WTCC looking at hybrid and ‘push-to-pass’ systems

The FIA World Touring Car Championship will evaluate new technologies such as hybrid systems and push-to-pass in the future, after first introducing a new phase for Super 2000 regulations in 2014.

WTCC Promoter Marcello Lotti has been expressing his vision of the future for the Championship, now heading into its ninth season this year. This year will be the last season with the current S2000 regulations, with new rules coming into force from 2014, at the behest of new manufacturers set to enter the WTCC, with Citroën having already voiced their interest, and with Renault also rumoured to be looking at an entry.

S2000 was first introduced in 2002 for the first year of the then FIA European Touring Car Championship, which later became the WTCC. S2000 has since been used in a number of other touring car series across the world, including the British, German, Italian, Hong Kong, Danish and Swedish championships.

“After eleven years under the same set of rules a face-lift was needed, and we were pleased that the FIA President Jean Todt shared this view and has been the first one to embrace the cause,” said Lotti.

“The original idea was to change in 2015, but then we decided to advance the application to 2014, on the wave of the interest shown by new manufacturers and also because the brands currently represented are about to launch new model cars that may be homologated in 2014.”

“We are not talking of a new generation of cars, but of a technical evolution of the Super 2000 that were launched back in 2002. The basic points are an increase of power and sound, a reduction of weight, bigger wheels and a more aggressive look. Then, in order to avoid a stream of requests for technical waivers, more freedom will be granted in the suspension homologation. Further implementations will be studied for a later application, such as the ‘push to pass’ and a common hybrid system. The FIA and the manufacturers are working on the final draft of the that will be finalized by the end of January and submitted to the World Motor Sport Council in March.”