Eligibility of Cars

[adamp_uk]

I would prefer to see abeefed up alfa romeo 156 in touring than the beefed up 147, which looks ace. But the 156 is an STC and so has a lot of recorded test data to its name, where as the 147 is a new and unused car in touring cars so that is what the organisers have picked up pn as to not gift any advantage. Also part and car availability are an issue.
I would like to see the 156, because if you imagine it, it would look great with arch extensions and a huge rear wing plus would have an aerodynamic advantage over the 147, because it has a gradually reducing rear where as the 147 has a sharply reducing rear.

What is your opinion?

Also how do the organisers choose which cars are eligible for BTCC?

Answers Please!

[pink69]

The 156 is a tried and test model. the 147 is too new to be run by privateers. If the 147 had works backing it could be competitive. But I prefer the 156 as it looks better.

[redshoes]

Originally posted by adamp_uk
Also how do the organisers choose which cars are eligible for BTCC?

As of last year the manufactorer had to submit a formal request. Even though the ABG/TMSR Lexus, for example, didn't have works backing they still needs Lexus GB to support the application.

This year the rules have been relaxed somewhat so that manufactorer approval is no longer required. Both the 147 and 156 are now acceptable as are a few others like the Merc C-class, Renault Laguna, Saab 9-3

[StuiE]

the 147 is a ugly pice of s**t ive ever seen and should never been made let alone raced just like the new civic

[markedmundb]

Originally posted by gtr69
the 147 is a ugly pice of s**t ive ever seen and should never been made let alone raced just like the new civic

Sorry mate. Have to disagree with you there. Alfa 147? Ugly? I can understand why you'd call the Civic Ugly, but the 147?

I admit it's a bold individual design, and not to everyone's taste, but how many other new cars are there that look alike (307/Civic/Corolla/Stilo?). The 147 is a nice looking motor IMO. I would love to have an Autodelta (230HP Turbo special) 147 sitting in my driveway.

Nah mate, I'd go down the opticians if I was you :¬)}

The STCC (used to?) run to Super Touring regs (If I remember my Formula Saloons correctly, some of the Mondeos from the BTCC ended up in the STCC for a season, before being bought by a ford dealer & raced in above mentioned club-meet) so therefore this means they couldn't run ex-STCC 156's in the BTCC2001 regs.

Even if JSM did run 156's, the problem with the engines (and other components) would still be there IMO, as the Super Touring 156's have different suspension, engines, etc. than the BTCC2001 cars.

[kmchow]

Markedmundb wrote:

>Even if JSM did run 156's, the problem with the engines (and other >components) would still be there IMO, as the Super Touring 156's
>have different suspension, engines, etc. than the BTCC2001 cars.
>
How big of a problem would it be? I thought Alfa also supplied Group N tuned engines? Surely those engines can't be exceeding BTCC2001 rules? In fact, they could be too stock? Or are you referring to the fact the engines aren't powerful enough and any additional engine work would lead to the reliability problems?