Photo: WTCC Media

Chevrolet get 20kg back after TC Commission review

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Teams running the Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T in this year’s FIA World Touring Car Championship will not run at the additional 30kg of ballast as reported last month, but an increase of just 10kg to their original base weight after a review by the Touring Car Commission.

The FIA Touring Car Commission had previously announced that the Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T’s base weight would be increased from 1,150kg to 1,180kg for the 2012 season, whilst the SUNRED León 1.6T teams would remain at 1,150kg. The decision also confirmed a drop in weight for the the rear-wheel drive BMW 320 TC, which would be reduced from 1,170kg to 1,160kg.

The new ruling means the Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T and BMW 320 TC will now run to the same base weight this season, whilst weights for the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, LADA Granta and SEAT León 1.6T will be calculated at a later date, but in theory they could be set at 1,150kg, which is the weight which was set for the now non-competing Volvo C30 and SUNRED León 1.6Ts.

This is dependent on another change which is yet to be ratified by the World Motor Sport Council, which is that not all cars will start the year on maximum ballast (of 40kg) as before. Now only the “winning model from the previous season” will carry maximum ballast from the first round of the championship, which is the Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T.

As a result, all teams competing with the Cruze will run to a minimum weight of 1,200kg at Monza, 20kg higher than the previously announced 1,180kg. The Cruze is therefore likely to be 60kg heavier than any other competitor.

However, when the compensation weights are recalculated taking into account all competing models performance, that weight can then be reduced to as little as 1,140kg for the Cruze, whilst other cars could then be increased up to 1,190kg (other front-wheel drive cars) or 1,200kg (BMW 320 TC).

Revised base weights for the 2012 WTCC*

Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T – 1,160kg
BMW 320 TC – 1,160kg
SUNRED León 1.6T – 1,150kg
Volvo C30 – 1,150kg

New cars taking part in the 2012 season to be confirmed.

* Dependent on amendment to Article 79 of the Sporting Regulations being approved by the WMSC