Revised rules. BTCC.
Discussion
REVISIONS TO BTCC SPORTING REGULATIONS ANNOUNCED
Revisions to the 2005 MSA British Touring Car Championship’s sporting regulations have been decided which will lead to even closer competition, improved driver discipline, new models of cars on the grid and greater enjoyment for fans.
After meeting with manufacturers and team principals, BTCC Series Director Alan Gow has confirmed a fine-tuning of his regulations that in 2004 resulted in one of the closest seasons in championship history.
Top Ten Reversed Grid Rule
In 2005, race three’s starting grid will be determined by race two’s finishing order, but with the top ten positions reversed. In 2004, this rule had applied to the grid for race two based on the finishing order of race one.
Alan Gow says: “This change will reduce the opportunity for teams to strategically place themselves on the grid for both the second and third races. By moving the reversed grid to the third race, it will intensify the degree of racing.
“Also, the majority of car damage tends to occur during the reversed grid race and in 2004 compromised the teams’ ability to prepare for race three. This revision will shift the likelihood of those scrapes or accidents to race three, giving teams then at least two weeks to fix any damage.”
Success Ballast
In 2005, the cars of the championship’s top five drivers will go into each race meeting’s practice and qualifying sessions and first race carrying a Championship Ballast. The Championship Ballast weights are on the same scale as the Success Ballast weights used during the race meeting. Success Ballast will then be carried in race two by the top five finishers from race one and in race three by the top five finishers from race two respectively.
Therefore, the only ballast that will be carried over into the next meeting will be that determined by the current top five championship positions.
In addition, removal of ‘negative’ ballast for finishing outside the top five in races has been dropped, thus simplifying the weights system.
“This makes the ballast individual to that particular meeting and, allied to getting rid of ‘negative ballast’, makes it easier to understand. I also believe it will improve the racing,” says Gow.
Tyres
Each driver will be limited to 16 new slick Dunlop tyres on a race weekend – a reduction of 20 per cent. As before, there will be no limit on treaded, ‘wet weather’ tyres.
“This will save the teams money. Besides, with the format we have the drivers actually don’t need to have 20 tyres on a race weekend,” says Gow.
Testing
All teams, both official manufacturer and Independent squads, will be permitted up to four days’ testing during the season. Before, testing was restricted to Independents, new teams and entrants using new models of car. These tests can only take place during general test days and on circuits where the BTCC has not raced that season.
Driving Standards
Drivers receiving a penalty/licence endorsement from the BTCC Clerk of the Course for an incident involving on-track driver behaviour will automatically be relegated six places on the starting grid for the next race.
Driver Parades
Prior to the first BTCC race, drivers will complete a lap of the circuit on the championship’s mobile podium vehicle in front of the crowds, whenever the timetable permits.
“Crowd numbers at BTCC race meetings are big enough to warrant a return to driver parades. On top of our pit lane walkabouts and open paddocks, this adds to the interaction between drivers and the crowds – something that has always been one of the BTCC’s great strengths,” says Gow.
Homologation of FIA ‘Super 2000’ Cars
The final change in the sporting regulations will make it easier for teams to race in the BTCC with cars built to the World Touring Car Championship’s FIA S2000 rules. In 2005, teams will be permitted to build their own cars and enter them for the championship if they do not have FIA homologation. Instead, the BTCC will grant the cars ‘local homologation’, provided they meet all current S2000 requirements.
“As pointed out previously, our sporting regulations have already proved hugely successful so were only ever likely to undergo a few minor tweaks. I am very pleased with these revisions,” adds Gow.
“I’m also pleased with the very positive attitude of the BTCC teams. By embracing these revisions they have demonstrated a clear understanding of how important it is to work together for the good of the championship and its future and to deliver the best sporting spectacle to our millions of fans and viewers.”
The 2005 calendar
9 & 10 April Donington Park (National)
30 April & 1 May Thruxton
28 & 29 May Brands Hatch (Indy)
18 & 19 June Oulton Park (Island)
9 & 10 July Croft
23 & 24 July Mondello Park
6 & 7 August Snetterton
27 & 28 August Knockhill
17 & 18 September Silverston (National)
1 & 2 October Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)
..........................................
Ron.
Revisions to the 2005 MSA British Touring Car Championship’s sporting regulations have been decided which will lead to even closer competition, improved driver discipline, new models of cars on the grid and greater enjoyment for fans.
After meeting with manufacturers and team principals, BTCC Series Director Alan Gow has confirmed a fine-tuning of his regulations that in 2004 resulted in one of the closest seasons in championship history.
Top Ten Reversed Grid Rule
In 2005, race three’s starting grid will be determined by race two’s finishing order, but with the top ten positions reversed. In 2004, this rule had applied to the grid for race two based on the finishing order of race one.
Alan Gow says: “This change will reduce the opportunity for teams to strategically place themselves on the grid for both the second and third races. By moving the reversed grid to the third race, it will intensify the degree of racing.
“Also, the majority of car damage tends to occur during the reversed grid race and in 2004 compromised the teams’ ability to prepare for race three. This revision will shift the likelihood of those scrapes or accidents to race three, giving teams then at least two weeks to fix any damage.”
