ETCC to join BTCC under new rules / New ETCC to BTCC thing (merged)

[racingdick]

NEW REGULATIONS OPEN DOOR FOR ETCC MANUFACTURERS

New rules to the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship will open the door for at least another six car manufacturers to race in the series in 2004, the BTCC’s Administrator Alan Gow announced today (Sunday) – a move which will return the series to its golden era of the mid-1990s.

BMW, Alfa Romeo, Volvo and Audi – stars of the BTCC throughout the 1990s – plus SEAT and Skoda have built cars to European Touring Car specification and all will be eligible for next year’s British championship, in addition to other manufacturers planning a return to touring car racing.

The BTCC is currently contested by four official manufacturer teams, Honda, MG, Proton and Vauxhall, plus privately-run teams representing Alfa, BMW and Peugeot.

“The first day I was appointed as Administrator I was in contact with many manufacturers and the reaction has been extremely positive,” commented Gow. “I will be holding further talks with them in the near future. The current BTCC teams and manufacturers have also welcomed this news with open arms. It is an enormously positive step forward for the BTCC.”

Gow added: “All the cars, whether they be already here in the BTCC or coming from the ETCC, will compete on an equal basis, with the technical regulations for each type of car remaining unchanged. Any performance differential we will level out through simple adjustments to the sporting regulations.

“This will create an arena in which the BTCC can return to its heady days of the 1990s when we had up to nine manufacturers competing against each other with over 25 Touring cars on the grid.

“I also intend to make some more very positive announcements regarding the future of the BTCC in the coming weeks.”

Gow insists that he will keep in place the effective cost-cutting rules that the BTCC currently runs to and attract back the 40,000-plus crowds seen in the 1990s.

He said: “It is important to stress that the limited testing and current cost-cutting regulations will remain in place. We have four manufacturers in the BTCC but what we are doing now is opening it up to attract another five or six. It is something I firmly believe everyone involved, competitors and spectators, want to see again.

[DNQ]

Great news, fantastic. As an Aussie I don't see alot of the BTCC, but I sure hope they can get back to the glory days of the 90s

[coxmattycox]

hmm can someone please tell me what is so different now that teams like volvo can come into the btcc now? why couldn't they before??
whats changed <confused>

But whatever sounds good

[redshoes]

Volvo etc could have entered the BTCC before, the difference was they would have to have built cars to the TOCA/BTCC regulations. The change is that as of next year TOCA will also accept cars built to FIA 'Super 2000' regulations. Volvo, Alfa, BMW, Nissan, Skoda and SEAT already have cars built to those regs.

[bella]

what's the difference in speed between the two? how will it work in practice?

[rdjones]

Interesting move, we shall see what happens, it will be great to see Alfa, BMW et al back in the championship, it will be interesting to see how the car perform againest each another. Roll on 2004......

[redshoes]

Last year at Donington the fastest BTCC laps was 1m 41.2s, the best ETCC laps was 1m 41.7s. ETCC rules allow for tyre warmers so best to take race pace than qualifying.

Sweden are running mixed BTCC and ETCC rules already. Johan can probably give you more of an insight but from memory the ex-BTCC cars are running with extra ballast.

[kristof14]

I doubt we'll see an official Volvo entry, haven't they withdrawn from motorsport altogether?
I to would be interested to see how this would work. He mentions other manufacturers wanting to return to touring cars wjo could they be, Peugeot, Nissan, Renault, Ford, Toyota?

[kristof14]

Also am i right in believing that BTCC cars are in fact more powerful than ETCC cars and the similar lap times are mainly down to the fact that BTCC cars are heavier?

[Radisichrox]

Can someone please explain the difference between the BTCC rules and ETCC rules? Or please explain the changes taking place for next year? (Technical changes)

[kmchow]

It sounds like they will use different race weights to equalize the car performances. I wonder how well that will work. The STCC is using that method, but I don't know if the rules are widely loved by the manufacturers?

[racer69]

Very early days, but Will any new manufacturer wanting to enter the BTCC next year, not currently in the ETC, build a current spec-BTCC car, or an ETC spec car, or would they have a choice?

will anyone else build anymore BTC Tourers, or will the current BTCC manufacturers build ETC-spec cars next year?

[touringlegend]

That's an interesting point racer. Never thought of that...

Any new manufacturers, considering your point would be stupid to build a BTCT car when they can build an ETCC spec car and race it in both series..

[JMeissner]

Originally posted by redshoes
Johan can probably give you more of an insight but from memory the ex-BTCC cars are running with extra ballast.

Correct, and with reduced RPM.

[kmchow]

I think it will be funny if teams abandon the BTCT format and switch to ETCC spec cars. So now we have the ETCC, BTCC and STCC. We are beginning to have an unofficial global series?