BTCC ANNOUNCES NEW REGULATIONS FOR 2007
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:
1. The base weights of all S2000 cars will increase by 30kgs
to bring them in line with FIA regulations.
2. All BTC-T cars’ base weights will also increase by
a similar amount to maintain the weight differential between
the two types of cars.
3. Individual BTC-T cars/drivers may be subject to additional
weight penalties during the course of the season, dependent
on their outright performances.
4. Entrants running BTC-T cars will still be eligible for
the Independents Trophy’s Drivers’ and Teams’
titles.
5. 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."
Meanwhile, the final three rounds of the 2006 BTCC will take
place at Silverstone on 15 October.
|
