| Touring car racing is a general term for a number | | | | |
| of distinct auto racing competitions in | | | | Germany |
| heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in | | | | Since 1997, and nowadays still on the over 20 km |
| Britain, Germany, Scandinavia, and Australia. | | | | long famous old Nurburgring, in average over 150 |
| | | | touring cars compete in the VLN series of ten |
| Characteristics of a touring car | | | | typically 4 hour long races. Cars range from old |
| While rules vary from country to country, most | | | | 100 hp road legal compacts to 500 hp Porsche |
| series require that the competitors start with a | | | | 996 and even modified DTM cars (1250 kg). Most |
| standard body shell, but virtually every other | | | | entrants of the 24 Hours Nurburgring collect |
| component is allowed to be heavily modified for | | | | experience here. |
| racing, including engines, suspension, brakes, | | | | |
| wheels and tyres. Wings are usually added to the | | | | Australia/New Zealand/China/Bahrain |
| front and rear of the cars. Regulations are usually | | | | Formerly the Australian Touring Car Championship. |
| designed to limit costs by banning some of the | | | | The current formula was devised in 1993 and |
| more exotic technologies available (for instance, | | | | branded at 'V8 Supercars' in 1997. The series |
| many series insist on a "control tyre" that all | | | | features grids of 31 650+ hp (480 kW) Ford |
| competitors must use) and keep the racing close | | | | Falcons and Holden Commodores. The weight limit |
| (sometimes by a "lead trophy" where winning a | | | | for a V8 Supercar is 1350kg. At one time the |
| race requires the winner's car to be heavier for | | | | cars were billed as the "biggest, heaviest, fastest |
| subsequent races). In this, it shares some | | | | and most powerful" of all touring cars. In terms of |
| similarity with the American NASCAR series, but | | | | outright power, size and weight this likely still true |
| raced exclusively on road courses and street | | | | however DTM vehicles are probably faster around |
| circuits rather than the American series' primarily | | | | a track. However, V8 Supercars provide the |
| oval tracks. | | | | closest racing of any touring car category, with |
| Whilst not nearly as fast as Formula One, the | | | | the top 20 usually qualifying within 1 second of |
| similarity of the cars both to each other and to | | | | one another! |
| fans' own vehicles makes for entertaining, | | | | The race cars themselves are derived from |
| well-supported racing. The lesser impact of | | | | production bodyshells and panels, which are used |
| aerodynamics also means that following cars have | | | | rather than space-frame chassis. Both Holden and |
| a much easier time of passing than F1, and the | | | | Ford have factory backed teams and invest |
| more substantial bodies of the cars makes the | | | | heavily in the sport. |
| occasional nudging for overtaking much more | | | | As the series has grown, major international |
| acceptable as part of racing. | | | | motorsport groups have involved themselves. |
| As well as short "sprint" races, many touring car | | | | Several teams now benefit from the involvement |
| series include one or more "endurance" races, | | | | of Tom Walkinshaw, Triple 8 Engineering and |
| which last anything from 3 to 24 hours and are a | | | | Prodrive. Also, in 2005 the Championship had its |
| test of reliability and pit crews as much as car | | | | first non Australian/NZ round, held at the Shanghai |
| and driver speed. | | | | Grand Prix Circuit. This was followed in 2006 with |
| | | | a multi year deal to compete at the Bahrain |
| Differences between touring cars and sports cars | | | | Grand Prix Circuit. The growth of the series has |
| For the casual observer, there can be a great | | | | seen motorsport become equal with Rugby, as |
| deal of confusion when it comes to classifying | | | | Australia's 3rd most watched sport. |
| closed-wheel racing cars as 'touring cars' or 'sports | | | | Due to its close, high intensity racing, V8 |
| cars' (also known as GT cars). In truth, there is | | | | Supercars can lay claim to providing the best |
| often very little technical difference between the | | | | Touring Car category in the world. |
| two classifications, and nomenclature is often a | | | | V8 Supercar Championship Series incorporates |
| matter of tradition. | | | | the famous Bathurst 1000 in the championship. |
| In general, however, touring cars are based upon | | | | Drivers are paired up for the big 'enduro', and it is |
| 4-door 'family' sedans or, more rarely, 2-door | | | | weighted equally to the championship points |
| coupe cars, while GT racing cars are based upon | | | | Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series, home of |
