Hybrid BTCC car begins testing
British touring cars will be electrified from 2022 - here's the first look
It was 2018 that the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship first announced that the series would move to hybrid cars from 2022; at the end of last year the push-to-pass system was fleshed out with some more detail - a 15-second boost of around 40hp, available only under full traction - and now testing has commenced. The hybrid touring car era looms ever closer...
With the championship out in force for a pre-season test at Snetterton this week - the 2020 campaign kicks off at Donington on August 1st - it was time for the Cosworth-developed TOCA Hybrid car to get out on circuit. Driven by TOCA development driver Darren Turner, the Speedworks BTCC Toyota Corolla was said to complete "solid mileage" around the 300 circuit in both wet and dry conditions across two days. Turner said of the hybridised racer: "We have regularly deployed the system on-track and it works really well - it will undoubtedly add an extra and exciting dimension to both the defensive and attacking aspects of the racing." Given how action packed BTCC already tends to be, there's the potential here for even more drama with hybrid cars - which sounds like a good thing.
Cosworth is of course the perfect partner to develop the hybrid system, having been involved with the BTCC for 20 years providing electronics solutions. Come 2022 there will be a whole new generation of electronics to accompany the electrification, also from Cosworth. Its Electronics Head of Support, Neal Bateman, said the test went "extremely well", adding that, post-Snetterton, "we look forward to making more progress over the coming weeks."
Final word should go to Alan Gow, BTCC chief exec: "This is obviously just the start of the extensive programme ahead, prior to the full introduction of hybrid technology into the BTCC in 2022, but Cosworth, Speedworks and all of the technical partners involved should be congratulated for the professionalism, expertise and efficiency shown." Expect the testing regime to continue during this year, and ramp up during 2021 ahead of the introduction across the grid the season after. When, presumably, the notion of behind-closed-doors motorsport will be nothing but a distant memory. Will you be clamouring for a look at electrified touring cars? Or is the BTCC entertaining enough for as is? The floor is yours...
I've no issue with a bit of hybrid boosting as long as that's as far as it goes, and it doesn't end up an all-electric series in the future - as mad as the Jaguar i-Pace racers look, the actual racing is dull without the soundtrack, exactly the same as Formula E.
So either your trolling or you haven't watched it.
As for the hybrid everyone said it couldn't be done for the cost gow wanted Cosworth have come through and achieved it will replace the ballest system so cars wont be any heavier and it wont change the engine noise etc etc. Its great news for the btcc and the first touring car series to introduce this sort of thing with motorsport going that way its great the btcc can be in the pound seat for the touring car class.
But as always the usual moan and groan how it isn't super touring racing is not the same bla bla bla from the out of touch members of pistonheads and wider society.
Oh and your a bit late of the article the car started testing last month with speedworks developing in over the lockdown period.
The racing has been close in recent years but, when boost pressure is fiddled with across the race meetings, it's no surprised. It's effectively rigged to ensure it always goes down to the wire. It reminds me of one of those "docu-soap" things like TOWIE. It's becoming an act that's pretending to be real somehow.
You can't deny that they've made a success of it, but the move to NGTC cars, which share basically everything aside from the engine took the soul out of it for me. BTCC was a series based on production cars. When they all have the same subframes and in-board dampers, with any old body shell stuck on top, it stopped being what it was supposed to be sadly.
But I feel that about much of motorsport. The glory days are behind us.
I went to a Formula E thing once. Didn’t even make it to the end of the race. Went and got a nice lunch instead.
Imola Classic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s2H2SUyql4
Spa Classic - https://youtu.be/jwvizugBn2U?t=150
Monza Historic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z61FYcmGlk
And of course the Silverstone Classic & Le Mans Classic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGvvkMFBsgY
They aren't going away.
Plus many more....the historic touring cars, F1, rally everything is covered somewhere.
All the cars are the same, look the same, etc.
I will start to rewatch the Hybrids but after the 1st episode i will more than likely loose interest again.
There is only one which is the Toyota and they only used speedworks as they had a spare car. Plato does have a drive for 2021 its just the team has decided to focus on 2021 as they rely on money from selling corporate events during the meeting which will be heavily restricted this year.
The racing has been close in recent years but, when boost pressure is fiddled with across the race meetings, it's no surprised. It's effectively rigged to ensure it always goes down to the wire. It reminds me of one of those "docu-soap" things like TOWIE. It's becoming an act that's pretending to be real somehow.
You can't deny that they've made a success of it, but the move to NGTC cars, which share basically everything aside from the engine took the soul out of it for me. BTCC was a series based on production cars. When they all have the same subframes and in-board dampers, with any old body shell stuck on top, it stopped being what it was supposed to be sadly.
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