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Macau opens up Guia Race to BTCC and CTCC cars

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The Macau Grand Prix organisers  have opened up the entry for the Guia Race 2.0T for 2016 to cars conforming to British and China Touring Car Championship (BTCC/CTCC) specifications, in addition to the TCR class cars which were already permitted during last year’s race.

The race became the final round of both the TCR International and Asia series last season, with the TCR class cars competing for the first time, taking over from the WTCC Super 2000 TC1 class cars which competed just once at the legendary circuit in 2014.

For this year’s event, the organisers have published its sporting regulations confirming the revised technical requirements for the 2016 event, which will now allow any 2.0 litre turbocharged cars from the major touring car championships which compete to FIA national touring car regulations to take part.

Article 19 of the 63rd Macau Grand Prix Guia Race 2.0T sporting regulations state:

“The Macau Guia Race 2.0T is open for cars complying with Articles 262, 262A and 262B of Appendix J of the International Sporting Code.

“Vehicles under ‘Chinese Touring Car Championship Technical Specifications’ and Touring Car Racer Technical Specifications’ are also accepted.”

262A refers to FIA TCN1 class cars, which is BTCC specification (formerly known as NGTC), and 262B for TCN2 class cars, which are the European Touring Car Cup (ETCC) derivative of TCR (Touring Car Racer).

The TCR International and Asia series will still hold their final round at the race, with a likely 36+ car grid capacity entry on offer from the championship to the MGPC after 34 cars were entered in just their inaugural season in 2015.

It’s not believed the appetite or budget exists for many BTCC teams to make the pilgrimage to the South China event, but it’s more likely that some CTCC teams may choose to take their cars, which are of higher specification than the TCR cars with more aerodynamic downforce and engine power.

The entry deadline for the Guia Race closed yesterday, with the final entry list set to be published early next month.