BTCC Regs change

[Dave Young]

2. The minimum weight for all S2000 NA RWD cars is reduced by 10kgs to 1140kgs

3. Regulation 5.2.21.1 is suspended; the first gear ratio for S2000 NA RWD cars is now free.


This should help make the BMWs more competitive, the weight restriction is even less for fwd but that will induce more wheel spin at the start. The turbo restriction has been suspended but it there to be used instantly if required. A great way to do equalisation. Be interesting to hear Jason's pov!

[Bruce-1980]

You'll have to wait until after the first race at Oulton! If Plato doesn't win i'm sure he'll still have a whinge! And if he does win, he'll probably whinge anyway! ;)

Think adjusting weight is probably a better way to equalize things rather than messing with the boost pressure! The same reduction in boost can affect different cars power / torque output very differently, which is unfair to those who's turbo engines aren't as efficient! Only thing is, it's gona make the difference in tyre wear between the Turbos and NAs (and RWDs) even larger than it already is!

The NAs are gona be in a strong position second half of the race so as long as Plato doesn't bin it by driving too hard "trying to keep up with the stupid turbos" i'm sure he'll be at the sharp end come the end of the race! (As I'm sure he would have been anyway without these new amendments!)

It'll be interesting to see what effect these latest revisions actually make come next weekend! :)

[AndySpeed]

Additionally:

"4. All registered cars running to Championship Regulation 5.2.23 are required to compete with a maximum boost pressure 0.05 bar lower than that permitted for each car on the TOCA Performance Monitoring Device at Rounds 7,8 & 9 (Thruxton). However the introduction of this revised boost limit remains suspended; the Administrator reserves the right to promptly implement this during the course of an event, if/when deemed required, given that the 24hr notice period provided-for in the regulations has now been communicated."

Suggests taht TOCA acknowledge they have to make the best of a bad situation. Although 0.05 bar is very, very small.

[Bruce-1980]

Suppose the 'suspended sentence' for the turbos is a bit of a silver lining! Hopefully they wont have to use it! The only worry i've got is that Chevy are just having a slow start to the season (like last year) and if TOCA keep hindering the Turbos and Chevy pull their finger out, the tables will turn very quickly! Just hope TOCA have the balls to de-restrict the Turbos if Chevy start dominating!

[Alfa Fan]

It seems TOCA agreed with the points put forward by Jason and myself in the other thread. Not surprising really given it was clear from the data there was a disparity. It will be interesting to see how the balance of performance will be between the two types of cars.

I know there is a lot of hatred towards Plato, but if its any consolation, this rule change should now mean that Paul O'Neill & Rob Collard can compete up at the front with their Techspeed Chevrolets & WSR BMWs, rather than struggling to even make it into the top 10.

Hopefully we're in for a good weekend at Oulton. I bet a turbo is still on pole!!

[Bruce-1980]

To be honest, 25kg isn't that much and the fact that the 0.05 bar reduction hasn't actually been enforced yet suggests the data between the Ts and NAs must have been pretty close already! Think it's more of a 'Look! We're doing our bit' from TOCA than anything else!

The biggest change is the 1st gear ratio for the RWDs! But if anyone needed a hand it was the Beemers (And Rob Austin, of course! Not sure if he had the 1st gear restriction being a new NGTC though...)

[RMLCruzeing82]

not sure this will work as its the straights the n/a cars have the problems not the corners.

pretty silly if you ask me but glad the bmws first gear ratio has been lifted. oulton park will be interesting thats for sure.

[Eurotech]

The problem is that the turbo cars have the main advantage under acceleration, overall straight line speed is very similar to the N/A cars and the N/A's are probably a bit better through the corners. This means that the N/A cars can't use their advantage because the Turbo cars can just sit on the apex of the corners and accelerate down the straights to get away. Its not overall pace thats the problem, its the fact that the N/A cars just can't get past the Turbos.

[tisme]

Hopefully we're in for a good weekend at Oulton. I bet a turbo is still on pole!!

And I bet it will have a Honda badge on the front!

[Fordfan]

It still won't stop Plato whingeing.

[inimitablestoo]

Indeed, the only way to go faster is to remove that massive chip on his shoulder... ;)

Good to see the BMW first gear restriction, which was something that came up during JP's recent thread on the turbo matter.

A couple of thoughts - what was article 1 in these revised regulations, or was it not particularly interesting/relevant? And is it significant that the popular abbreviation for normally aspirated engines, N/A, is also used to mean "not applicable"?...

[I am evil Homer]

Going to be tricky to shed another 10 kgs from the Beemers i'd have thought so that's very little help. The first gear rule change is welcome because it was dumb in the first place.

[Alfa Fan]

I think the extra boost reduction for the turbos might be used before qualifying today. They are still significantly ahead on the speed traps.

[Bruce-1980]

Yeah, definitely need to bring in the boost reduction! There's only 3 Chevys in the top 4 practice times! Why don't we just make the turbos tow caravans! That'll slow them down!

[Alfa Fan]

I didn't just look at the overall times Bruce, instead I was using the speed trap figures. On the whole much, looks like the weight decrease has helped close it up a little bit, although Oulton Park has always had more emphasis on driver ability than other circuits. The races tomorrow will be the real test. It looks like the turbos still have a slight advantage, but the extra tyre wear negate that over a race run. Obviously TOCA decided that either the difference wasn't due to the engines this morning or it was too early to draw conclusions. It'll be interesting to see if/when the 0.05 boost change is used.

[Bruce-1980]

Recon the overall times are a better indication than speed trap figures! There's more to it than top speed!
I do agree that Oulton is a drivers circuit tho! Been round it myself a couple of times! Evo 7, WRX STi, Clio 197 and a Formula Brands! Got another coming up at Donnington soon! Just gotta decide between a Ferrari 360, Gallardo, V8 Vantage, R8, 911 Turbo or an Atom! Think its gona be tough to choose anything but the latter tho! :)
I'll have a think while I'm at Oulton tomorrow!

[Alfa Fan]

Of course there is, but the engines are what differentiate the Chevies and BMWs from the rest of them, so speed traps are a pretty good indicator of that.

Out of interest, were you happy with the LPG engines last year?

[Bruce-1980]

There's the weight difference too which makes a big difference braking for and going through the corners!
Yeah, didn't mind the LPGs last year! Ford did a good job developing the engine so hats off to them! And LPG is better for the environment! ;)

[Alfa Fan]

OK. Your answer regarding the Ford means there's no point continuing this discussion.

[Bruce-1980]

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