NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Touring car racing

Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Britain, Germany, Scandinavia, and Australia. Racing cars redirects here. ... Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe and includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. ...

Characteristics of a touring car

While rules vary from country to country, most series require that the competitors start with a standard body shell, but virtually every other component is allowed to be heavily modified for racing, including engines, suspension, brakes, wheels and tyres. Wings are usually added to the front and rear of the cars. Regulations are usually designed to limit costs by banning some of the more exotic technologies available (for instance, many series insist on a "control tyre" that all competitors must use) and keep the racing close (sometimes by a "lead trophy" where winning a race requires the winner's car to be heavier for subsequent races). In this, it shares some similarity with the American NASCAR series, but raced exclusively on road courses and street circuits rather than the American series' primarily oval tracks. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ...

Whilst not nearly as fast as Formula One, the similarity of the cars both to each other and to fans' own vehicles makes for entertaining, well-supported racing. The lesser impact of aerodynamics also means that following cars have a much easier time of passing than F1, and the more substantial bodies of the cars makes the occasional nudging for overtaking much more acceptable as part of racing. Formula One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

As well as short "sprint" races, many touring car series include one or more "endurance" races, which last anything from 3 to 24 hours and are a test of reliability and pit crews as much as car and driver speed.

Differences between touring cars and sports cars

For the casual observer, there can be a great deal of confusion when it comes to classifying closed-wheel racing cars as 'touring cars' or 'sports cars' (also known as GT cars). In truth, there is often very little technical difference between the two classifications, and nomenclature is often a matter of tradition. GTP sports cars racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 1991 Sports car racing is a form of circuit racing, with cars that have two seats and enclosed wheel wells. ...

In general, however, touring cars are based upon 4-door 'family' sedans or, more rarely, 2-door coupe cars, while GT racing cars are based upon more exotic vehicles, such as Ferraris or Lamborghinis. Underneath the bodywork, a Touring Car is often more closely related to its road-going origins, using many original components and mountings, while a top-flight GT car is often a purpose-built tube-frame racing chassis underneath a cosmetic bodyshell. Many Touring Car series, such as the BTCC and the now-defunct JTCC distinguish themselves from sports-car racing by featuring front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive cars with smaller engines. Ferrari is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello and Modena, Italy. ... Automobili Lamborghini S.p. ... Superleggera, also called tube-frame, is an automobile construction technology used in classic sports cars in the middle of the 20th Century. ... The current BTCC logo The British Touring Car Championship is a series of races for saloon cars which is held each year in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ... The Japanese Touring Car Championship (abbr: JTCC, officially known as All Japan Touring Car Championship, Japanese name: å…¨æ—¥æœ¬ãƒ„ãƒ¼ãƒªãƒ³ã‚°ã‚«ãƒ¼é¸æ‰‹æ¨©), was a series of championship for touring cars held in Japan. ... Front-wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... This article is missing citation of sources. ... Rear-wheel drive (or RWD for short) is an engine/transmission layout used in automobiles. ...

However, while in general Touring Cars have a lower technical level than sports cars, there are notable exceptions to the rule. The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) is considered to be one of the most technologically advanced racing series in the world, with cars that, underneath their four-door shells, are more purebred racing machines than most FIA-GT vehicles. The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM, German Touringcar Masters) is a motorsport series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe. ... The FÃ©dÃ©ration Internationale de lAutomobile, commonly referred to as the FIA, is a non-profit association established on June 20, 1904 to represent the interest of motoring organisations and motor car users. ...

Series of competition

DTM

The DTM series, the initials standing for Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft until 1996, then following a hiatus, revived as Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters in 2000, features advanced purpose built V8-powered space frame machines, covered with carbon fibre bodyshapes resemblant of the manufacturers' road machine. In order to lower costs, the engine power is limited to 470 hp, and transmissions, brakes and tyres (Dunlop) are standard parts for all. Also, dimension and aerodynamics are equalized. The approx. 1050 kg light DTM cars corner incredibly quickly and wear spectacular bodykits incorporating huge wheel arches and diffusors. The current DTM logo DTM was the initials for the former Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (German Touringcar Championship), held from 1984 to 1996, a motorsport series based in Germany, with additional rounds elsewhere in Europe. ... The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM, German Touringcar Masters) is a motorsport series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration, although modern automotive versions use a 90 degree block angle. ... Simplified space frame roof with the half-octahedron highlighted in blue A space frame is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. ... Carbon fiber composite is a strong, light and very expensive material. ...

Easily Europe's premier series, DTM features many ex-F1 drivers like Jean Alesi, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and especially Mika Häkkinen since the 2005. The European locale makes this series appealing for aspiring drivers, who didn't quite make F1, as they compete alongside legends of the sport. Formula One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Jean Alesi, (born Giovanni Alesi June 11, 1964) is a French racing driver of both French and Sicilian origins. ... Heinz-Harald Frentzen, born May 18, 1967, is a German racing driver most famous for his career in Formula One. ... Mika Pauli HÃ¤kkinen ( ) (born September 28, 1968 in Helsingin maalaiskunta) is a Finnish racing driver and two-time Formula One champion. ...

