For more than a decade, the Federation International de l’Automobile has offered a broad portfolio of entry-level racing with established steps to the uppermost tiers. Over the years, Audi Sport built cars such as the R8 LMS GT3, R8 LMS GT4 and RS 3 LMS to these rule sets and enjoyed a broad spectrum of customer racing business as a result. And though Audi Sport customer racing appears to be going away as the brand moves towards F1, we still take great interest in a new FIA ruleset that aims to make touring car racing like the TCR class in which the RS 3 LMS competes and make it even more approachable.
We’ve run the full FIA press release below. While not confirmed with Audi and even doubtful given the uncertain future of the Audi Sport customer racing business, we’ve also seen independent builders taking cars like the Audi A1 and building them to FIA Rally4 and Rally5 regulations from which these new classes will spawn, and notably building those cars without factory support. So, even if Audi didn’t jump into the space, that’s not to say that someone couldn’t. And while the A1 is sunsetting, the Audi A3 appears to be at least compatible with the rule sets from what we can tell.
PRESS RELEASE: FIA Announces TC Lite, Technical Ruleset for Accessible Low-Cost Touring Car Racing
[source: Federation International de l’Automobile]
The FIA has announced a new set of technical regulations for an accessible, entry-level touring car class based on existing rally regulations. The new category, labelled TC Lite, will comprise of two subclasses, TCL4 and TCL5, utilising existing Rally4 and Rally5 regulations and therefore providing competitors with one car suitable for both rallying and circuit racing competitions.
This will be possible through an additional appendix that will enable Rally4 and Rally5 class cars to be used in circuit racing with only minimal modifications while leaving the rally homologation unchanged. TC Lite will therefore form the basis of the FIA touring car pyramid, with the well-established TCR class, developed by the WSC Group, above it.
ONE CAR TO DO IT ALL
The adaptations will be kept to a minimum so that the class remains cost-effective and the competitors are provided with a level playing field. The objective is to have the cars suitable for different motor sport competitions without the need for costly and time-consuming conversions between the cars’ rally and circuit specifications.
The minimum weight set out in the regulations will be adjusted to compensate for the removal of spare wheels, tools and handheld fire extinguishers, which are not required for circuit racing, while the addition of FIA-homologated racing nets will be mandatory. The cars will also use full-slick racing tyres.
TWO SUB-CLASSES
TC Lite will be comprised of two classes: TCL5 class will be for the most accessible, entry-level cars with a power-to-weight ratio of around 6.0kg/bhp, while TCL4 cars will offer a step up in terms of performance, with approximately 5.1kg/bhp. The cars of both TC Lite classes are fitted with sequential gearboxes.
Alan Gow, FIA Touring Car Commission President, said: “Introducing a pyramid structure to touring car racing is something that has been our aim for quite a while. TCR is a proven customer racing platform that works well both in national-level series and in world-level touring car racing. However, we have been missing an accessible entry-level platform. The introduction of the TC Lite ruleset fills that gap. Having the very same cars in rallying and touring car racing has plenty of benefits – it is cost-effective, sustainable, provides the competitors with a level playing field and creates opportunities for more available seat time. At the same time, the manufacturers and their customer racing programmes will be able to grow their business as the market of these cars will naturally broaden.”
Andrew Wheatley, FIA Road Sport Director, said: “The bottom tiers of the FIA Rally Pyramid have proven to be excellent entry-level classes in rallying, therefore broadening the use of these cars and making them compatible with circuit racing makes a lot of sense. This is a bit like in the group N days when you would sometimes see the same front-wheel-drive cars taking part in different disciplines. This is also good news for drivers at the early stages of their careers who, to develop their skills, look for as much time behind the wheel as possible. Having one car eligible for different types of events offers exactly that. A universal technical platform like this one also has the potential to draw new people to motor sport and – long term – should contribute to increased motor sport participation globally.”
NATIONAL SPORTING AUTHORITIES EMPOWERED
The TCL5 sub-class will also accommodate Rally5-kit cars, empowering National Sporting Authorities to approve cars prepared and homologated by local tuners for national competitions. This will broaden the market and create space for local importers to promote certain models of cars offered in their respective domestic markets.
POSITIVE RECEPTION OF FIA MEMBER CLUBS
The TC Lite concept was presented to the FIA World Motor Sport Council members and representatives of FIA Member Clubs from around the world during last month’s FIA Conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and was positively received.
“This category is a very good push for us to bring more people to motor sport at a low cost,” said Fabiana Ecclestone, FIA’s Vice President for Sport for South America. “For me as a woman, it’s also very important because we give an affordable possibility for women to engage in our sport. We have to make it affordable, so combining two cars of different categories as the same product is a dream,” she added.
“In North America, there is a lot of touring car racing, so this new development gives us the opportunity to better structure our touring car championships. Rally4, Rally5 and Rally5-kit are what we need in most countries in the region,” stated Daniel Coen, FIA Vice President for Sport for North America and President of Automóvil Club de Costa Rica.
Europe’s FIA Vice President for Sport, Manuel Aviñó, spoke about the inclusion of the Rally5-kit within the new touring car concept. “It’s good to have the Rally5-kit regulations within TC Lite. It’s a good way to get an FIA homologation without having the manufacturer [directly involved]. You can do it through your own technical team within the ASN. This is the way to have more options in the grassroots categories.” he concluded.
“Being able to easily homologate a car is the best we can offer to the ASNs,” agreed Rodrigo Rocha, Africa’s FIA Vice President for Sport and President of Automovel e Touring Clube de Mocambique. “The easy transition between circuit racing and rallying is something that reduces the cost. I find the new TC Lite concept to be innovative,” he summarised.
“For ASNs, and particularly for emerging ASNs, finding the right balance between affordability and safety is always a challenge. The TC Lite concept is an affordable, common platform, so for us as an ASN that is trying to build its national framework for motor sport, it is a really good concept to look at,” said Michael Smith, Director of Sporting & Technical at Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation.
“China is a promising and quickly developing market and TC Lite will lower the barrier for customers to get involved and put themselves into a seat of a race car,” said FIA Touring Car Commission member and representative of the Chinese Touring Car Championship promoter, Cao Shan, who is also part of the FIA’s TC Lite Working Group.
The appendix to the regulations is set for validation by the FIA World Motor Sport Council later this year, paving the way for TCL4 and TCL5 cars to be used in competitions from the start of the 2025 season.
