Team BMR owner Warren Scott has welcomed the move by the British Touring Car Championship to introduce hybrid power for 2021, but has expressed concerns about the costs of the technology.
TOCA announced on Wednesday that the next version of the championship’s regulations would introduce hybrid power by the end of 2021, with Series Director Alan Gow insisting that it would not lead to an ‘extreme technical exercise’.
Scott, who heads up the Subaru-backed Team BMR outfit, has welcomed the move to keep the BTCC relevant.
“During a recent discussion with Alan Gow [it was] explained that with the extra power supplied from the electric motor it will give us the capacity to have a push-to-pass system which will give each competitor opportunities within a race to defend or overtake,” said Scott. “[It will] make the racing incredibly exciting and bring a new skill set to the championship.
“The BTCC remains at the pinnacle of touring car championships throughout the world, so we need to implement changes like this to keep at the forefront of the touring car world. In my estimations [this] creates a very positive move and an important step for the championship to take.”
Scott did express concerns about the possible cost implications. BMR have recently reduced their costs of competing in the championship by down-sizing to a two-car team and selling one of their TOCA BTCC Licences [TBL].
“I share the concerns of the financial element as expressed by the some of the other teams, although I do think that this has greater value to the teams than some of the other monies spent.
“We need to look at maybe reducing some of the costs elsewhere. However, with the price of hybrid technology coming down year-on-year by 2021 the system implied should be at respectively good value.”
BMR have competed in the BTCC since 2013, with backing from Subaru as a manufacturer team since 2016.