More than 20 works-backed entries of Opel Vectra GTS, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class contested the 2005 DTM series. Opel will not return in 2006, though, as GM has to cut costs. This puts the whole series in jeopardy for 2007 as TV contracts ask for 3 marques.^{[citation needed]} The Opel Vectra is a large family car produced by Opel, the main European subsidiary of General Motors. ... The Audi A4 is a compact executive car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1995. ... The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is an entry-level luxury car / compact executive car produced by the German automaker DaimlerChrysler. ...

Nürburgring VLN Endurance racing Series

Since 1997, and nowadays still on the over 20 km long famous old Nürburgring, in average over 150 touring cars compete in the VLN series of ten typically 4 hour long races. Cars range from old 100 hp road legal compacts to 500 hp Porsche 996 and even modified DTM cars (1250 kg). Most entrants of the 24 Hours Nürburgring collect experience here. The 24 Hours NÃ¼rburgring is an Endurance racing event on the NÃ¼rburgring, inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona. ... Detailed NÃ¼rburgring map showing both the Nordschleife and the new GP section. ... The 24 Hours NÃ¼rburgring is an Endurance racing event on the NÃ¼rburgring, inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona. ... Porsche 996 with aero kit The Porsche Type 996 is a sports car, and the version of the Porsches 911 Carrera model sold from 1998 (as a 1999 model) through to 2004. ... The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM, German Touringcar Masters) is a motorsport series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe. ... The 24 Hours NÃ¼rburgring is antouring car Endurance racing event on the NÃ¼rburgring, inspired by the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Spa 24 Hours and the 24 Hours of Daytona. ...

V8 Supercar

Formerly the Australian Touring Car Championship. The current formula was devised in 1993 (based on Group A regulations) and branded at 'V8 Supercars' in 1997. The series features grids of 31 650+ hp (480 kW) Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores. The weight limit for a V8 Supercar is 1350kg. At one time the cars were billed as the "biggest, heaviest, fastest and most powerful" of all touring cars. In terms of outright power, size and weight this likely still true however DTM vehicles are probably faster around a track. However, V8 Supercars provide the closest racing of any touring car category, with the top 20 usually qualifying within 1 second of one another. V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category. ... V8 Supercars in action V8 Supercar is the main motor racing series in Australia. ... hp, see HP (disambiguation) The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... This article is about the Australian car model. ... The Holden Commodore is a car built by the Holden division of General Motors (GM) in Australia. ...

The race cars themselves are derived from production bodyshells and panels, which are used rather than space-frame chassis. Both Holden and Ford have factory backed teams and invest heavily in the sport.

As the series has grown, major international motorsport groups have involved themselves. Several teams now benefit from the involvement of Tom Walkinshaw, Triple 8 Engineering and Prodrive. Also, in 2005 the Championship had its first non Australian/NZ round, held at the Shanghai Grand Prix Circuit. This was followed in 2006 with a multi year deal to compete at the Bahrain Grand Prix Circuit. The growth of the series has seen motorsport become equal with Rugby League, as Australia's 3rd most watched sport. The series incorporates the famous Bathurst 1000 in the championship. Because of the longer distance, regulations require two drivers for this race and the Sandown 500, which count for extra championship points. Hell Corner of the Mount Panorama Circuit The Bathurst 1000 is a 1000-kilometre motor race for touring cars, conducted each October at the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. ... The Sandown 500 is a 500 kilometre motor race for touring cars, conducted at the Sandown Raceway Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ...

British Touring Car Championship

The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), currently competes at nine circuits in the UK and Republic of Ireland, with cars built either to BTCC or European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) specification, with ballast being used to equalise the two types. Cars are 2.0 Litre saloons with around 270 bhp and can be Front wheel drive,4 wheel drive or Rear wheel drive. There are currently only two manufacturer teams (Vauxhall and SEAT, who enter "Super 2000"-spec Vectras and Leons respectively) although because BTCC budgets have been kept relatively low there is a strong independent and privateer presence in the championship. Manufacturers represented by privateers include Vauxhall, Honda, Lexus, BMW, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo and MG. The current BTCC logo The British Touring Car Championship is a series of races for saloon cars which is held each year in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ... The European Touring Car Championship was an international motor racing competition organized by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second on between 2000 and 2004. ... For information about the football team see Vauxhall Motors F.C. Vauxhall Motors is a UK car company. ... An old SEAT 600 SEAT is a Volkswagen subsidiary and one of the leading car makers in Spain. ...

Prior to 2001 the BTCC was contested by cars built to 2.0 litre supertouring regulations and had in its heyday up to 9 different manufacturers. It was considered to be the best touring car championship in the world, as stated by Joachim Winkelhock on several occasions, and many of champions of that era now race in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). Between 2002 and 2006 the BTCC ran its own Touring class with Super Production/Super 2000 cars making up the numbers; the Touring class is now being phased out (only privateers are eligible to run old Touring cars) with the intention of a pure Super 2000 series. Joachim Winkelhock (born 24 October 1960), a German motor racing driver. ... WTCC redirects here. ...

