Chevrolet, SEAT and BMW waivers granted for TC2 competition

The Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T, SEAT León WTCC, SEAT León TDI and BMW 320 TC have all had their waivers renewed by the FIA Touring Car Committee to compete in the TC2 class in this year’s FIA World Touring Car Championship.

The legacy Super 2000 cars used between 2011-2013 have a number of performance balancing waivers in place which take into account various issues with the three models. This type of balance of performance has been phased out for the new generation of Super 2000 cars which will compete in the TC1 class.

The Chevrolet Cruze, by far the newest of the last generation of Super 2000 cars which is set to compete in TC2 this season, is recognised as being far more competitive than the SEATs and BMWs which were developed back in 2005-2006.

Some teams which were expecting to compete in TC2 this year with SEATs and BMWs, reported that they’d been informed that the Chevrolet Cruze was to be declassified from competition in this year’s TC2 (Yokohama Trophy), but this is not the case, with the FIA approving the car but with a key disclaimer that “Waivers could be revised by the TC Committee during the year,” on the waiver renewal of the Chevrolet Cruze only.

It’s expected that Nika Racing, which has filed a one car entry for this season, will compete with the Cruze. The team won three races overall last season with Michel Nykjaer, and are in possession of two Chevrolet Cruze 1.6Ts with which they also won the 2012 STCC manufacturers’ title.

Campos Racing has confirmed they will field three SEAT Leóns, with 19-year-old John Filippi the only driver confirmed so far, and Engstler Motorsport will field two BMW 320 TCs, one for team principal Franz Engstler with the other driver to be confirmed soon.

No waiver requests were filed by Honda Racing Team JAS or Lada Sport for their 2013-spec cars.