TOCA frees up engines and car models for next BTCC ruleset

Engine choice will be free for the British Touring Car Championship’s next ruleset, to be introduced in 2027 for a five-year period.
 
That, and the freedom to run car models not currently on sale in the UK, is the biggest revelation in BTCC organiser TOCA’s announcement of the regulations.
 
Other than this, the hugely successful NGTC ruleset, which was introduced in 2011, is largely carried over to the new era.
 
This is as outlined by TOCA supremo Alan Gow in an exclusive interview with Autosport in March 2024, when he explained that, for cost reasons, the new generation of cars would be an evolution of those currently in existence, with none of the current models made obsolete.
 
To that end, the TOCA statement said: “The goal of the new regulation cycle was to protect the assets of teams by maintaining eligibility for existing machinery, whilst introducing additional car and engine options, thereby expanding opportunities.”
 
On the engine side, “any BTCC-homologated engine can be used – not necessarily from the original manufacturer of that specific car”.
 
This means that, in theory, BMW team West Surrey Racing would be allowed to use the Swindon-built Hyundai powerplants run by Excelr8 Motorsport and Restart Racing, or vice versa.

Engine builders will be compelled to supply their powerplants to any team that wishes to use them, but with a cap of 50% of the field – with the exception of the M-Sport-built TOCA customer engine, which is available to all teams.
 
“Opening up engine availability and supply will enable teams and engine builders to more easily select their optimum base engine and share development costs,” read the TOCA statement.
 
Additionally, cars that are not currently available as new in the UK will be allowed in, as long as the manufacturer has a presence in the market, and “the car is originally equipped with an internal combustion engine as its primary means of motive power and, of course, conforms to the size and body regulations as per currently”.
 
That could theoretically, for example, allow in the Volvo S60 – the Swedish manufacturer withdrew from the UK saloon and estate market in 2023, but continues to sell SUVs in the country – while there are some internal combustion MGs only available outside the UK.
 
Of manufacturers currently represented in the BTCC, Honda will not be selling the new version of the Civic Type R in the UK, ditto new versions of the Ford Focus, while the Hyundai i30 N Fastback currently raced remains homologated but is now only sold abroad.
 
“I thank all our teams for their invaluable input over the last two years to bring [the new regulations] to fruition,” said Gow.
 
“Every team wanted the BTCC to continue with the evolution of our great technical regulations… that was unquestioned. Therefore, our current stakeholders now have the assurance that their major components and capital investment will remain valid through 2031.
 
“This evolution of the regulations also provides teams with more options, through opening the door to a host of new models and engines that can now be eligible for the BTCC.”