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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">BTCC</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">10/04/2004</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">SEAT Go On A Diet</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">50Kg Saving For ETCC Spec Cars</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">ETCC-spec cars contesting this year’s Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship will be permitted to start the 2004 season 50 kilograms lighter than their current FIA weights. The move is designed to bridge the performance gap between the ETCC-spec cars and their BTCC-spec counterparts and keep the action on track as close as ever.<BR> <BR> The decision has been made following analysis of performance in yesterday’s (Thursday) official BTCC test session at Thruxton, scene of the championship’s opening three rounds this Easter weekend, 10/11 April.<BR> <BR> To bridge the performance gap to their BTCC-spec rivals, like James Thompson's Vauxhall Astra. The following weight limits will be in force for tomorrow’s first free practice session at Thruxton and will benefit the SEAT Sport UK team’s Toledo Cupras, driven by Jason Plato and Robert Huff, the Team Sureterm Alfa Romeo 156 GTA of Carl Breeze and Mardi Gras Motorsport’s unique gas-powered Honda Civic Type R, driven by John George.<BR> <BR> Also benefiting will be Edenbridge Racing’s BMW 320i – the BTCC’s only rear-wheel-driven car – which will make its debut at the second meeting of the year, at Brands Hatch, 24/25 April, with Justin Keen at the wheel.<BR> <BR> <B>Front-wheel-drive with H-pattern gearbox: 1060 kilograms (Honda)<BR> <BR> Front-wheel-drive with Sequential gearbox: 1090 kilograms (SEAT, Alfa-Romeo)<BR> <BR> Rear-wheel-drive with H-pattern gearbox: 1090kgs (BMW)</B><BR> <BR> <B>BTCC Series Director Alan Gow:</B><BR> “We have analysed the performance of the ETCC-spec cars, in comparison with their BTC-spec counterparts, at Donington Park, Albecete (Spain) and now Thruxton. This analysis also takes into account the level of performance of those particular cars/teams in relation to their probable position within an ETCC grid. All the teams endorsed, and are very satisfied with, our decision.<BR> <BR> “It is also important to remind everyone that, in accordance with the BTCC’s regulations, we retain the right to review and re-adjust the performance differential up to five times during the season if we see fit.” <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>