2023: BTCC chat & discussion
Discussion
From today's new release:
The annual end-of-season meeting between series organiser TOCA and all participating BTCC teams has resulted in a number of changes to next year’s sporting regulations. The headline amendments include the return of the ‘Top Ten Showdown’ qualifying format, reintroduction of the ‘Option’ tyre, and changes to the rules regarding Hybrid deployment.
Broad information regarding these main changes is outlined below:
Qualifying Format
The ‘Top Ten Showdown’ qualifying that was first introduced in 2020 and expanded in 2021, will make a return next season with the format now being adopted at five of the ten events.
All drivers will take part in the normal 30-minute qualifying session to record their lap times. Following a short five-minute break, the fastest ten competitors will then progress to a ten-minute pole position ‘Top Ten Showdown’ session to determine the top ten places on the grid.
The ‘Top Ten Showdown’ will take place (on the Saturday) at the following events:
• Donington Park (National) – 22/23 April
• Brands Hatch (Indy) – 06/07 May
• Oulton Park – 17/18 June
• Knockhill – 12/13 August
• Silverstone – 23/24 September
Option Tyre
Drivers and teams unanimously requested the reintroduction of the Goodyear ‘Option’ tyre at all events with the exception of Thruxton, where only the hard tyre will be used due to the high-speed and more abrasive nature of the track.
The majority of these events will utilise two of the three compounds – hard, medium or soft – where the ‘Option’ tyre must be used at least once during race one, race two or race three – ensuring a variety of strategies.
At two of the events – Snetterton and Croft – all three tyre choices must be used across the three races.
Teams will not have to specify before qualifying, the race in which they will use their ‘Option’ tyre, with all choices being declared upon cars leaving the pit lane.
Hybrid Deployment
Following the successful introduction (ha ha!) of Hybrid power into the BTCC in 2022 – becoming the first major touring car series in the world to do so – several enhancements have been made to ensure deployment carries a greater impact from 2023 onwards.
The top seven cars in the championship and/or top seven cars on the grid will have reduced Hybrid time during qualifying and the races on a sliding scale, whilst the minimum speed at which the system can be deployed for those top seven has been increased.
Cars from eighth place onwards will be able to deploy Hybrid power from a reduced minimum speed, ensuring these drivers can utilise the additional power quicker than the leading order.
These cars – from eighth place onwards – will only have Hybrid deployment available for 50% of the racing laps, ensuring a greater tactical element throughout the race with those drivers having to be more strategic in choosing which of those laps to use it.
Hybrid can now also be deployed on the first lap after the safety car and the minimum time between deployments has been increased to five seconds, preventing drivers from staying on the power at the conclusion of one lap and into another.
So the hybrid deployment rules are as simple and clear to understand as ever. But if the button doesn't work, no reason to worry about whether you can use it or not.
In other news, Baby Sutton is due in April, just in time for the BTCC season!
The annual end-of-season meeting between series organiser TOCA and all participating BTCC teams has resulted in a number of changes to next year’s sporting regulations. The headline amendments include the return of the ‘Top Ten Showdown’ qualifying format, reintroduction of the ‘Option’ tyre, and changes to the rules regarding Hybrid deployment.
Broad information regarding these main changes is outlined below:
Qualifying Format
The ‘Top Ten Showdown’ qualifying that was first introduced in 2020 and expanded in 2021, will make a return next season with the format now being adopted at five of the ten events.
All drivers will take part in the normal 30-minute qualifying session to record their lap times. Following a short five-minute break, the fastest ten competitors will then progress to a ten-minute pole position ‘Top Ten Showdown’ session to determine the top ten places on the grid.
The ‘Top Ten Showdown’ will take place (on the Saturday) at the following events:
• Donington Park (National) – 22/23 April
• Brands Hatch (Indy) – 06/07 May
• Oulton Park – 17/18 June
• Knockhill – 12/13 August
• Silverstone – 23/24 September
Option Tyre
Drivers and teams unanimously requested the reintroduction of the Goodyear ‘Option’ tyre at all events with the exception of Thruxton, where only the hard tyre will be used due to the high-speed and more abrasive nature of the track.
The majority of these events will utilise two of the three compounds – hard, medium or soft – where the ‘Option’ tyre must be used at least once during race one, race two or race three – ensuring a variety of strategies.
