The British Touring Car Championship’s hybrid development car will make its race début next month, when it takes part in the Silverstone event and competes in all three races.
The event will thus mark the début of the new-for-2022 customer TOCA engine, which has been developed by M-Sport.
2013 champion Andrew Jordan will be behind the wheel for the occasion, taking part in all sessions: free practice, qualifying and all three races.
The car will be ‘invisible’ as far as championship points are concerned, whilst Jordan will also start all three races from the pitlane, in order to make sure he stays out of the way of the title contenders.
Jordan, who has not raced in the BTCC since 2019, has been the development driver for much of the car’s performance testing, including last month at Oulton Park where the car completed more laps than any other on the second day of running.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the plan is to run at Silverstone in both free practices, qualifying and the three races,” said BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow.
“It will be invisible as far as championship points go, and wherever it qualifies it won’t be starting from there.
“Competing at our Silverstone event is part of its full development cycle; although the hybrid components and engine have done far in excess of a season’s worth of running, we want it to also go through a normal race weekend procedure.
“So, whilst it won’t get involved in any real dicing with other cars, it’s important that our fans and partners have the opportunity of seeing the hybrid car in action ahead of 2022.”