[BTCC] Race 4, 5 & 6 - Thruxton, Hampshire - 26th April 2009

[wheadon]

Don't all s2000 engines have to be from a road car in the company's car range?

These are holomogated s2000 cars... basically road cars with a few bits added on (in the simplest sense!)

No way would purpose designed and built blocks be allowed?!

And isn't the Chevy engine something to do with Vauxhall?

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by glossysanta

Would you, please, reply if the engine used in S2000 Lacettis comes from a standard vehicle (and tuned) or it is purpose built block?

On some markets, in NA IIRC, the Lacetti came with an Opel 2.0L engine. I think this was sort of a homologation special, available mostly to allow them to run this engine in WTCC. The engine was first refined for racing 25 years ago by among others Cleland (Eurosport commentator).

The same engine (but slightly different spec) is available also on the Ladas (where again, funky events allowed for a few models with the same Opel engine being sold at one time).

I believe both Chevy and Lada has dispensations to run the old engine also on their newer models, likely due to

1) New engine regs still being discussed.

2) They would not have another suitable engine otherwise and would drop out of the championship. (Developing a new engine right now would due to 1 above be very cost inefficient as well as likely impossible due to the fact that 2L naturally aspirated engines is not really available from either manufacturer).