At two of the events – Snetterton and Croft – all three tyre choices must be used across the three races.
Teams will not have to specify before qualifying, the race in which they will use their ‘Option’ tyre, with all choices being declared upon cars leaving the pit lane.
Hybrid Deployment
Following the successful introduction (ha ha!) of Hybrid power into the BTCC in 2022 – becoming the first major touring car series in the world to do so – several enhancements have been made to ensure deployment carries a greater impact from 2023 onwards.
The top seven cars in the championship and/or top seven cars on the grid will have reduced Hybrid time during qualifying and the races on a sliding scale, whilst the minimum speed at which the system can be deployed for those top seven has been increased.
Cars from eighth place onwards will be able to deploy Hybrid power from a reduced minimum speed, ensuring these drivers can utilise the additional power quicker than the leading order.
These cars – from eighth place onwards – will only have Hybrid deployment available for 50% of the racing laps, ensuring a greater tactical element throughout the race with those drivers having to be more strategic in choosing which of those laps to use it.
Hybrid can now also be deployed on the first lap after the safety car and the minimum time between deployments has been increased to five seconds, preventing drivers from staying on the power at the conclusion of one lap and into another.
So the hybrid deployment rules are as simple and clear to understand as ever. But if the button doesn't work, no reason to worry about whether you can use it or not.
In other news, Baby Sutton is due in April, just in time for the BTCC season!
Great changes and be another good season. Already got my Donnington tickets. I'm a huge btcc fan and can't understand why some folk slate it but each to there own I guess. For me it's the Best British motorsport and I've stood in forests watching wrc/lombard rally over the years. Watched Timeattack etc. Just my opinion tho
siandcian said:
Great changes and be another good season.
I agree.As long as Cosworth actually manage to engineer a safe, reliable hybrid system over the coming months.
At the final races at Brands, both Laser Tools Racing and Team BMW were given the latest "mk 2" version of the hybrid — both failed.
Ciceley withdrawing from the BTCC...Wow, that’s a bit of a shocker.
It will be strange not to see them on the grid... especially Adam.
So... a couple of BMW’s / Licences up for grabs.
https://www.btcc.net/2022/11/28/ciceley-motorsport...
It will be strange not to see them on the grid... especially Adam.
So... a couple of BMW’s / Licences up for grabs.
https://www.btcc.net/2022/11/28/ciceley-motorsport...
Edited by Milkyway on Monday 28th November 14:47
I don't read that as Adam himself is withdrawing from the BTCC rather that the team is.
He says in the article "I fully intend to continue competing at the highest level of UK motorsport" so that means to me that he will join another BTCC team. Maybe WSR, maybe the MB team that is rumoured to be running two BMW's next year and now there are two spare....
He says in the article "I fully intend to continue competing at the highest level of UK motorsport" so that means to me that he will join another BTCC team. Maybe WSR, maybe the MB team that is rumoured to be running two BMW's next year and now there are two spare....
I sort of read into the “spending more time with the family”... but agreed, running your own team & competing can’t be easy.
Or compete in his current car under the MB banner... leaving one spare.
Or... maybe Adam’s looking at Porsche’s / GT championships
Or compete in his current car under the MB banner... leaving one spare.
Or... maybe Adam’s looking at Porsche’s / GT championships
Edited by Milkyway on Monday 28th November 15:55
siandcian said:
Great changes and be another good season. Already got my Donnington tickets. I'm a huge btcc fan and can't understand why some folk slate it but each to there own I guess. For me it's the Best British motorsport and I've stood in forests watching wrc/lombard rally over the years. Watched Timeattack etc. Just my opinion tho
As much as I love the BTCC, I just wished that they were more ‘road based’ cars... in my day they would have been called Super or Special saloons.Milkyway said:
siandcian said:
Great changes and be another good season. Already got my Donnington tickets. I'm a huge btcc fan and can't understand why some folk slate it but each to there own I guess. For me it's the Best British motorsport and I've stood in forests watching wrc/lombard rally over the years. Watched Timeattack etc. Just my opinion tho
As much as I love the BTCC, I just wished that they were more ‘road based’ cars... in my day they would have been called Super or Special saloons.Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff