Quote:
Originally Posted by helgi
Please, explain a bit. Do every team build their own cars around a standard roll cage? Is there any room for suspension creativity? Or is it just different shells upon 100% identical cars? Thanks a lot.
PS Do Turismo Carretera teams tweak their engines somehow and have more freedom in tech side? If so, I'd prefer even old TC cars over new TC2000. I hope there's a Klondaik of tech info about these cars anyway.
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It varies on the series:
TC, is a standard roll cage (well actually 4 diferent roll cages for 5 models + the new ones that are adapted to them) with the bodies using parts made to the same standard of production models (in the case of the old out of production cars) or actual body panels of said models (the Camry and the new 2024 cars), the current fronts are common and there are 2 designs (Cuervo and Alifraco) with i think 2 variants each (at least the Alifraco one has 2 variants)
While the "survival cell" is common, there are enough differences on them to give performance variables (IE: the Ford is derived from an older design (2013 Aventin's championship winning car), and everyone talks about being harder to work with, the Torino is the best balanced in terms of weight distribution...etc)
The engines are new cast of diferent old blocks (Derived from the Ford 221, Chevrolet 250 and AMC XJ 4.0) with a common design 24v dohc head by Berta, the internals are heavily regulated but there seems to be some wiggle room for the "motorists" to make some difference, they usually are owned by the motorists who build the engines that buy from the ACTC/Berta in a "kit form" of sorts (and then rent them to teams/drivers) or teams, but even the drivers themselves sometimes own a set of engines. The mainteinance is done by the builders/teams
Gearboxes are common Saenz 6 speed secuential
Suspension uses standard parts and brakes are free.
The TC 2000: They use the basic monocoque of the model, but with a common cage, suspension, brakes (that did a number last race) and heavily regulated aerodynamic kits, that still have room for teams to work on (or had, before a freeze this year) The new ones afaik continue with the same idea and cage.
The engines are common Oreca built 2 liter turbo 4 cyl that are provided and maintained by the series and then "raffled" to the teams for each race
Gearboxes are common Xtrac (iirc) 6 speed secuentials for everyone
The TN uses the monocoque of the model homologated with a cage built by the team (is the most conventional of the "big series) each model has a particular homologation that defines their ruleset allocations (aerodynamics, albeit very limited, weights, etc.) and engine, the homologation is valid for 5 years.
Suspension should remain similar in concept to the base model afaik
The engines are built by teams/builders and run on a similar homologation regime, but on longer times to reduce cost so you could have, for example, VW models that have a Ford engine homologated for them and the like
Finally Top Race uses a common chasis and silhouette for all cars with the only difference between models being the front.
There is 2 aerodynamic kits for the cars, the common one and a "better one" used to help struggling teams (yeah, thats stupid)
The engines, built by Berta, in line with the TC2000 (owned by the same company) are provided and maintained by the series, and afaik alocated in the same manner.