Success Ballast
In 2005, the cars of the championship’s top five drivers will go into each race meeting’s practice and qualifying sessions and first race carrying a Championship Ballast. The Championship Ballast weights are on the same scale as the Success Ballast weights used during the race meeting. Success Ballast will then be carried in race two by the top five finishers from race one and in race three by the top five finishers from race two respectively.
Therefore, the only ballast that will be carried over into the next meeting will be that determined by the current top five championship positions.
In addition, removal of ‘negative’ ballast for finishing outside the top five in races has been dropped, thus simplifying the weights system.
“This makes the ballast individual to that particular meeting and, allied to getting rid of ‘negative ballast’, makes it easier to understand. I also believe it will improve the racing,” says Gow.
Tyres
Each driver will be limited to 16 new slick Dunlop tyres on a race weekend – a reduction of 20 per cent. As before, there will be no limit on treaded, ‘wet weather’ tyres.
“This will save the teams money. Besides, with the format we have the drivers actually don’t need to have 20 tyres on a race weekend,” says Gow.
Testing
All teams, both official manufacturer and Independent squads, will be permitted up to four days’ testing during the season. Before, testing was restricted to Independents, new teams and entrants using new models of car. These tests can only take place during general test days and on circuits where the BTCC has not raced that season.
Driving Standards
Drivers receiving a penalty/licence endorsement from the BTCC Clerk of the Course for an incident involving on-track driver behaviour will automatically be relegated six places on the starting grid for the next race.
Driver Parades
Prior to the first BTCC race, drivers will complete a lap of the circuit on the championship’s mobile podium vehicle in front of the crowds, whenever the timetable permits.
“Crowd numbers at BTCC race meetings are big enough to warrant a return to driver parades. On top of our pit lane walkabouts and open paddocks, this adds to the interaction between drivers and the crowds – something that has always been one of the BTCC’s great strengths,” says Gow.
Homologation of FIA ‘Super 2000’ Cars
The final change in the sporting regulations will make it easier for teams to race in the BTCC with cars built to the World Touring Car Championship’s FIA S2000 rules. In 2005, teams will be permitted to build their own cars and enter them for the championship if they do not have FIA homologation. Instead, the BTCC will grant the cars ‘local homologation’, provided they meet all current S2000 requirements.
“As pointed out previously, our sporting regulations have already proved hugely successful so were only ever likely to undergo a few minor tweaks. I am very pleased with these revisions,” adds Gow.
“I’m also pleased with the very positive attitude of the BTCC teams. By embracing these revisions they have demonstrated a clear understanding of how important it is to work together for the good of the championship and its future and to deliver the best sporting spectacle to our millions of fans and viewers.”
The 2005 calendar
9 & 10 April Donington Park (National)
30 April & 1 May Thruxton
28 & 29 May Brands Hatch (Indy)
18 & 19 June Oulton Park (Island)
9 & 10 July Croft
23 & 24 July Mondello Park
6 & 7 August Snetterton
27 & 28 August Knockhill
17 & 18 September Silverston (National)
1 & 2 October Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)
..........................................
Ron.
2005 BTCC CALENDAR UPDATE
Two dates on next year’s MSA British Touring Car Championship calendar have been changed. This is in response to the FIA’s decision to revise its Formula One Grand Prix calendar for 2005.
The BTCC’s meeting originally scheduled for Brands Hatch’s Indy circuit on 28-29 May has been shifted to 4-5 June, thus avoiding a clash with the European F1 Grand Prix.
Croft’s BTCC meeting, originally scheduled for 9-10 July, will now also take place a week later than intended, on 16-17 July, to avoid clashing with the British GP.
The 2005 MSA BTCC calendar:
April 9-10 Donington Park, Leicestershire
April 30-May 1 Thruxton, Hampshire
June 4-5 Brands Hatch, Kent
June 18-19 Oulton Park, Cheshire
July 16-17 Croft, North Yorkshire
July 23-24 Mondello Park, County Kildare
August 6-7 Snetterton, Norfolk
August 27-28 Knockhill, Fife
September 17-18 Silverstone, Northamptonshire
October 1-2 Brands Hatch, Kent
..............................................
Ron.
Two dates on next year’s MSA British Touring Car Championship calendar have been changed. This is in response to the FIA’s decision to revise its Formula One Grand Prix calendar for 2005.
The BTCC’s meeting originally scheduled for Brands Hatch’s Indy circuit on 28-29 May has been shifted to 4-5 June, thus avoiding a clash with the European F1 Grand Prix.
Croft’s BTCC meeting, originally scheduled for 9-10 July, will now also take place a week later than intended, on 16-17 July, to avoid clashing with the British GP.
The 2005 MSA BTCC calendar:
April 9-10 Donington Park, Leicestershire
April 30-May 1 Thruxton, Hampshire
June 4-5 Brands Hatch, Kent
June 18-19 Oulton Park, Cheshire
July 16-17 Croft, North Yorkshire
July 23-24 Mondello Park, County Kildare
August 6-7 Snetterton, Norfolk
August 27-28 Knockhill, Fife
September 17-18 Silverstone, Northamptonshire
October 1-2 Brands Hatch, Kent
..............................................
Ron.
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