BTCC WELCOMES FIRST DIESEL CAR
Reigning BMW club series champion Rick Kerry has announced
plans to enter the first diesel-powered car into Britain’s
biggest motor racing series, the Dunlop MSA British Touring
Car Championship.
Ipswich-based Kerry will enter a BMW 1 Series, acquired from
BMW Motorsport in Germany, powered by diesel fuel using a
turbo-charged engine. Five cars running on environmentally-friendly
bio-ethanol fuel raced in last year’s BTCC but this
will be first diesel-powered project to appear in the championship
since it began in 1958.
The unique car is scheduled to make its first public appearance
during BTCC Media Day at the Rockingham circuit in Northamptonshire
on Tuesday 13 March before it makes its competition debut
in the championship’s opening rounds at Brands Hatch
on 1 April. The car will be run by Kerry’s own Team
AFM Racing outfit, newly set-up to concentrate on developing
the diesel technology.
Kerry, aged 35, said: “We anticipate we’ll have
a bit less power than the petrol and bio-ethanol cars but
much more torque away from the grid and out of corners –
whether that will be a big enough gain to overcome the power
deficiency remains to be seen.
“Green fuels are very much a part of motor sport’s
agenda and will play a major part in the sport’s future.
Diesel engines have progressed so far in road cars and in
racing circles this is technology still in its early phases
of development as opposed to being at the end of its development.”
BTCC Series Director Alan Gow commented: “Any fan of
the BTCC should applaud this project and we all very much
look forward to seeing the car make its debut in the BTCC.
I’m sure it will enjoy a considerable following amongst
our crowds and TV audiences.
“It was only a matter of time before someone took advantage
of the championship’s profile to showcase diesel technology,
just as several teams did to their great advantage with bio-ethanol
in 2006. We wish Rick’s team the very best of luck.”
Kerry believes the 1 Series has the potential to cause a
few shock results – in wet conditions last year its
nimble handling enabled it to beat an entry list of touring
cars in Germany – running to similar FIA Super 2000
technical regulations as used in the BTCC.
He added: “At twistier circuits like Brands Hatch and
Knockhill we hope we’ll be pretty strong. At longer
European race circuits, with the 1 Series running in endurance
specification, lap times were marginally slower than S2000
spec cars. In sprint-spec, and with the BTCC field now running
to S2000 regulations, our lap times should be competitive,
hopefully putting us in touch with the front runners.
“We’re very much entering unchartered waters
here so there are a lot of unkowns and we certainly expect
a few tears along the way, but it’s also a very exciting
project with which to be involved. We are all very determined
to make this work.”
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