The British Touring Car Championship’s ‘TOCA’ engine will continue to be provided by Swindon Engines after the group was reappointed as the series’ supplier.
Swindon has provided the series’ NGTC-specification engine since the introduction of the Next Generation Touring Car regulations in 2011, which was intended to provide a cost-friendly option for teams.
Nine companies entered an initial tender to become TOCA’s provider as part of a mid-term review of the NGTC programme, before a shortlist of four were presented to TOCA’s review panel, which included nine teams.
Swindon was reconfirmed for a further five years by a majority, with the company to carry out a development programme before the engine’s introduction prior to the 2017 season.
“I would like to congratulate Swindon Engines on the award of this new contract to supply the new ‘TOCA’ engine until 2021,” said Series Director Alan Gow. “As we witnessed with the recent chassis, suspension and associated components tender, awarding this contract was certainly not merely a foregone conclusion for an existing supplier. Swindon Engines’ tender and presentation was of the highest calibre and they were clearly voted for by a BTCC review panel, which included personnel from teams that use the ‘TOCA’ engine and others that use their own power units.
“Of course Swindon Engines has the proven record of supplying engines on a wide scale in the BTCC, having successfully supplied the ‘TOCA’ engine to the Championship since the outset of the NGTC regulations – but equally I have no doubt that all other bidders could have successfully done the same, such was the extremely high quality of the tenders.
“Over the last five years TOCA, Swindon Engines and the BTCC teams have worked closely together on developing what was already a very impressive product, and we look forward to continuing with this philosophy into the next decade.”
Swindon Engines’ Managing Director Raphael Caille added: “We are extremely proud to be able to continue our long-standing partnership with the BTCC. Swindon Engines has enjoyed a successful relationship with the series since the introduction of the NGTC regulations, and we have seen the BTCC flourish both on-track and off-track during this time.
“We have continued to develop our one-fits-all product over the last five years and provide a high performing, reliable and consistent unit, which benefits teams throughout the grid. Our engine remains cost efficient whilst not compromising on performance, as proven so often by the numerous race winners in the BTCC.
“We will continue to provide the teams with the highest level of service, reliability and engineering and we look forward to this next phase in our partnership with the BTCC.”
Last week, RML won a contract to supply the championship’s standard parts, also until 2021, following a similar tender process.