Next Generation Touring Car


Next Generation Touring Car, also known as NGTC and by its Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile designation TCN-1, is an FIA and TOCA specification and classification for production based race cars. The specification covers national level touring car racing as the successor of BTC Touring category. The goal of the limited choices in engines and parts in the NGTC classification is to allow more manufacturers and privateers to race by reducing the cost of a competitive car and to reduce reliance on the increasingly expensive Super 2000 equipment. The only significant differences between different models is the external body shells and the use of front- or rear-wheel drive; the suspension, brakes and transmissions are common to all cars, and engines are of uniform performance.
The specification was created for use in the British Touring Car Championship and was phased in over three years from the 2011 British Touring Car Championship season. NGTC engines were first used in the 2010 season by Pinkney Motorsport, Pirtek Racing and Special Tuning UK.
The introduction of these new technical regulations were designed to fulfil the following criteria:
  • Dramatically reduce the design, build and running costs of the cars and engines
  • Maintain present levels of performance until 2013 to ensure performance parity with current S2000 cars until that point
  • Reduce the potential for significant performance disparities between cars
  • ‘Future-proof’ the regulations by being able to easily modify the various performance parameters
  • Reduce reliance on WTCC S2000 equipment, due to increasing costs/complexity and concerns as to its future sustainability/direction
In December 2014 the FIA ratified support for technical regulations used in BTCC, designating the specification as TCN-1. The specification is a model for higher class national touring car championships to follow.

Specification

Engine

The engine is a 300+ bhp 2 L turbo-charged direct injection unit using fly by wire throttle control. It is intended to have a low cost to develop, build, buy and maintain. Teams can decide whether build their own unit to the spec, or teams can lease/purchase a TOCA-BTCC engine ready built. The engines have an over-boost function allowing a brief increase in power output.
The NGTC engine had its first run in February 2010, during testing for the 2010 season. Pirtek Racing's Vauxhall Vectra was fitted with the engine, which performed well during a week's testing at Snetterton.
During the 2010 BTCC Season the NGTC engine was used by three teams; Pirtek Racing and Pinkney Motorsport, using a Vauxhall Vectra, and Special Tuning using a SEAT Leon.

Drivetrain

Suspension

  • Full front sub-frame incorporating suspension, brakes, transmission and engine location that attaches to specified roll cage locations.
  • Rear sub-frame that attaches to specified roll cage locations.
  • Multi-adjustable double wishbone suspension with coil-over dampers.

Bodyshell

  • 2, 3, 4 or 5 door of a minimum 4.4m length..
  • Equalised width of 1875mm
  • Specified front aerodynamic device incorporating flat floor, apertures for radiator, brake cooling ducts, intercooler and side exits.
  • Specified rear wing profile.
  • Base vehicle must be freely on sale in the UK through the manufacturer's normal dealer network
  • Specified 18" centre-lock wheel

Brakes

  • AP Racing specified package
  • AP Racing specified pedal-box

Electronics

Target Price

The target price for a complete car, less engine was expected to be around £100,000 depending on final components used by each team and the running cost. The cost for a TOCA-BTCC Engine will be £25,000 with the option to be leased. However the target price is a lot higher than expected - it was reported that the car, less engine is around £200,000.

Models

The following Next Generation Touring Cars have competed in championships:

Series

Current

Series currently allowing cars built to NGTC rules to race:

Former