The FIA has launched a new entry level touring car platform that will share technical regulations with rallying, providing a ‘cost-effective’ solution towards the base of the motorsport pyramid.
TC Lite will consist of two tiers – TCL4 and TCL5 – whose cars will be built to the same parameters as existing Rally4 and Rally5 machinery. This could open the door for manufacturers to build one car that that is easily adaptable for both circuit and rallying applications, saving on the need for separate development programmes. Current Rally4 cars include the Peugeot 208, Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa and Renault Clio.
The main Rally4 and Rally5 regulations will remain unchanged, but an appendix will detail the modifications that can make a car eligible for each stage of TC Lite. The new two-part touring car platform will sit beneath TCR in the global touring car hierarchy.
The FIA has stated that adaptations for TC Lite will be ‘kept to a minimum’ for cost control reasons, while competitors will be provided a ‘level playing field’ that has not yet been fully defined. The minimum weight of cars will be adjusted to factor in the removal of specialist rally equipment such as spare wheels, handheld fire extinguishers and other tools.
TC Lite cars will require the use of safety netting around the driver. The co-driver’s seat may be retained or replaced with equivalent ballast. Cars will use slick racing tyres, rather than the treaded tyres required for rallying.
‘Introducing a pyramid structure to touring car racing is something that has been our aim for quite a while,’ said FIA Touring Car Commission president Alan Gow. ‘TCR is a proven customer racing platform that works well both in national-level series and in world-level touring car racing. However, we have been missing an accessible entry-level platform. The introduction of the TC Lite ruleset fills that gap.
‘Having the very same cars in rallying and touring car racing has plenty of benefits – it is cost-effective, sustainable, provides the competitors with a level playing field and creates opportunities for more available seat time. At the same time, the manufacturers and their customer racing programmes will be able to grow their business as the market of these cars will naturally broaden.’
TCL4 will sit above TCL5 in the touring car pyramid. The quicker cars will have a power-to-weight ratio of approximately 5.1kg/bhp while the TCL5s will produce around 6kg/bhp. Both categories permit both naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines. TCL4 will allow up to 2-litre NA and 1.3-litre turbos, while TCL5 cars will be 1.6-litre NA and 1.3-litre turbo. Both types of car will shift through a sequential gearbox.
‘The bottom tiers of the FIA Rally Pyramid have proven to be excellent entry-level classes in rallying, therefore broadening the use of these cars and making them compatible with circuit racing makes a lot of sense,’ said FIA Road Sport president Andrew Wheatley. ‘This is a bit like in the group N days when you would sometimes see the same front-wheel-drive cars taking part in different disciplines.
‘This is also good news for drivers at the early stages of their careers who, to develop their skills, look for as much time behind the wheel as possible. Having one car eligible for different types of events offers exactly that. A universal technical platform like this one also has the potential to draw new people to motor sport and – long term – should contribute to increased motor sport participation globally.’
In addition to sharing regulations with Rally5, the TCL5 touring car platform will be open to Rally5-kit cars. This enables National Sporting Authorities to approve cars that have been developed by local tuners. According to the FIA, this will ‘broaden the market’ by allowing local importers to promote certain car models in their domestic market.
