GET SET GO!

TURKINGTON READY FOR LIFT OFF AS BTCC HYBRID ERA BEGINS

DONINGTON PARK ROUNDS 1, 2, 3

• The 2022 season of the British Touring Car Championship gets underway this weekend at Donington Park in what will mark the RACING debut for the new hybrid system.
• Four-time champion Colin Turkington will be behind the wheel of his new Team BMW 330e M Sport after completing his pre-season programme last week.
• Turkington showed positive pace in the group sessions but has insisted “it’s impossible to know where we’ll be,” when considering his qualifying potential.
• Donington Park will be a step into the unknown for the drivers and teams as they get to grips with the strategies of hybrid deployment in racing conditions.
• As per usual, all three of Sunday’s races will be shown LIVE on ITV4 from 10:55am.
• Scroll down for an easy-to-understand ABC guide to BTCC Hybrid.

SCHEDULE

LIVE ON ITV4

Catch qualifying LIVE online from 3:20pm on Saturday by clicking here

Watch Sunday’s races and buildup LIVE on ITV4 from 10:55am

ABC GUIDE TO BTCC HYBRID

A: ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE

The hybrid system gives drivers access to additional performance that they can use to improve lap times in qualifying and in their race strategy.

B: BYE BYE SUCCESS BALLAST

The hybrid management system (HEM) will replace the previous success ballast system by limiting the hybrid deployment time (in qualifying) and number of deployments (per race) available to successful drivers.

C: COUNTDOWN

A maximum of 15 seconds of hybrid deployment per lap is available. The drivers will be able to see the 15 seconds counting up on their dash as they deploy the hybrid power.

D: DEPLOYMENT

Hybrid deployment takes place via pressing and holding of a button on the steering wheel. It can only take place under certain conditions (120KPH / third gear) and will NOT be used during the first lap of any race. It is also not permitted to deploy hybrid until one full lap after the safety car. Drivers can choose where and when they deploy if the above conditions are met.

E: EXTRA PERFORMANCE

This 15 seconds of extra performance per lap will be available to ALL drivers for the first qualifying session and race 1 at Donington Park only. From race 2 onwards, the HYBRID ENERGY MANAGEMENT (HEM) system will come into effect to reduce the extra performance available to the drivers that have been successful.

F: FUEL

The BTCC cars will all be using a more sustainable fuel for 2022. This will give an approximate reduction of 18% in greenhouse gases.

G: GENERATING BATTERY ENERGY

The BTCC cars can regenerate battery energy via braking. This will be used primarily on in-laps and NOT during racing.

H: HYBRID SYSTEM WEIGHT

The hybrid system has added a considerable amount of weight into the cars for 2022. They will now be running approximately 50-60kgs heavier than 2021.

I: ILLUMINATION

When drivers deploy hybrid, an on-car LED light system, mounted in the rear side windows, will display when hybrid is deployed for the benefit of spectators.

HEM IN ACTION

The hybrid energy management system operates in two different ways.  On a seconds-per-lap basis for qualifying, and a number-of-laps basis for the races.  Have a look below at the hybrid deployment rules for 2022.

TESTING RECAP

Fancy filling yourself in on how pre-season testing has went for Colin? Click below to read the recaps!

Test #1

Test #2

Test # 3

COLIN’S CLIMATE CHANGE MISSION

Colin is on a mission to reduce his personal carbon footprint. So far this year he has already removed 6.33 tonnes of carbon via his EARTHLY project. Each race start will see him contribute 18 trees to the cause and an additional 100 per every race win.

Follow Colin’s Earthly progress by clicking here

COLIN TURKINGTON

We’ve covered so much ground since the curtain dropped on the 2021 season, and we’ve made considerable strides forward in our understanding of the hybrid system the past month. It’s been a positive testing programme but still extremely limited as we get to grips with a brand new system. I imagine we’ll continue this steep learning curve the first few events which will create many challenges, but also opportunities.

I’m really excited by the newness of this season and motivated by the level playing field it has created. It’s going to be one of the toughest seasons to date but I’m fired up for the challenge.

Donington Park is an awesome circuit and a superb venue for the season opener. It’ll be fascinating to see how qualifying plays out and how the new system operates in the races as it makes it racing debut. At this stage it’s impossible to know where we’ll be. I think we’re all keeping tight lipped about when and how is best to deploy the hybrid, but for sure it will be different for qualifying than it will be in racing conditions.

STAY SOCIAL

Stay social throughout the weekend and keep up to date by joining in the conversation on Colin’s social media channels.

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