TCR UK 2024

[Evantra]

2024 calendar - Donington and Knockhill out in favour of Thruxton and Silverstone International. About a months gap between each meeting.

13/14 April – Brands Hatch Indy
18/19 May – Snetterton 300
8 June – Oulton Park Island
13/14 July – Croft
17/18 August – Silverstone National
21/22 September – Thruxton
12/13 October – Silverstone International

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Evantra

2024 calendar - Donington and Knockhill out in favour of Thruxton and Silverstone International. About a months gap between each meeting.

13/14 April – Brands Hatch Indy
18/19 May – Snetterton 300
8 June – Oulton Park Island
13/14 July – Croft
17/18 August – Silverstone National
21/22 September – Thruxton
12/13 October – Silverstone International

Not a bad calendar really. Dropping Donington is an interesting decision. Interesting that they are going to Thruxton, that will really push the reliability of the cars to the limit. Nice to see the International circuit at Silverstone in use.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by SSmith

Not a bad calendar really. Dropping Donington is an interesting decision. Interesting that they are going to Thruxton, that will really push the reliability of the cars to the limit. Nice to see the International circuit at Silverstone in use.

Yeah, Donington seems quite a major omission. Will be interesting to see how the racing compares across the two Silverstone layouts.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Yeah, Donington seems quite a major omission. Will be interesting to see how the racing compares across the two Silverstone layouts.

The only reason I could think of for the lack of Donington was the BRSCCs reorganising of the 2024 British GT calendar. Doningtons 2nd British GT meeting got moved to an early September slot, which is what TCR UK has had for the past couple of years.

[antnee]

It is probably just down to availability, with BTCC visiting Donington twice again in 2024, plus 2 visits from British GT, GT Cup and Britcar/BEC - no announcements for Trucks, bikes or rallying.

[redshoes]

https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/2024-tcr-uk-gen-1-cup/
New 'Gen 1 Cup' sub-class for 2024. Open to older spec Audi, Cupra, Golf and Astra. Possibly more cars to be added later.

Seems like a sensible idea. There are a few drivers already on the grid who are unable or unwilling to upgrade to the latest equipment, and there are plenty of older cars on the market.

[Petoli]

Originally Posted by redshoes

https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/2024-tcr-uk-gen-1-cup/
New 'Gen 1 Cup' sub-class for 2024. Open to older spec Audi, Cupra, Golf and Astra. Possibly more cars to be added later.

Seems like a sensible idea. There are a few drivers already on the grid who are unable or unwilling to upgrade to the latest equipment, and there are plenty of older cars on the market.

I did think something like that would be a good idea a lot of those cars about

I take they are going to be selective about what a Gen 1 car is

Technically the I30N and Veloster would be a Gen1 car but they are still more completive then say the Golf, Astra and Cupra

If they were to add more models the FK2 civic would fit into the category what about the FK7 it has been replaced by the Fl5

How is Gen 1 car being defined, A new Lynk and Co was introduced this year so the old one is a Gen 1 car

The Cupra Leon raced by Mark Smith in the last round has been up for sale for a while on his had is was said it was one of the last built and it was built in 2019

What about a Hyundai I30 Built in 2018

If im thinking of car that could be eligible for this cup outside of the mentioned some of which have never raced in TCR UK

Alfa Romeo Giuletta, Honda Civic FK2, Kia Ceed, Peugeot 308 Racing Cup, Renault Megane, Subary WRX

Or would it make more sense to say all cars built before a certain date are eligible for this cup

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Petoli

I did think something like that would be a good idea a lot of those cars about

I take they are going to be selective about what a Gen 1 car is

My guess is that they will take each car on a case by case basis. The cars already named were done so because they were already racing in the series, and listing them now gives the driver an incentive to start planning for next year.

If someone approaches the organisers with a car new to the series, then they will assess and take a view.

Or would it make more sense to say all cars built before a certain date are eligible for this cup

I don't think that would be better. There's no obvious cut off date when gen-1 stopped and gen-2 started, as it's a evolution rather than a definitive change in spec. Different manufacturers developed their models at different rates.

[antnee]

They will just publish a list with the 'gen 1' cars, simple as.

[coffinpilot]

The complaints I heard at Donington when it was all being discussed by a couple of people running Gen 1 cars was that the (at least the Area) i30 has has upgrades that takes it out of Gen 1 specs. But if you were to buy the Ex Brad Kent or Scott Sumpton i30s for sale they're not upadated/upgraded.
Would become a minefield if provenance of upgrades was needed.
Only found that all out when I asked about Bruce Winfield having different headlights to some of the i30s I've seen.

[samchevron]

Bruce Winfield drives a slightly different spec of i30.

His car has the "2023" front end, previously used when the car was run by Target Competition in TCR Italy last year.

I spoke with him at Snetterton, wondering why the front end looked different to Leys and Shepherds. He was really happy to chat about it too.

[Andrew Abbott]

The only other car I've seen running the 'new' Hyundai i30 N lights as seen on Bruce Winfields car is that of Tim Rölleke at the end of the 2022 TCR Germany season.

Possibly just a lighting upgrade from the stock road car carried forward to the TCR car, rather than anything performance-related.

Even images of the cars Target Competition ran in TCR Italy last year don't suggest they used those headlights with that shape of daytime running light.

[coffinpilot]

Originally Posted by Andrew Abbott

The only other car I've seen running the 'new' Hyundai i30 N lights as seen on Bruce Winfields car is that of Tim Rölleke at the end of the 2022 TCR Germany season.

