Super TC 2000 returns to standing starts for two rounds in 2018
The Argentinian Super TC 2000 championship has confirmed that two rounds, the season start in Buenos Aires and round seven in Oberá, will feature standing starts among some other changes.
Since the Radical V8 engines were introduced in 2012 for the championship, alongside the re-branding from TC2000 to Super TC 2000, standing starts were discussed but never introduced due to teams’ fear of excessive wear on clutch and engines because of the fixed long first gear ratio.
The Super TC 2000 organisation held a DTM-like event in the La Plata football stadium where drivers raced one vs. one in a mirrored circuit, an event won by Leonel Pernía of Renault Sport. The following round saw many engine failures, believed to be caused by the standing starts of that format.
Buenos Aires and Oberá will be test rounds for standing starts and the technical implications of it, a start procedure demanded by fans and drivers for many seasons.
The Super TC 2000 organisation has also confirmed four ‘Grand Slam’ events with extra points: Rosario (double header), Santa Fe Steet Circuit (double header), the Buenos Aires 200 km race in November and the final round in Córdoba.
The remaining eight races are called ‘regular’ and four of those eight races will feature grid penalties after qualifying.
Rounds one and ten will feature an extra testing session for all teams on Friday and also rounds four and seven will include one test sessions reserved for those drivers who at that point are from 11th onwards in the championship standings.
