Competition Series
British Touring Car Championship
United Kingdom/Republic of Ireland
The series competes at nine circuits in the UK and Republic of Ireland, with cars built either to BTCC or WTCC specification, with ballast being used to equalise the two types.
There are currently only two manufacturer teams : Vauxhall, who run Astras built to BTCC rules; and SEAT, who enter "Super 2000" specification Toledos.
Opposition comes from independent teams such as Team Dynamics, who run three Honda Integras, West Surrey Racing (MG ZS), Arena Motorsports and Synchro Motorsports (Honda Civic); and a variety of privateer teams.
Triple Eight Race Engineering Ltd, the team behind the Vauxhall entry, have dominated the past few seasons, but currently it is Team Halfords who lead both the drivers' and teams' championships.
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
Germany/Europe
Also known as the DTM. This series features advanced purpose built V8-powered space frame machines, covered with carbon fibre bodyshapes resemblant of the manufacturers' road machine. DTM cars corner incredibly quickly and wear spectacular bodykits incorporating huge wheel arches and diffusors.
Easily Europe's premier series - DTM features many ex-F1 drivers (eg. Jean Alesi and Heinz-Harald Frentzen and since the 2005 season: Mika Hakkinen) the European locale makes this series appealing for aspiring drivers, who didn't quite make F1, as they compete alongside legends of the sport.
More than 20 works-backed entries of Opel Vectra GTS, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are expected to contest the 2004 DTM series.
V8 Supercar
Australia/New Zealand/China
Formerly the Australian Touring Car Championship. This series features huge grids of fire-breathing 640+ hp (480 kW) Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores.
Unlike the manufacturer-oriented championships of Europe, Australia's series is much closer to NASCAR with well-sponsored private teams preparing their own distinct interpretations of the Falcon and Commodore, however production derived bodyshells and panels are used rather than space-frame chassis.
In 2004, well over 50 entries will compete across the division one and two series respectively:
- V8 Supercar Championship Series, incorporating the Bathurst 1000, this series will be contested by 14 professional two-car outfits as well as 5+ one-car outfits.
- Konica Minolta Series, home of up-and-coming drivers hoping to break into the main game as well as loyal privateers.
World Touring Car Championship
Worldwide
Modern World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) started in 2005, replacing the old European Touring Car Championship. It is considered the third most important FIA championship after Formula One Championship and World Rally Championship.
Running across vast continental racing facilities, this series which 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.
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, such as variable valve timing, variable intake geometry, ABS brakes and traction control.