Possibly just a lighting upgrade from the stock road car carried forward to the TCR car, rather than anything performance-related.

Even images of the cars Target Competition ran in TCR Italy last year don't suggest they used those headlights with that shape of daytime running light.

Being a journo on the inside of Touring Car racing, do you know what upgrades (if any) that other teams have mentioned have been given to the i30? Or is it just a BoP thing mixed with sour grapes? Or is it just the cars suit UK circuits, because all I've heard when speaking to drivers of the newer Audi is complaints about the car not being able to get into top gear at most circuits leaving it compromised compared to the races on GP tracks on the continent.

[Evantra]

Stewart Lines just confirmed none of the Hyundais will be eligible for the Gen 1 cup.

[Evantra]

https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/restart-rac...anded-program/

So Restart Racing confirm Sumpton in an FL5 in TCR Europe next year.

Also confirm they will have a presence in TCR UK in 2024.

No mention of Smiley in these plans, yet.

[Sodemo]

I looked at some of the times comparing Brands Indy from the BTCC to the TCR. The TCR cars look a fraction quicker here, I know track conditions and weather play a part, but considering the TCR cars are between 30-50 bhp down on the BTCC cars thats pretty impressive. I guess we know which chassis are better in that regard...

[tocatrucky]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I looked at some of the times comparing Brands Indy from the BTCC to the TCR. The TCR cars look a fraction quicker here, I know track conditions and weather play a part, but considering the TCR cars are between 30-50 bhp down on the BTCC cars thats pretty impressive. I guess we know which chassis are better in that regard...

Before Hybrid came in, the weights and power were roughly similar. I guess the power gain is offset by the weight which leaves the time differences down to the engineering/design of the car, aero, tyres, and then the variables you've stated.

From what I've heard from drivers who have driven both, the TCR cars feel softer and more pliable, you can chuck them around with more confidence that it won't spit you off. That could explain why drivers who didn't exactly shine in BTCC have done well TCR? Bigger safety net in the handling window.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by tocatrucky

Before Hybrid came in, the weights and power were roughly similar. I guess the power gain is offset by the weight which leaves the time differences down to the engineering/design of the car, aero, tyres, and then the variables you've stated.

From what I've heard from drivers who have driven both, the TCR cars feel softer and more pliable, you can chuck them around with more confidence that it won't spit you off. That could explain why drivers who didn't exactly shine in BTCC have done well TCR? Bigger safety net in the handling window.

I’m surprised to hear that considering that the NGTC cars have a ton of body roll, I guess though that doesn’t help when hitting kerbs etc as that is a function of suspension springs and dampers, not the pivoting of the anti-roll bars.

[AnnoyedMoose]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I’m surprised to hear that considering that the NGTC cars have a ton of body roll, I guess though that doesn’t help when hitting kerbs etc as that is a function of suspension springs and dampers, not the pivoting of the anti-roll bars.

Surprised me too. TCR cars have more "normal" suspension than NGTC cars so, as I've read in the past, require stiffer setups to maintain geometry when loaded up than the inboard rocker suspension setup of an NGTC car.

[GCCheddaris]

It's going to be interesting to see if TCR put on better racing than the BTCC have at Thruxton, which, in particular, has come in for criticism for processional racing in recent seasons, even in reversed grid races.

[redshoes]

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2023...roup-for-2024/
WSC have now formally adopted TCR UK's 'Gen 1' class for other national competitions.

List is slightly extended from TCR UK's original, notably the old-shape Honda Civic. Other models don't currently run in the UK so wouldn't have been consider for the UK list.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta RF TCR
Audi RS 3 LMS (SEQ & DSG)
CUPRA TCR (SEQ & DSG)
Honda Civic Type R FK2 TCR
LADA Vesta TCR
Opel/Holden/Vauxhall Astra TCR
Peugeot 308 Racing Cup
SEAT Leon Cup Racer
Subaru WRX STi TCR
Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR (SEQ & DSG)

[Evantra]

I presume Restart didn’t know they’d be running in the BTCC next year when they announced plans for their entry earlier - will the unexpected BTCC programme and resultant expense mean they drop TCR UK?

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Evantra

I presume Restart didn’t know they’d be running in the BTCC next year when they announced plans for their entry earlier - will the unexpected BTCC programme and resultant expense mean they drop TCR UK?

I was wondering the same thing. I'd imagine if they can find an interested customer for TCR UK who can bring the necessary money then perhaps they may return - the FL5 didn't exactly shine though in 2023.

The TCR UK grid will definitely be different in 2024. No Smiley (BTCC), Sumpton (TCR Europe), D Wilson (Porsche Sprint Challenge GB), and Jaxon (Porsche Sprint Challenge GB). The Kents left TCR UK during 2023, there's rumours surrounding Boardley returning to the BTCC, and as ever there's a lot of TCR cars for sale online.

[Adamcas87]

The 2 astras will still run next year confirmed by d Wilson

Sumpton will do both UK and Europe

Jaxon did one round and threw his teddies out of pram and sold his car so not a big loss

Can’t see boardley going back to BTCC to run around at the back again

[coffinpilot]

From what was released it appears Bert Taylor will continue with the TCR side of things and his son running the BTCC?

Didn't Bert have some health issues in the last couple of years and say something along the lines of the BTCC being too stressful for him?