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9^th March 2009 (Source: BTCC )

New CO2 emission testing that could significantly influence some major forms of motor sport, on a global scale, was today revealed by the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Media were invited inside a state-of-the-art test laboratory at Land Rover, Solihull, UK for a sneak preview of how the testing programme a world first will operate.

The BTCC, Britains highest-profile motor racing championship, will establish and regularly test its competing cars CO2 figures in order to reduce them to those of their showroom counterparts. This will be measured by using a rolling road drive-cycle specifically developed for BTCC race cars, to give a meaningful comparison alongside their equivalent road models.

The BTCCs latest move is fully endorsed by Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS), a Government-sponsored sector initiative whose aim is to put energy efficiency at the heart of modern motor sport. It says the BTCCs CO2 measures are the most relevant it has seen. Also central to this programme has been Horiba Instruments Limited, the biggest supplier of emissions testing devices in Europe.

Cars running to the BTCCs latest set of two-litre technical regulations (Super 2000) have already been put through Land Rovers laboratory ahead of the championships race season starting at Brands Hatch on 5 April. Those tests have shown that the BTCC teams and their race engine developers are on target to meet the new regulations without foregoing any meaningful loss in power. BTCC cars (and their road-going equivalents) to be tested include BMW 320si, Chevrolet Lacetti, Ford Focus ST, Honda Civic, SEAT Leon and Vauxhall Vectra.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow said: What we are undertaking in 2009 is a world first in motor sport. Yes, we could have gone down the easier path of simply mandating the use of bio-fuels or adopting a less technically-challenging panacea. But the BTCC wants to see emission levels genuinely reduced and that is why we are taking this route in other words tackling CO2 emissions directly at their source; namely the engines themselves.

Our sport is full of incredibly clever, very talented engineers and this initiative is a great demonstration of their ability to tackle such issues head-on. To my mind, its a far more meaningful demonstration of our credentials to motor manufacturers, environmental groups, sponsors, the government, motorists and the BTCCs many millions of fans than us taking less convincing (or demanding) steps.

This of course is the beginning of a long-term strategy from the BTCC and we hope in future to even push our race cars CO2 levels to beneath those of their road-going equivalents. I would like to thank Jaguar Land Rover, along with Horiba, for their superb technical know-how and back-up during this exciting programme. Similarly, EEMS and the tremendous support and enthusiasm it has also shown us.

EEMS Marc de Jong says other motor sport series around the world had better sit up and take notice of the BTCCs pioneering CO2 programme. He commented: CO2 emissions are a primary issue for the automotive industry and the BTCC is the first championship to make CO2 emissions directly relevant to the competition.

This action from the BTCC will help promote real energy efficiency through technology and it gives motor sports engineers a real incentive to demonstrate they can improve engine performance and even decrease emissions. The BTCC has created a platform and now motor sport can showcase real and quantifiable solutions to the broader industry.

Tim Davis, Director of Quality, Jaguar Land Rover commented: "The Jaguar Land Rover Product Compliance Centre at Solihull is one of the best purpose-built end-of-line facilities in Europe and this is further endorsed by the BTCC's decision to work with us. The facility is another important step towards Jaguar Land Rover's commitment to reduce emissions and by sharing these technologies with the BTCC we can work together towards a 'greener' future."

For all the latest BTCC news and copyright-free photos visit the championships official website www.btcc.net

BTCC Media contact:
Carl McKellar
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Note to Editors:

The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) was formed in 1958 and is Britains most popular motor racing spectacle. Its race season comprises ten events at top circuits across the UK. It is contested by professional racing drivers in competition versions of every day road cars, giving it tremendous public appeal. Some 325,000 watch the BTCC trackside each year.

HiQ (part of Goodyear Dunlop) became the BTCC's new title sponsor in 2008 in a new three-year agreement. It provides a fast-fit car care service at its 150 centres across the UK. In the next two years, that number will rise to 250 as HiQ embarks on revolutionising the fast-fit industry. It has already taken the lead by offering a unique online service www.hiqonline.co.uk for motorists to buy tyres and arrange a fitting appointment

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