NGTC tech focus
Under the skin of the latest successful British Touring Car regulations
01 ❘ TYRES Dunlop
Dunlop has the sole tyre-supply contract for the championship, and it uses 18-inch rubber all-round. The drivers have to run an ‘option’ tyre at each of the rounds apart from Thruxton, where the demands on the rubber are more specific.
The option tyre can be either a harder or softer construction, and over the season drivers can use them a maximum three times in race one of a weekend, three times in race two and three times in race three. This adds an extra element of strategy to the race weekends.
02 ❘ BRAKES AP Racing
AP Racing provides the brakes. For a front-wheeldrive car the discs are 362mm x 36mm (front) and 304mm x 10mm (rear). On a rear-wheel-drive car they are 304mm x 25mm (front) and 362mm x 36mm (rear). There are three options of pad that are sourced and provided through AP. The firm also makes a specified pedal box for each car. The clutch is twin-plate carbon.
03 ❘ DRIVETRAIN Xtrac
Berkshire firm Xtrac provides the six-speed sequential gearboxes for all cars, as well as the differentials and the driveshaft (in rear-wheeldrive cars, the propshaft is open to any supplier). The gearboxes have mandated first, second and third-gear ratios, and this has been used to slow down any inherent advantage that a rear-wheel-drive car has away from the grid by specifying a longer first gear. Beyond the fixed ratio for third, there are options for the teams to use one of two fourth gears, and then there are 11 others to choose from at the top end of the speed range.
04 ❘ SUBFRAME, SUSPENSION AND POWER STEERING RML
From the start of 2016,
RML took over from GPRM as the supplier of the subframes and suspension parts, including uprights and wishbones. The subframes are designed to fit onto specified rollcage locations. The firm also looks after the power-steering unit, which was originally an electric unit that proved problematic under GPRM. The new system uses hydraulics and has been a success. The damping is provided by SPA Penske, and the teams have several options to use from a set menu to allow some freedom of development.
05 ❘ ELECTRONICS Cosworth
Cosworth provides several important elements for the cars, including the ECUS and the wiring looms, of which there are currently two options including a new, updated version. It also provides the data logging, dash and scrutineering logger. Data channels from the car are limited to 16. Cosworth also takes care of the judicial cameras, which are mandated in every competing vehicle.
AND ALSO…
The cars, which have a base weight of 1270kg for front-wheel drive and 1300kg for rear-wheel drive, are fitted with an ATL fuel tank as standard, and the 18-inch wheels are provided by Rimstock. Carless provides the fuel for all machines, while Lifeline is in sole charge of the fireextinguisher systems.
06 ❘ ENGINE Swindon Race Engines
While the BTCC TOCA engine, developed by Swindon, is not mandated, it is used by a large number of competitors due to its convenience as a plug-inand-play unit, removing the need for a huge financial outlay. The factory Team Dynamics Honda Civics and the works-backed WSR BMW 125i M Sports use their own engines, but half of the grid employ the bespoke unit.
All motors are two-litre turbocharged producing 350bhp-plus. This means the engines aren’t as highly stressed as a smallercapacity powerplant, and increases reliability. Owen Developments provides the turbos, while PWR makes the intercoolers. Limits on turbo-boost levels also allow for an element of equalisation across the season if necessary.