Diesel to be outlawed in 2013 ETCC season

The SEAT León TDI engine is set to be removed from eligibility in the 2013 FIA European Touring Car Cup, restricting the competition to two-litre normally aspirated engines, as were used in the WTCC up until 2011.

The TDI engine won seven out of the eight rounds in this year’s Championship, with Fernando Monje taking six of those wins on his way to winning the FIA ETCC S2000 champion’s title.

The SEAT León TDI first took part in the 2009 ETCC event, driven by Norbert Michelisz. Michel Nykjaer would have the most success in 2010 with the car, winning all four races in which he took part, but after missing the first two races at Braga, he was unable to make up the points gap to Hartmann Racing’s James Thompson.

Fabrizio Giovanardi in the Hartmann Honda Accord managed to defeat the TDI of Pepe Oriola by just one point in the single race event at Salzburg in 2011.

In order to balance the field, it is understood the controversial diesel powered SEAT León TDI will not be permitted in the 2013 FIA ETCC season. The model was also effectively excluded from full season competition in the WTCC this year, with Tom Boardman given the only exemption, running the TDI up until the Portugal round due to the delay in SEAT providing the new 1.6 turbo engine.

The car was also excluded from the BTCC after SEAT Sport departed at the end of the 2008 season by a unanimous decision by the teams that remained, which prevented independent teams from entering the car in recent years.