REVISIONS TO BTCC SPORTING REGULATIONS ANNOUNCED
Revisions to the 2005 MSA British Touring Car Championship’s
sporting regulations have been decided which will lead to
even closer competition, improved driver discipline, new models
of cars on the grid and greater enjoyment for fans.
After meeting with manufacturers and team principals, BTCC
Series Director Alan Gow has today confirmed a fine-tuning
of his regulations that in 2004 resulted in one of the closest
seasons in championship history.
Top Ten Reversed Grid Rule
In 2005, race three’s starting grid will be determined
by race two’s finishing order, but with the top ten
positions reversed. In 2004, this rule had applied to the
grid for race two based on the finishing order of race one.
Alan Gow says: “This change will reduce the opportunity
for teams to strategically place themselves on the grid for
both the second and third races. By moving the reversed grid
to the third race, it will intensify the degree of racing.
“Also, the majority of car damage tends to occur during
the reversed grid race and in 2004 compromised the teams’
ability to prepare for race three. This revision will shift
the likelihood of those scrapes or accidents to race three,
giving teams then at least two weeks to fix any damage.”
Success Ballast
In 2005, the cars of the championship’s top five drivers
will go into each race meeting’s practice and qualifying
sessions and first race carrying a Championship Ballast. The
Championship Ballast weights are on the same scale as the
Success Ballast weights used during the race meeting.
Success Ballast will then be carried in race two by the top
five finishers from race one and in race three by the top
five finishers from race two respectively.
Therefore, the only ballast that will be carried over into
the next meeting will be that determined by the current top
five championship positions.
In addition, removal of ‘negative’ ballast for
finishing outside the top five in races has been dropped,
thus simplifying the weights system.
“This makes the ballast individual to that particular
meeting and, allied to getting rid of ‘negative ballast’,
makes it easier to understand. I also believe it will improve
the racing,” says Gow.
Tyres
Each driver will be limited to 16 new slick Dunlop tyres on
a race weekend – a reduction of 20 per cent. As before,
there will be no limit on treaded, ‘wet weather’
tyres.
“This will save the teams money. Besides, with the
format we have the drivers actually don’t need to have
20 tyres on a race weekend,” says Gow.
Testing
All teams, both official manufacturer and Independent squads,
will be permitted up to four days’ testing during the
season. Before, testing was restricted to Independents, new
teams and entrants using new models of car. These tests can
only take place during general test days and on circuits where
the BTCC has not raced that season.
Driving Standards
Drivers receiving a penalty/licence endorsement from the BTCC
Clerk of the Course for an incident involving on-track driver
behaviour will automatically be relegated six places on the
starting grid for the next race.
Driver Parades
Prior to the first BTCC race, drivers will complete a lap
of the circuit on the championship’s mobile podium vehicle
in front of the crowds, whenever the timetable permits.
“Crowd numbers at BTCC race meetings are big enough
to warrant a return to driver parades. On top of our pit lane
walkabouts and open paddocks, this adds to the interaction
between drivers and the crowds – something that has
always been one of the BTCC’s great strengths,”
says Gow.
Homologation of FIA ‘Super 2000’ Cars
The final change in the sporting regulations will make it
easier for teams to race in the BTCC with cars built to the
World Touring Car Championship’s FIA S2000 rules. In
2005, teams will be permitted to build their own cars and
enter them for the championship if they do not have FIA homologation.
Instead, the BTCC will grant the cars ‘local homologation’,
provided they meet all current S2000 requirements.
“As pointed out previously, our sporting regulations
have already proved hugely successful so were only ever likely
to undergo a few minor tweaks. I am very pleased with these
revisions,” adds Gow.
“I’m also pleased with the very positive attitude
of the BTCC teams. By embracing these revisions they have
demonstrated a clear understanding of how important it is
to work together for the good of the championship and its
future and to deliver the best sporting spectacle to our millions
of fans and viewers.”
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