BTC Touring

In motor racing, BTC Touring (BTC-T) was the set of new regulations for the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) introduced in 2001 BTCC, after the demise of the Supertouring category.

The cars were based on standard bodyshells, but were allowed significant modifications to turn the car into a racecar and differentiate it from the Super Production class that would run alongside BTC Touring in the 2001 BTCC.

Models

In chronological order of their appearances, the cars were:

• BTC-T Vauxhall Astra Coupe
• BTC-T Peugeot 406 Coupe
• BTC-T Alfa Romeo 147
• BTC-T Lexus IS200
• BTC-T MG ZS EX259
• BTC-T Honda Civic Type-R
• BTC-T Proton Impian
• BTC-T Peugeot 307
• BTC-T Vauxhall Vectra
• BTC-T Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch
• BTC-T Honda Integra Type R

Gallery

• 
  Matt Neal demonstrates a Team Dynamics BTC-T Honda Integra Type R at the 2005 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
• 
  Tom Chilton driving a VXRacing prepared BTC-T Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch at Brands Hatch.
• 
  Martin Johnson's BTC-T Vauxhall Astra Coupe as seen during 2009 season.
• 
  Matt Neal's BTC-T Honda Integra Type R which won him the 2005 and 2006 Drivers Championships.
• 
  Several BTC-T Spec. Cars (with S2000 cars) at Brands Hatch in 2006. (BTC-T Spec. cars are 2x Astra, 2x Integra and 1x MG ZS).
• 
  Rob Collard in a Team RAC BTC-T MG ZS.

History

A year after the regulations began, the European Touring Car Championship launched its Super 2000 regulations. As the latter allowed manufacturers to have their cars seen internationally, most major companies opted for this, meaning that the BTCC suffered from small grids. In 2004, TOCA allowed Super 2000 cars to compete, with rules designed to equalise the performance of both classes. BTC-T cars were eventually made ineligible to win the main championship from 2007.

The 2010 season was meant to be the last year BTC Touring cars would be eligible to enter the championship, however they were allowed to compete for one more season in 2011, with their base-weight +50 kg on 2010.^[1]

References