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Autosport reports at their site
BTCC format hangs in the balance
Teams await decision on formula for next year.
The format for the British Touring Car Championship will be all change by the end of this week. New Championship Promoter BMP will choose between a Superstars category, proposed by Brands Hatch owner Octagon and a ‘Super Touring ‘92’ formula.
Superstars is based on an equality formula using more prestigious cars, such as the BMW 5-series. The series has more scope for innovation stemming from the use of engines between 2.5 and 4.0 litres and the choice of front, rear or four-wheel drive.
The scaled down ‘Super Touring ’92‘ harks back to the cars of the beginning of the last decade. The rules would prevent the use of splitters, wings and expensive materials such as magnesium and carbon fibre, thus keeping costs down.
Support for both formats remains divided. Manufacturers Honda and Vauxhall are both behind a ‘bargain-priced’ series. Roland Dane, boss of the works Vectra squad, said: “We’ve got to have a situation whereby teams that operate on smaller budgets can compete on a relatively level field.”
Ford team boss David Richards, however, is a supporter of Superstars and believes it has more support than many would imagine. “People will be surprised. I know of five manufacturers committed on an international level,” he said. “We have an audience to appeal to – that’s what Superstars will do. On the basis of everything put forward, the principles are sound and sensible.”
BMP have promised a decision within the next few days.
[This message has been edited by kmchow (edited 18 May 2000).]
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