ETC 2002 rules have been released - opinions please!

[Michael H]

The rules for the 2002 European Touring Car Championship have finally been released.
They are available at
www.eurostc.com

www.touringcartimes.com

The official ETCC site has a picture of a Alfa Romeo 156 to the new rules. It looks remarkably like a Super Tourer apart from less-pronounced (and less expensive) front splitter, and also smaller front fenders which haven't been enlarged to make tyre changes easier etc. Again, costs will be reduced. Costs will be about US$150,000 , which is roughly $300,000 in Australian dollars, I think, but I'm no mathematician.
That is still a lot of money, but that is the MAXIMUM price. The way I read it, they are not allowed AT ALL to go over that price. So what would a second hand car cost for Australia? $200,000 to $250,000? Not bad when you have to spend $350,000 plus to win in V8Supercar e.g HRT . If the ETC cars were built in Australia, Aussie ingenuity could substantially reduce costs.

WHAT DOES EVRYONE THINK OF THE NEW REGULATIONS ???

CHECK THE WEBSITES THEN POST YOUR OPINION!!!!!!

[racer69]

the new rules look really good, hopefully someone will come to their senses and bring these cars to Australia. The car does look remarkedly like a Super Tourer, but the way the rules have been written it shouldn't get too expensive.

I think TOCA should announce now that they will adopt the rules for 2003, the cars sound like it would be possible to build in Australia, so teams and manufacturers can prepare.

All in all, the rules seem perfect, seems like all the good parts of ST are kept without the huge pricetag, i can't wait for next years ETC.

[DNQ]

The rules are not bad, I guesss. But very similar to Super Tourers. It is shame that STCC, BTCC, ASTC and ETCC all don't adopt the same rules, to allow for the odd international race.

[racer69]

Do you think a price cap on the cars will stop development and running costs from rising, and should another promoter, like the powertour organisers, try and start up a series to these rules.

[vauxhall]

Originally posted by DNQ
The rules are not bad, I guesss. But very similar to Super Tourers. It is shame that STCC, BTCC, ASTC and ETCC all don't adopt the same rules, to allow for the odd international race.

The ETCC have adopted similar rules and regs to the BTCC!

though i think we should have the 4 door rule back in the BTCC

[kmchow]

racer69 wrote:

>Do you think a price cap on the cars will stop development and >running costs from rising, and should another promoter, like the >powertour organisers, try and start up a series to these rules.
>
But could you really police/govern a price cap? Do an financial audit on the team? Honesty policy?

[Crash Test]

The only possible way you could control costs would to be have one organisation prepare all of the cars and pay all of the bills....and in a class with many makes of car, it aint going to happen...

[DNQ]

Originally posted by vauxhall

The ETCC have adopted similar rules and regs to the BTCC!

though i think we should have the 4 door rule back in the BTCC

To be perfectly honest, vauxhall, I don't think they are that close to BTCC. No control brakes, suspension etc. Also, the 4 door and 4.2 metre lenght requirements rule out both the BTCC Pegueot's and Astra's from competing...

[racer69]

Do you think if the ETC next year was struggling for entries it would allow in the Peugeot 406, as it meets the 4.2 metre rules but is only 2 doors.

I think TOCA in the short term should open up the series to Super Tourers, TOCA Tourers, BTC Tourers, ETC 2002 "Super 2000" and Super Production, market them the same and which ever is the best after two or three years is the one they will stick with.

I think the reason the new ETC Super 2000 rules aren't as controlled as BTC Tourers is because the FIA wants as many championships world wide to adopt the rules, therefore expecting everyone to go to the same manufacturer for parts is asking a bit much, and they couldn't keep demands.