World Touring car specs???

[minisaltire]

Can someone explain to me please....

Why is it that Team Dynamics had to change to the civic as their car did not meet WTC spec but Mike Jordan is still knocking around in a very quick Integra Surely it would make sense for Team Dynamics to modify their Integra rather than start the season with an unknown quantity.

[Mike Hogg]

The Integra wasn't eligible in the top class any more or something as it isn't an S2000 car - only in the BTC class for the outgoing cars like Jordan's.... I think. Mr Murdoch will know better than me as he's a BTCC geek.

[Blair]

And here I am..

Quite simply it's (BTC Spec cars) are not eligible to win the championship outright, although they can still win races and take points etc for them.

S2000 cars are very different beasts to BTC spec, the BTC cars are more pure race machines, whereas S2000 cars are built on modified production components like suspension parts. Which makes it quite dear, as parts break easier, and if they don't, need rebuilt more often.

There's also the fact that under S2000 rules 4 doors are a minimum, so the Integra being a coupé is ruled out straight away. Some teams have had dispensation in the past to run 3 door cars like the 307 and old shape Civic's on the promise they would enter 4/5 doors in the near future though.

[minisaltire]

Here is an idea then..

Run Gordon in the Integra to take points off Seat and Vauxhall and let Matt take the glory in the Civic

They should have everyone off the same rules. Just cos the WTC does it should mean that the BTCC have to follow suit.

[XR2 Baz]

touringlegend said:

S2000 cars are built on modified production components like suspension parts. Which makes it quite dear, as parts break easier, and if they don't, need rebuilt more often.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the whole idea of moving to S2000 spec cars was to reduce costs

Baz

[Blair]

Yeh it still is cheaper than Super Toruing, but dearer than BTC Touring, where specially manufactured components are used. WSR and Team Halfords have both described S2000 parts as being "crap" !!!!

[couperacer]

ah the new btcc spec, seat have been the main team behind this i think as they want to run in both with one type of car and the rules for wtc and btcc where different until this year.

the none s2000 spec cars are mainly the same as the newer s2000 car bar a few wee things have changed. number of doors and the weight of the cars are different to (same as wtc now) and not much else.
the only real tell-tale sign between the new spec cars to the old spec cars for the average spectator is that the old spec cars run centrelock wheels and the new spec cars run normal stud patterns wheels for that car.
(now i know underneath it all there is different parts with loads of one off parts to make it go but thats racing cars for you)

[Blair]

Another sign is the S2000 cars have a much smaller wing than the BTC spec cars.

I think it was in the BTCC's interest to move to S2000 rules, as thats where any manufacturer interest will come through. It was sort of stagnating under the BTC spec rules.

[XR2 Baz]

I remembered this thread when I was watching the races at the weekend. I have to say it certainly seems as though the S2000 cars are much more fragile than their BTCC predecessors. It's become more and more apparent over the course of the season.

Would be good to see the rules relaxed a little to allow for some stronger parts to be used. I know racing is supposed to be non-contact, but let's be realistic, it rarely is and it's been disappointing to see many drivers retire this year through relatively minor shunts. You could also argue that it's more dangerous since cars are more prone to failure and therefore more likely to crash.

Just some random thoughts

Baz