The Car

A New Chapter

After two seasons in the TCRUK championship running Honda Civics, the team have made the switch to the British Touring Car Championship for the 2024 season and beyond. Our 2024 challenger is a pair of Cupra Leon’s that have been capable of frequently hitting the podium and claiming silverware in recent seasons. The team developed the car further over the winter to improve the airflow and keep the cars 2.0L turbo engine, and Cosworth hybrid batteries in their optimal operating window.

Explore the Tech Specs

2024 Technical Specifications

The Cupra Leon BTCC car is powered by a 2.0L engine M-Sport engine which is boosted by Cosworth Hybrid power. The Cupra features a revised aero package for this season as well as a host of standardised parts which is designed to keep the racing close and cost-effective for the teams.

Technical Specification

All cars in the BTCC have been built to the same NGTC regulations. These technical regulations are designed to dramatically reduce the design, build and running costs of the cars and engines.

In 2022, the BTCC became the first major touring car series to implement hybrid power as the new hybrid era was launched, alongside the introduction of the new M-Sport TOCA engine.

For the 2024 campaign, several enhancements have been made to the hybrid system to ensure the deployment carries a greater impact.

NGTC allows independent teams to compete on a level playing field against manufacturer-backed efforts by keeping costs down whilst at the same time rewarding precise engineering and all-important split-second strategy.

The foundation for NGTC is an emphasis on some common components – turbo, wastegate, intercoolers, ECU (engine control unit), instrumentation and dash, power management system, six-speed sequential gearbox, fuel tanks, differential, subframe, steering, brakes, clutch, wheels, dampers and suspension.

An overview of the Technical Specifications are below:

Engine

350+bhp 2-litre turbo-charged direct-injection engine with ‘fly by wire’ throttle control
Common Owen Developments turbo charger and PWR intercooler

Hybrid

The electric motor generator unit (MGU) is incorporated into the BTCC Xtrac gearbox for better packaging and also to satisfy the requirement for the cars to run on full electric power when exiting the pits the first time in each session
The MGU has its own cooling system
The MGU has no impact on the turbo engine or its exhaust sound as it is deployed through the gearbox
The 48v battery is contained in a crash proof structure and has its own cooling system. It is mounted on the floor of the passenger compartment, inboard of everything in the car and is inside its own carbon-fibre safety cell designed to withstand a 60g impact
The entire vehicle strategy system has been packaged into one unit. This means that the battery management, motor control strategies, cooling and all of the control surrounding the internal combustion engine is managed by the Cosworth Antares 8 ECU (Electronics Control Unit)
Battery charging (if needed between races) is carried out via a 240v wall socket, taking less than one hour to be fully charged. However, normally the hybrid battery regeneration during the race is more than sufficient to keep the battery fully charged

Drivetrain

Xtrac 6 speed sequential-shift gearbox and differential
AP Racing carbon clutch with steel cover
FWD Drive-train layout

Suspension

RML designed full front sub-frame incorporating suspension, brakes, transmission and engine location that attaches to specified roll cage locations. Multi-adjustable double wishbone suspension with SPA Penske coil-over dampers
RML designed rear sub-frame that attaches to specified roll cage locations. Multi-adjustable double wishbone suspension with SPA Penske coil-over dampers
Hydraulic Power Steering

Bodyshell

5 door 2020 Cupra Leon
Equalised width of 1890mm
Specified front aerodynamic device incorporating flat floor, apertures for radiator, brake cooling ducts, intercooler and side exits
Specified rear wing profile
Stylised front & rear wheel-arch extensions
Increased driver protection
Latest specification FIA Homologated seat
Side exhaust permitted
80 litre ATL fuel tank
Lifeline fire extinguisher system
Equal base vehicle weights – 1280 kilos

Wheels/Tyres

Specified Rimstock 18” centre-lock wheel
Goodyear: Hard, Medium, Soft and Wet compounds

Brakes

AP Racing specified package
AP Racing specified pedal-box

Electronics

The entire vehicle strategy system has been packaged into one unit from 2022. This means that the battery management, motor control strategies, cooling and all of the control surrounding the internal combustion engine is managed by the Cosworth Antares 8 ECU (Electronics Control Unit)
Common power management box and switch panels
Common Cosworth wiring loom design
Judicial camera system to be run by all cars

Sustainable Fuel

From 2022 the BTCC will use 20% sustainable fuel
TOCA has selected a fuel that is considerably more sustainable than that which has recently been introduced to petrol station forecourts throughout the UK (E10).
The BTCC’s new-for-2022 fuel – designated Hiperflo® R20 – has a total of 20% renewable components, comprising 15% second generation ethanol content and 5% of renewable hydrocarbons.
It is calculated by the manufacturer that this will give approximately an 18% reduction in greenhouse gasses when compared to current pump fuel, significantly lowering the fuel’s impact on the environment.