Major rules overhaul announced

Major Rules Overhaul Put More Grunt into V8 Supercars

The Touring Car Entrants Group Australia Pty Ltd (TEGA) today announced a major overhaul of the Technical Regulations governing V8 Supercars, a move designed to put more emphasis on driver skill, ensure tighter racing and contain costs for all teams.

The sweeping changes are arguably the biggest single introduction of across the board modifications including the limiting of adjustable aerodynamics, extending engine use time, using a sequential gear shift and controlled brakes.

The planned integration of the new regulations will commence in 2005 and continue through until the introduction of new models in the Championship, expected to be in 2007/8.

The reduction in aerodynamic effectiveness from the start of 2005 will give the immediate and very obvious benefit of an enlivened racing spectacle on the race track.

Technical stability post regulatory change is a TEGA commitment to provide a stable platform for the efficient and effective operation of teams.

"What this means for fans of V8 Supercar racing is close quarters racing, a greater emphasis on driver skill, and overall improved racing and entertainment," TEGA chairman Kelvin O'Reilly said.

"The cars will look and sound the same, they will just perform in an even more entertaining manner than the current crop of V8 Supercars as a result of reduced aerodynamic effectiveness.

"Successive TEGA Boards have considered the issues of cost containment and enhancing V8 Supercar racing in a non-contrived manner and the decisions reflect the responsible natural progression for our sport.

"This is great news for V8 Supercars and great news for our fans."

No significant areas of the cars have escaped review. The final rules with precise specifications will be released in the coming weeks.

"The cars will utilise a mixture of controlled components, tightly controlled specification of components, individual team homologated components and model specific homologated components," O'Reilly said.

The major initiatives are:

Aerodynamics

Minimal working aerodynamics solely to achieve parity. The cars are to have the same external appearance.
* Removal of front under tray from 1 January 2005
* Rear wing to be fixed or with minimal adjustment from 1 January 2005

Brakes

* Control brake rotor from 1 January 2005
* Control brake pad from 1 January 2005
* Restricted list of specified calipers available for use in 2005
* Control brake caliper from 1 January 2006

Data logging / telemetry

* Live car to pit telemetry is to be banned from 1 January 2005
* Control dash unit from 1 January 2005
* Reduction in the duplication of data collected from 1 January 2005.
* Reduction in the number of channels of data available to teams from 1 January 2005.

Transmission / driveline

* Immediate consideration of gearbox specification - sequential/h pattern shift. Any change to be effected 1 January 2005
* Control specification of internal gearbox components from 1 January 2005
* Minimum flywheel weight from 1 January 2005
* Control carbon clutch from 1 January 2005
* Control crown wheel & pinion from 1 January 2005
* Minimum rear axle (drive shaft) weight - solid component from 1 January 2005
* Minimum tail shaft weight and gauge of metal from 1 January 2005. To be a TEGA recommended part.

Engine

* Engine specification will be adjusted to provide extended life.
* As many engine components as is practical and possible are to have a minimum weight and specification applied to them from 1 January 2005
* As many engine components as is practical and possible will be reviewed and specified as a control component (either by specification or supply) from 1 January 2005
* Maximum valve lift to be stipulated from 1 January 2005
* Specified number and size of piston rings from 1 January 2005
* Restricted list of specified engine peripheral components together with designated position requirements from 1 January 2005.
* Engine peripherals to be control components from 1 January 2007
* Minimum engine block weight for both Ford and Holden to be identical from 1 January 2007

Suspension

* Restricted list of specified shock absorbers available for use from 1 January 2005
* Control sealed shock absorber from 1 January 2006
* Individually team homologated stub axle to be available for use and sample logged with TEGA from 1 January 2005 - control component from 1 January 2006

Wheels

* Control aluminum alloy wheel from 1 January 2005. All other wheel specifications to remain unchanged. Current stock of wheels to be marked.

General items / non-performance components

* As many non-performance components as is practical and possible will be control components for any new car that is built from 1 January 2005
* Control fuel tank in all new cars built from 1 January 2005.
* Specified identical location of the fuel tank in all new cars built for application with the introduction of new model cars.
* Control on board jacks in all new cars built from 1 January 2005.
* Control rattle guns and associated equipment from 1 January 2005

-avesco-