| more exotic vehicles, such as Ferraris or | | | | up-and-coming drivers hoping to break into the |
| Lamborghinis. Underneath the bodywork, a | | | | main game as well as loyal privateers. |
| Touring Car is often more closely related to its | | | | |
| road-going origins, using many original components | | | | British Touring Car Championship |
| and mountings, while a top-flight GT car is often a | | | | United Kingdom/Republic of Ireland |
| purpose-built tube-frame racing chassis underneath | | | | The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), |
| a cosmetic bodyshell. Many Touring Car series, | | | | currently competes at nine circuits in the UK and |
| such as the BTCC and the now-defunct JTCC | | | | Republic of Ireland, with cars built either to BTCC |
| distinguish themselves from sports-car racing by | | | | or European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) |
| featuring front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and | | | | specification, with ballast being used to equalise |
| rear-wheel drive cars with smaller engines. | | | | the two types. Cars are 2.0 Litre saloons with |
| However, while in general Touring Cars have a | | | | around 270 bhp and can be Front wheel drive,4 |
| lower technical level than sports cars, there are | | | | wheel drive or Rear wheel drive. There are |
| notable exceptions to the rule. The Deutsche | | | | currently only two manufacturer teams (Vauxhall, |
| Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) is considered to be | | | | who run Astras built to BTCC rules, and SEAT, |
| one of the most technologically advanced racing | | | | who enter "Super 2000"-spec Leons) although |
| series in the world, with cars that, underneath | | | | because BTCC budgets have been kept relatively |
| their four-door shells, are more purebred racing | | | | low there is a strong independent and privateer |
| machines than most FIA-GT vehicles. | | | | presence in the championship. Manufacturers |
| | | | represented by privateers include Vauxhall, Honda, |
| DTM | | | | Lexus, BMW, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo and MG. |
| Germany/Europe | | | | Prior to 2001 the BTCC was contested by cars |
| The DTM series, the initials standing for Deutsche | | | | built to 2.0 litre supertouring regulations and had in |
| Tourenwagen Meisterschaft until 1996, then | | | | its heyday up to 9 different manufacturers. It |
| following a hiatus, revived as Deutsche | | | | was considered to be the best touring car |
| Tourenwagen Masters in 2000, features advanced | | | | championship in the world, as stated by Joachim |
| purpose built V8-powered space frame machines, | | | | Winkelhock on several occasions, and many of |
| covered with carbon fibre bodyshapes resemblant | | | | champions of that era now race in the World |
| of the manufacturers' road machine. In order to | | | | Touring Car Championship (WTCC). |
| lower costs, the engine power is limited to 470 | | | | |
| hp, and transmissions, brakes and tyres (Dunlop) | | | | World Touring Car Championship |
| are standard parts for all. Also, dimension and | | | | Worldwide |
| aerodynamics are equalized. The approx. 1050 kg | | | | Modern World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) |
| light DTM cars corner incredibly quickly and wear | | | | started in 2005, replacing the old European Touring |
| spectacular bodykits incorporating huge wheel | | | | Car Championship. It is generally considered to be |
| arches and diffusors. | | | | the most prestigious touring car championship in |
| Easily Europe's premier series, DTM features | | | | the world. |
| many ex-F1 drivers like Jean Alesi, Heinz-Harald | | | | Running at major international racing facilities, this |
| Frentzen and especially Mika Hakkinen since the | | | | series is heavily supported by BMW, Alfa Romeo |
| 2005. The European locale makes this series | | | | and SEAT, with Ford, Chevrolet and Honda also |
| appealing for aspiring drivers, who didn't quite | | | | showing limited support. It features 2L cars built |
| make F1, as they compete alongside legends of | | | | to Super 2000 regulations based of FIA Group N. |
| the sport. | | | | Following the trend of recent FIA rules, cost |
| More than 20 works-backed entries of Opel | | | | control is a major theme in the technical |
| Vectra GTS, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class | | | | regulation. Engines are limited to 2000 cc. Many |
| contested the 2005 DTM series. Opel will not | | | | technologies that have featured in production cars |
| return in 2006, though, as GM has to cut costs. | | | | are not allowed, for example variable valve timing, |
| This puts the whole series in jeopardy for 2007 | | | | variable intake geometry, ABS brakes and |
| as TV contracts ask for 3 marques.[citation | | | | traction control. |
| needed] | | | | |