BTCC plans to add hybrid power for 2022 season
British Touring Car Championship bosses have begun investigations to add hybrid power to the series from the 2022 season after a period of development.
The championship’s Technical Working Group (TWG), which comprises its technical chiefs and leading engineers from each team, held initial discussions about the move at Snetterton last weekend.
It was confirmed at the TWG that a specified hybrid unit would be fitted to all cars as an addition to their current drivetrain.
This will allow each car to have a reserve of supplementary hybrid power available during each race, which can then be used by drivers as part of their racing tactics. The detailed engineering aspects of the project will now begin, with finite technical decisions to be made over the coming 12 to 18 months.
Some current cars will be fitted with hybrid units during 2020/21 as part of the project’s development programme.
BTCC series director Alan Gow said: “This concept was very welcomed at our recent TWG meeting and now the real work begins as to the technical implementation.
“But different to hybrid development within the likes of Formula 1, this certainly shouldn’t – and won’t – be an extreme technical exercise, but rather will be one which we will introduce within our NGTC technical regulations relatively seamlessly and very cost-effectively.”
The new system is likely to use the extra energy as a ‘push to pass’ system and will not be a wholesale change to the hardware of the cars. It will be fitted alongside the current engines, rather than replacing existing technology.
“By incorporating hybrid [technology] it keeps the BTCC absolutely relevant to manufacturers, sponsors and the public, with the added benefit of further enhancing our great racing,” Gow added.