World Touring Car Championship

Modern World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) started in 2005, evolving from the reborn European Touring Car Championship. It is generally considered to be the most prestigious touring car championship in the world. WTCC redirects here. ... The European Touring Car Championship was an international motor racing competition organized by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second on between 2000 and 2004. ...

Running at major international racing facilities, this series is heavily supported by BMW, Alfa Romeo and SEAT, with Ford, Chevrolet and Honda also showing limited support. It features 2L cars built to Super 2000 regulations based of FIA Group N. The world-wide recognized term, BMW, abbreviated for Bayerische Motoren Werke or in English Bavarian Motor Works, is an independent German company and manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. ... Alfa Romeo is an Italian automobile manufacturing company, founded as Darracq Italiana by Cavaliere Ugo Stella, an aristocrat from Milan in partnership with the French automobile firm of Alexandre Darracq. ... An old SEAT 600 SEAT is a Volkswagen subsidiary and one of the leading car makers in Spain. ... Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and the worlds third largest automaker after Toyota and General Motors, based on worldwide vehicle sales. ... Chevrolet (IPA: ÊƒÉ›v. ... The logo of the Honda automobiles The logo of the Honda motorcycles Honda Motor Co. ... In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group N referred to a set of regulations providing a set of rules for standard production vehicles for competition, often referred to as the Showroom Class. This contrasts with the Group A all-out competition production-derived vehicles. ...

Following the trend of recent FIA rules, cost control is a major theme in the technical regulation. Engines are limited to 2000 cc. Many technologies that have featured in production cars are not allowed, for example variable valve timing, variable intake geometry, ABS brakes and traction control.

Other series

The Americas

The TC 2000 is a series of races for tourism cars which is held each year in Argentina. ... The SPEED World Challenge is an American auto racing series that is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America. ... Stock Car Brasil (or Campeonato Brasileiro de Stock Car) is a series of auto racing in Brazil. ...

Europe

ADAC (German: ) is Germanys largest automobile club with 15. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... DMSB or Deutscher Motor Sport Bund e. ... The European Touring Car Championship was an international motor racing competition organized by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second on between 2000 and 2004. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... The Campionato Italiano Superturismo or the Italian Superturismo Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in Italy and France. ... The Castrol-HAUGG-Cup (abbrev. ... Detailed NÃ¼rburgring map showing both the Nordschleife and the new GP section. ... A GleichmÃ¤ÃŸigkeitsprÃ¼fung (abbrev. ...

Asia

Kenneth Look in his Honda Integra DC5, 2006 The Hong Kong Touring Car Championship (é¦™æ¸¯æˆ¿è»ŠéŒ¦æ¨™è³½) was established by the Hong Kong Automobile Association in 2002. ... The Asian Touring Car Championship is a FIA-sanctioned touring car racing series held each year in several Asian nations such as Malaysia, China and Indonesia. ... The New Zealand V8 Touring Car Series (NZV8s) is the leading motorsport category in New Zealand. ... The Philippine Touring Car Championships (PTCC), formerly the Philippine National Touring Car Championships, is the only touring car series running under the banner of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP). ...

Previous series

The FÃ©dÃ©ration Internationale de lAutomobile, commonly referred to as the FIA, is a non-profit association established in 1904 to represent the interest of motoring organisations and motor car users. ... In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. ... The initialism DTC can stand for one of several things: Direct Torque Control, a method to control electric motor with very good torque dynamics Danish Touring Car Championship, Danish touring car racing series Deutsche Tourenwagen Challenge, a former German touring car racing series Doctoral Training Centre The Delhi Transport Corporation... The European Touring Car Championship was an international motor racing competition organized by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second on between 2000 and 2004. ... DMSB or Deutscher Motor Sport Bund e. ... The Japanese Touring Car Championship (abbr: JTCC, officially known as All Japan Touring Car Championship, Japanese name: å…¨æ—¥æœ¬ãƒ„ãƒ¼ãƒªãƒ³ã‚°ã‚«ãƒ¼é¸æ‰‹æ¨©), was a series of championship for touring cars held in Japan. ... Norwegian Touring Car Championship commonly called (NTCC). ...

Other notable competitions

Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Touring car racing The Spa 24 Hours is an automobile race held annually in Belgium at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, colloquially known as Spa. ... The 24 Hours NÃ¼rburgring is antouring car Endurance racing event on the NÃ¼rburgring, inspired by the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Spa 24 Hours and the 24 Hours of Daytona. ... Detailed NÃ¼rburgring map showing both the Nordschleife and the new GP section. ... The 24 Hours NÃ¼rburgring is an Endurance racing event on the NÃ¼rburgring, inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona. ... Introduction Originally conceived in 1954 as an amateur event for local motoring enthusiasts, the Macau Grand Prix is today a race meeting to which the worlds leading riders and drivers vie for entries. ... The WTCC in Macau, 2005 The Guia Race (æ±æœ›æ´‹å¤§è³½) is an international touring car race run during the Macau Grand Prix weekend. ... The Wellington 500 is a 500km street race for touring cars which took place at Wellington City in Wellington, New Zealand. ... For other uses, see Wellington (disambiguation). ...

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