British Touring Car Championship organisers TOCA have confirmed that Cosworth Electronics have been awarded a contract for the design, supply and servicing of the BTCC Hybrid System, which will be introduced for the 2022 season.

The first major touring car championship in the world to announce the move to hybrid technology, Britain’s premier race series

Following the tender process for the contract, Cosworth Electronics met the challenging specifications  – particularly those regarding packaging, performance and low-cost – that TOCA had outlined. 

The additional hybrid power will be used by each driver for either passing or defending and will introduce new competitive strategies and opportunities during each BTCC race.

Performance simulations carried out by Cosworth show that the most significant gains will be achieved at the low engine RPM ranges; the hybrid power burst bringing the engine up into the turbo ‘window’ more quickly. This will provide drivers deploying the system the chance to pull alongside or gain ground on the opposition.

After the opening lap of a race drivers will have control over the amount of their hybrid energy they use or regenerate – and when – during the course of each race.

Drivers will have a steering wheel mounted button to engage the hybrid once full traction has been achieved whilst the system will deactivates on a second button press, the use of brakes, on reaching the time or energy limit, a reduced throttle pressure or sudden acceleration/deceleration.

Prior to be introduced to the championship, rigorous testing and simulations will refine the more exact nature of the driver-selectable hybrid power delivery (i.e. how many seconds per lap, when/how it can be used etc.) as well as configuring the varying amounts of regeneration and hybrid power that will be used to replace the current success ballast system.

A full technical and performance overview of the system can be found at http://www.btcc.net/2019/07/23/cosworth-electronics-awarded-btcc-hybrid-system-contract/