TOCA confirms next five-year cycle of BTCC technical regulations

TOCA has confirmed the technical regulations for the next five-year cycle of the British Touring Car Championship, with a focus on increasing the diversity of brands on the grid and more cost-effective engine development.

The NGTC technical regulations were first introduced for the 2011 season, initially on a ‘phased’ approach, and by 2014 the entire grid featured cars built to the specification.

Now in its 15^th season, the NGTC regulations are set to continue in their current form until the end of 2026, before the next phase of the regulations come into effect for the 2027 season.

The new phase of the regulations will thus be in effect to the end of the 2031 season, also the year until which TOCA recently extended its agreement with Motorsport UK to operate and promote the championship.

The new cycle will protect the assets of teams by ensuring that existing machinery remains eligible, whilst introducing new car and engine opportunities.

The model of car to be raced no longer has to be sold in the UK – rather, as long as the vehicle brand is sold within the UK then any model from that manufacturer can be entered, as long as it features an internal combustion engine as its primary means of power.

The existing rules regarding the minimum dimensions and body shape will continue to apply.

Perhaps a more significant change is that the engine rules have been ‘unlinked’ from each car – allowing any BTCC-homologated engine to be used in any model.

Registered BTCC engine builders will also be required to supply their engine to any interested team if requested, with the caveat that apart from the TOCA engine, no engine supplier can provide more than half of the entered cars.

The TOCA BTCC engine will continue to be made available to all teams who wish to use it.

Opening up the engine regulations is designed to allow teams and engine builders to share development costs.

Further technical regulations have received ‘modest amendments’ and will be released in the coming weeks.

“We’re pleased to announce the BTCC’s technical regulations for the next five-year cycle, to commence in 2027, and I thank all our teams for their invaluable input over the last two years to bring them to fruition,” said BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow.

“Every team wanted the BTCC to continue with the evolution of our great technical regulations… that was unquestioned.

“Therefore, our current stakeholders now have the assurance that their major components and capital investment will remain valid through 2031.

“This evolution of the regulations also provides teams with more options, through opening the door to a host of new models and engines that can now be eligible for the BTCC.

“We value these successful regulations, which will have largely been in place for almost 20 years at the conclusion of this next cycle.

“The BTCC technical regulations, like the BTCC itself, is a true British success story.”