European and International TCR Series grids could be set to see a Peugeot 308 racer among their ranks in 2016, with the manufacturer rumoured to be considering allowing the car to race in the championships.
At the TCR BeNeLux launch in Mettet Marc Van Dalen hinted that the French manufacturer may adapt some of the new one-make series cars to be eligible to compete in TCR.
It ccomes despite the fact that the car only features a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine, falling short of the TCR ruleset’s two-litre requirements.
However the manufacturer would not be the first to consider an entry despite not having an engine to fit the criteria, as the forthcoming Alfa Romeo Giulietta of the Italian Romeo Ferraris team only has a maximum capacity of 1800 cc.
“Next year there will be the Peugeot with a 1.6 litre engine, and in Macau there will be the Alfa Romeo with a 1.8 litre engine,” hinted Van Dalen. “There will be a BOP for equality.”
WSC CEO Marcello Lotti added that he was considering imposing a minimum engine size permissible, but stressed that should Peugeot enter the series their engine would be more than powerful enough with some additional work, given that it is reportedly capable of 308 hp, compared to the new two-litre Opel Astra has an output of 330 hp.
“We have already discussed that we are thinking about a limit for the minimum cylinder capacity, to avoid having any problems during the future,” added Lotti. “If Peugeot will be entering, I have to tell you that our department will receive all the information.
“The road car which you can buy is around 308 horsepower with a normal ECU. So I think there is nothing to discuss about the performance with the other cars.”
Peugeot themselves state that “ongoing development work will offer the opportunity to produce even more potent and radical performance”.