TOCA have unveiled their vision of the future, in the shape of the new, low-cost technical regulations for 2011 and beyond in the British Touring Car Championship.
The idea behind the new NGTC is to cut costs using common components such as electronics, brakes, gearboxes and suspension along with a new budget-conscious turbo-charged two-litre engine, which is already being run by Andrew Jordan and David Pinkney in this years championship.
There has been confirmation that both front and rear wheel drive formats will be allowed under the 20011+ NGTC technical regulations – “in accordance with the drivetrain used on the model on which the race car is based.”
GPR Motorsport has been given the task of designing, validating, manufacturing prototypes and testing the new subframe/suspension assemblies, while TOCA has also appointed the following major control component suppliers as its Technical Partners: Xtrac, AP Racing and Cosworth Electronics.
A full prototype NGTC car will be built and given a comprehensive track-testing programme which will see it take part in the official practice sessions at the Brands Hatch finale.
“Tremendous progress has been made and we are right on schedule. Its genuinely exciting to see how the car is developing – it will be a fantastic piece of kit!” said Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director.
“At the culmination of the design & development program, our teams will have a comprehensive package of component assemblies around which they can more easily build, individualise and develop their own chosen car. And at around £100k, plus engine, they will then have a better car – which is easier to maintain and has greater performance potential – at about half the cost of a current one. It's a win-win situation for everyone.”
“After we released details of the NGTC program last year, I stated that we would revisit the question of incorporating rear-wheel drive in the regulations if there was enough interest or commitment from teams and manufacturers of rear-wheel drive cars to support it. Having now had those discussions, I'm confident that there is and so we have now included it.”
“As these NGTC technical regulations provide a much more cost-effective opportunity for teams to compete in Britain's biggest motor-racing championship, I've no doubt that the BTCC ambitions of many new drivers and teams will now be realised.”
