Class 1 Touring Cars
Encyclopedia
Class 1 Touring Cars was a production-based touring car racing
category introduced by the FIA in 1993 along with Class 2 Touring Cars, the latter officially becoming known as Super Touring cars from 1995. Class 1 permitted more liberal modifications to the vehicles than those allowed for Class 2 cars.
Class 1 regulations restricted engines to a maximum of six cylinders, 2.5 litres capacity and four valves per cylinder.European Touring Car Championships, Automobile Year, 1995/96, page 206 The basic unit had to be derived from a production engine made in quantity by the same manufacturer as the car, although it did not have to be from the same model as that being raced and could be extensively modified. All wheel drive, traction control
, anti lock brakes and electronically controlled differential
s were permitted. Aerodynamic aids
were free below the wheel centreline and, from 1995, suspension
systems could be purpose built rather than production based.European Touring Car Championships, Automobile Year, 1995/96, page 207
Class 1 Touring Cars contested the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
series from 1993 to 1995, the International Touring Car Series in 1995 and for the International Touring Car Championship
in 1996.
Only three manufacturers, Alfa Romeo
, Mercedes-Benz
and Opel
, competed in Class 1 during the short history of the category and the withdrawal of Alfa Romeo and Opel from the International Touring Car Championship at the end of 1996 effectively spelt the end of the class.
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
category introduced by the FIA in 1993 along with Class 2 Touring Cars, the latter officially becoming known as Super Touring cars from 1995. Class 1 permitted more liberal modifications to the vehicles than those allowed for Class 2 cars.
Class 1 regulations restricted engines to a maximum of six cylinders, 2.5 litres capacity and four valves per cylinder.European Touring Car Championships, Automobile Year, 1995/96, page 206 The basic unit had to be derived from a production engine made in quantity by the same manufacturer as the car, although it did not have to be from the same model as that being raced and could be extensively modified. All wheel drive, traction control
Traction control system
A traction control system , also known as anti-slip regulation , is typically a secondary function of the anti-lock braking system on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels...
, anti lock brakes and electronically controlled differential
Electronic Differential
The main purpose of the electronic differential is to replace the mechanical differential in multi-drive systems, providing the required torque for each driving wheel and allowing different wheel speeds. When cornering, the inner and outer wheels rotate at different speeds, because the inner...
s were permitted. Aerodynamic aids
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
were free below the wheel centreline and, from 1995, suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
systems could be purpose built rather than production based.European Touring Car Championships, Automobile Year, 1995/96, page 207
Class 1 Touring Cars contested the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft was a touring car racing series held from 1984 to 1996. Originally based in Germany, it held additional rounds elsewhere in Europe and later worldwide....
series from 1993 to 1995, the International Touring Car Series in 1995 and for the International Touring Car Championship
1996 International Touring Car Championship season
The 1996 International Touring Car Championship season was the 2nd FIA season of its type. It was for FIA Class 1 Touring Cars and it was contested by Mercedes Benz, Alfa Romeo and Opel. It was born out of the old Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft series that ran both a short German &...
in 1996.
Only three manufacturers, Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
and Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
, competed in Class 1 during the short history of the category and the withdrawal of Alfa Romeo and Opel from the International Touring Car Championship at the end of 1996 effectively spelt the end of the class.
See also
- Super Touring – FIA Class 2 Touring Cars
- Deutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftDeutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftThe Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft was a touring car racing series held from 1984 to 1996. Originally based in Germany, it held additional rounds elsewhere in Europe and later worldwide....
- The German Touring Car Championship