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BTCC Welcomes First Diesel Car |
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Thursday, 08 March 2007 |
Reigning BMW club series champion Rick Kerry has announced plans to enter the first diesel-powered car into Britain’s biggest motor racing series, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
Ipswich-based Kerry will enter a BMW 1 Series, acquired from BMW Motorsport in Germany, powered by diesel fuel using a turbo-charged engine. Five cars running on environmentally-friendly bio-ethanol fuel raced in last year’s BTCC but this will be first diesel-powered project to appear in the championship since it began in 1958.
The unique car is scheduled to make its first public appearance during
BTCC Media Day at the Rockingham circuit in Northamptonshire on Tuesday
13 March before it makes its competition debut in the championship’s
opening rounds at Brands Hatch on 1 April. The car will be run by
Kerry’s own Team AFM Racing outfit, newly set-up to concentrate on
developing the diesel technology.
Kerry, aged 35, said: “We anticipate we’ll have a bit less power than
the petrol and bio-ethanol cars but much more torque away from the grid
and out of corners – whether that will be a big enough gain to overcome
the power deficiency remains to be seen.
“Green fuels are very much a part of motor sport’s agenda and will play
a major part in the sport’s future. Diesel engines have progressed so
far in road cars and in racing circles this is technology still in its
early phases of development as opposed to being at the end of its
development.”
BTCC Series Director Alan Gow commented: “Any fan of the BTCC should
applaud this project and we all very much look forward to seeing the
car make its debut in the BTCC. I’m sure it will enjoy a considerable
following amongst our crowds and TV audiences.
“It was only a matter of time before someone took advantage of the
championship’s profile to showcase diesel technology, just as several
teams did to their great advantage with bio-ethanol in 2006. We wish
Rick’s team the very best of luck.”
Kerry believes the 1 Series has the potential to cause a few shock
results – in wet conditions last year its nimble handling enabled it to
beat an entry list of touring cars in Germany – running to similar FIA
Super 2000 technical regulations as used in the BTCC.
He added: “At twistier circuits like Brands Hatch and Knockhill we hope
we’ll be pretty strong. At longer European race circuits, with the 1
Series running in endurance specification, lap times were marginally
slower than S2000 spec cars. In sprint-spec, and with the BTCC field
now running to S2000 regulations, our lap times should be competitive,
hopefully putting us in touch with the front runners.
“We’re very much entering unchartered waters here so there are a lot of
unkowns and we certainly expect a few tears along the way, but it’s
also a very exciting project with which to be involved. We are all very
determined to make this work.”
For more information about the BTCC visit the championship's official website http://www.btcc.net/
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