history.

“Much of it is common sense. For example, our decision to allow only one car to score in the Independents Trophy’s Teams’ championship will prevent the bigger, better funded multi-car outfits enjoying a lock-out and (importantly) also gives a greater spread of the prize fund to the other independent teams/drivers. The bigger teams should be thanked for agreeing to this – they have seen the bigger picture. Their generosity clearly reflects the goodwill that prevails down the BTCC pit lane.

“Also, it would have been nonsensical to apply a performance handicap to all BTC-T spec cars. However should a driver ‘over-achieve’ on an outright basis in a BTC-T spec car, then we have the opportunity to individually ballast those cars rather than to handicap all others running to BTC-T specification.”

Gow added: “The significant increase in our grid sizes over the last 18 months, plus the many new enquiries we are receiving for 2007 and beyond, is further testament to the fact that the BTCC is firmly on the right track – no other championship in British motor sport can even approach our level of media profile, audience numbers, marketability, public appeal and great racing.”

 

[m0rk]

I wonder if they'll employ local homologation based on S2000 so 3 doors will be allowed (like the civic & toyota corrolla)

that would be a shame

 

[IainW]

I do believe that's how the Lexii are entered, thanks to that rule. Mind you in other countries, it's also let people build cars like an Audi A4 and a Mercedes C Klasse. So maybe someone out there might build a locally homologated saloon that isn't a Lexus! We can hope.

 

[m0rk]

as long as nobody builds an S2000 'teg

 

[ZBOYD]

Rules wouldn't allow though would they, thought they had to use cars, built and sold in the European markets.

 

[JasonP06]

So what cars are allowed to be homologated?

 

[ZBOYD]

Basically anything that you can walk into a UK or European main manufacturers dealership and buy, and i believe they must be built inside the EU, and that they can run with a normally aspirated engine no greater than 2 litre 16 valves.

Im sure there is a wide range of rules and restrictions that I'm not privvy too, but needless to say, i would expect any leading market segment car, that can be classed as a touring car.

I would expect exemptions, as some cars are unsuitable, but i think the rules in WTCC are 4 or 5 door saloon or hatchbacks.

 

[andyb]

Built in Europe? Are you sure. I think the rule is just available in Europe...which to be honest, as the WTCC is a world series, I would have thought they would have opened that rule up.

TD are working on something for next year. If my little birds are right, its something thats going to give SEAT the willies!

 

[andyb]

I would expect exemptions, as some cars are unsuitable, but i think the rules in WTCC are 4 or 5 door saloon or hatchbacks.

Yeap, but the FiA have given special dispensation to Toyota, Peugeot and Honda in the pas to run 2/3 doors.

 

[ZBOYD]

Rules seems to change on a weekly basis if were honest, they are always coming up with some change in the rules.

Leons with flat floors, Chevys with more power are at least 2 that were introduced this year.

I'm probably wrong about the build in europe, i'd like to browse a full copy of the regs, but as far as i am aware only cars available to buy in european 'dealerships' ie a current EU offerings. Hence why the 'Tegs shouldn't be converted to WTCC spec, as they are most certainly grey imports. Unless Honda start selling them from their showrooms.

 

[IainW]

Yeap, but the FiA have given special dispensation to Toyota, Peugeot and Honda in the pas to run 2/3 doors.

I think that was on the understanding that they'd agreed to build and enter a 4 door car as soon as they could. JAS brought out the Accord to replace the awful Civic they built and Peugeot Denmark built a 5 door 307 to please the FIA. Not so sure about the Toyota situation though.

 

[ZBOYD]

Some key technical regs from the FIA's Super 2000 WTCC regs (CAT I). Not all of them because its hugely exhaustive and mostly irrelevant to what were trying to understand:

Classification and Definitions

ARTICLE 1 : CLASSIFICATION
1.1 Categories and groups
The cars used in competition shall be divided up into the following categories and groups:
Category I:
- Group N: Production Cars
- Group A: Touring Cars
- Group B: Grand Touring Cars
- Group SP: Super Production Cars
- Group T2: Series Cross-Country Cars


ARTICLE 2 : DEFINITIONS
2.1 General conditions
2.1.1) Series Production cars (Category I):
Cars of which the production of a certain number of identical examples (see definition of this word hereinafter) within a certain period of time has been verified at the request of the manufacturer, and which are destined for normal sale to the public (see this expression).
Cars must be sold in accordance with the homologation form.


Specific Regulations for Modified Production Cars on Circuits (Super-2000)

ARTICLE 1 : DEFINITION
Large-scale series production touring cars modified by a kit.
The engine used must be derived from the homologated model modified by the kit.

ARTICLE 2 : HOMOLOGATION
At least 2500 fully identical units must have been produced in 12 consecutive months and homologated by the FIA in Touring Cars (Group A).

Supply Variants (VF) homologated in Touring Cars (Group A) are also valid in Production Cars (Group N).

Option Variants (VO) of the Touring Cars (Group A) form shall not be valid in Production Cars (Group N), unless they refer to:

- safety rollcage;
- seat supports and anchorages;
- safety harness mounting points.
Evolutions of the type (ET), kit variants (VK) and sporting evolutions (ES) homologated in Group A are not valid in Production Cars (Group N) or Super Production.

ARTICLE 3 : NUMBER OF SEATS
Cars must have at least four places, in accordance with the dimensions defined for Touring Cars (Group A).

ARTICLE 7 : ENGINE
7.1 Cylinder capacity
The cylinder capacity must not exceed 2000 cm3.
With respect to the bore (Art. 314 of the Super 2000 Homologation form), a production tolerance of 0.05 mm at the level of the fire zone and a wear tolerance of 0.1 mm below the fire zone are authorised, provided that the total cylinder capacity does not exceed 2000 cm3

ARTICLE 8 : TRANSMISSION
8.1 Gearbox
8.1.1) Authorised gearboxes:
• Gearboxes homologated on the vehicle at 2500 units A maximum of five (5) engageable forward gears and one (1) engageable reverse gear, and in working order, are authorised.

If the series gearbox has more than five (5) forward gears, the gear wheels as from the sixth (6th) ratio must be rendered inoperative by the removal of the teeth of the gear wheels concerned.

The inside of the original housing is free but only steel or aluminium alloy parts may be used, except for the bearings and gearshift forks which may be made from bronze or from copperbased alloy as well.

• Sequentially controlled gearbox homologated in VK Super 2000 A maximum of six (6) engageable forward gears and one (1) engageable reverse gear, and in working order, are authorised.

 

[ZBOYD]

From what i can gather by a brief read of the FIA regs, as long as the vehicle complies with the FIA's Homologation rules, its acceptable it seems.

But im sure I had read that the BTCC was restricting it to European sold cars.

I've litrally scratched the surface, if you want some bedtime reading material.

http://www.fia.com/sport/Regulations/wtcregs.html

A lot of the engine parts and gearbox, suspension etc, have to be homologated also, including many internal parts, pistons etc