btcc - weight limits reduced - it's official

[Dave Eaton <dave.eaton@minedu.govt.nz>]

News from the Auto Trader RAC Touring Car Championship
19/05/97 
 
BTCC minimum weight limits are revised 
 
TOCA Limited, organiser of the Auto Trader RAC Touring Car 
Championship, announces today (Monday) that, with immediate effect, 
the minimum weights of cars competing in the championship will be: 
 
Front-wheel drive: 975kg (no change) 
Rear-wheel drive: 1000kg (no change) 
Four-wheel drive: 1040kg (a reduction of 30kg) 
 
Announcing the weight revisions, TOCA Chief Executive Alan Gow 
said: "We are permitted to make up to three changes to the minimum 
weights of cars during the season. We are now a third of the way 
through the season, so this seems like an opportune moment to re-
evaluate matters. 
 
"In coming to our decision we have taken into account the current levels 
of competition within the championship and have acted accordingly. 
Should the level of competition between the various drivetrain formats 
alter significantly we have the mechanism to revise the weight limits 
again..." 
 
The move means that reigning champions Audi may run its pair of four-
wheel-drive A4s at the reduced minimum weight limit of 1040kg at the 
next rounds of the Auto Trader Championship, scheduled for Oulton 
Park on Bank Holiday Monday (May 26). 
 
Audi and reigning drivers' champion Frank Biela have so far won one 
round of the 1997 championship, with the front-wheel-drive cars of 
Renault and Honda taking the other seven.