BTCC set for hybrid power after 2021 season

Series organisers TOCA have announced that hybrid technology will be into introduced into the British Touring Car Championship from the end of the 2021 season, within an evolution of the current NGTC regulations.

Following a meeting last week, the BTCC Technical Working Group [TWG] agreed upon a direction to develop a specified hybrid unit, which will be implemented into the championship when the current NGTC regulations come to an end following the conclusion of the 2021 season.

The announcement details each car, in addition to their current powertrain, will be fitted with the specified hybrid unit, giving each driver a reverse of supplementary hybrid power during the race and creating another element of race strategy.

In close conjunction with the TWG, the series is set to iron out the finite technical decisions during the next 12-18, with some of the current cars set to be fitted the hybrid unit during a period of testing and development throughout the 2020/21 seasons.

“We’re going through a very important and exciting time for this great championship, so I’m delighted to now confirm that the BTCC will be introducing hybrid energy as part of our evolution," said BTCC series director Alan Gow.
 
“This concept was very welcomed at our recent TWG meeting and now the real work begins as to the technical implementation. But different to hybrid development within the likes of Formula 1, this certainly shouldn’t – and won’t – be an ‘extreme’ technical exercise, but rather will be one which we will introduce within our NGTC technical regulations relatively seamlessly and very cost-effectively.
 
“Just as importantly, by incorporating hybrid it keeps the BTCC absolutely relevant to manufacturers, sponsors and the public… with the added benefit of further enhancing our great racing.

"Drivers will have a given reserve of additional hybrid power to use during each race, which will provide an extra element of race-craft and excitement to the fantastically close and entertaining racing that is the hallmark of the BTCC.”