Honda to also build NGTC engine for 2011
Team Dynamics are planning to run a custom built NGTC engine next season in their Honda Civic, and will also expand into the Porsche Carrera Cup GB support series.
Speaking to TouringCarTimes, Team Dynamics Team Principal Steve Neal confirmed the team’s plan to move to turbo power next season.
Engine partner Neil Brown Engineering will develop the 2.0 litre turbo-charged unit, replacing the 290bhp S2000 BTCC engine they use currently. The move echoes that of rival Team Aon, whose technical partners Mountune are also developing an NGTC petrol engine for them for next season (see story here).
The team plan to continue with the S2000 Honda Civic chassis next season as previously reported on TouringCarTimes, and will look at progressing to a car built to the new Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) platform in 2012.
The current Honda Civic road car model will be replaced at the end of 2011, and it makes sense for Team Dynamics to wait until then before deciding what car to build for 2012.
With teams unsure of how the balance between S2000 engines and a larger field of NGTC engines by different constructors will look next year, many teams are taking the opportunity to switch to the NGTC power unit early, with cars set to follow in 2012 and 2013. Super 2000 cars are set to be sanctioned from 2013 to ensure only teams running NGTC cars can compete for the championship.
The Swindon Racing Engines built unit, run by Pirtek Racing, Pinkney Motorsport & Special Tuning UK this season now regularly tops the speed charts behind the LPG S2000 turbo engine of Team Aon.
Team Dynamics have also confirmed they will expand into the Porsche Carrera Cup GB championship, and will compete against BTCC rivals Motorbase Performance (Airwaves BMW) and Triple Eight Race Engineering in the British Touring Car Championship’s premier support series. A few other BTCC teams are also said to be looking at a similar expansion next year.