'NEW LOOK' BTCC TO GO SUPER 2000 IN 2007
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will be
contested by cars complying with the FIA ‘Super 2000’
technical regulations from 2007 onwards, BTCC Series Director
Alan Gow has confirmed today.
The anticipated move was ratified at the TOCA/BTCC teams
meeting last week. The meeting also resulted in some additional
changes to the BTCC’s technical and sporting regulations,
notably the third race reversed grid rule.
Today’s announcement means that all participants have
been given ample notice to plan for the future when the BTCC’s
current technical regulations – which currently permit
both S2000 and BTC-spec cars – expire at the end of
next season.
Gow comments: "This is the obvious way forward for the
BTCC as most touring car championships throughout Europe will
also run to S2000 regulations, as will the World Touring Car
Championship. I confidently predict that this will massively
strengthen the BTCC and I’m very excited about the future
this change brings to the championship.
"Manufacturers now have one set of technical regulations
to follow when deciding to compete, making it much simpler
for them to enter the championship. It’s the most logical
decision for the championship and, had the BTCC’s existing
regulations that I inherited not been set in stone until the
end of next year, then I would probably have taken this decision
earlier.
"Additionally, in order to ensure that the cars are
relevant to the UK car market, any ‘new-build’
car entered from 2007 will also have to be based on a model
which is readily available through authorised dealer networks
across Europe."
Manufacturers currently contesting the WTCC with cars built
to S2000 specification include Alfa Romeo, BMW, Chevrolet
and SEAT while other teams have run cars representing companies
such as Ford, Honda and Peugeot.
Gow adds: "We will also permit any current BTC-spec
cars to continue in the championship for 2007 and 2008, and
possibly 2009. These can only be run by independent teams
and with certain technical restrictions – meaning they
won’t be able to challenge for outright wins or outright
championship honours."
Reversed Grids
The current system used to decide the top ten starting grid
positions for the third race at each meeting has been revised.
In 2006, the number of grid places to be reversed for race
three’s starting grid will vary between six and ten.
The actual number will be unknown at each race meeting until
it is randomly drawn by the winner of race two, immediately
after that race.
Gow says: "The reverse grids are very popular with the
media, our TV audiences and the race day crowds so it’s
important that they stay as part of the entertainment.
"Our decision to vary the number of positions to be
reversed, on an entirely random and unknown basis, means that
all drivers will have to go flat-out through the whole race
– not knowing if they will be the beneficiary of a reverse
grid slot. This will mean even more spectacular action for
our fans."
The BTCC teams’ meeting also agreed, for 2006:
to continue with the current specification Dunlop control
tyre
to increase the base-weight of BTC-spec cars to 1175kg while
maintaining the difference in base weight between BTC and
S2000-spec cars as that which existed at the end of the 2005
season, for the start of the 2006 season
to penalise cars of those who enter the BTCC late, or dip
in and out of the championship, with a maximum success ballast
at their first meeting or on their return. The amount of ballast
would then be reduced in the second meeting and again in the
third meeting in which that car competes
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