Heading into its 68th season, series organiser TOCA announced some changes to its latest regulations, with the headlining act in 2025 being the introduction of 100% fossil-free sustainable fuel, as well as a number of other changes highlighted in our recap below.
These amendments were ratified during the annual meeting between TOCA and all competing teams towards the end of last year, a number of these rules will carry significance to both the competitiveness of the racing and costs to the teams…
100% Sustainable Fuel
The BTCC becomes the first championship in the UK to adopt fully sustainable fossil-free fuel for all its cars, once again underlining its position at the forefront of national motorsport innovation and industry-leading standards.
All aspects of the fuel’s BTCC test and development programme were completed successfully, and following a full assessment and consultation the decision was made to introduce 100% sustainable fuel for every car, while the hybrid programme comes to an end.
Cars will have the same power-boost output as in 2024 – and the same boost deployment format as previously used – with the additional power surge coming solely via turbo boost. The cars will also be some 55 kilograms lighter and nimbler as a result.
Engine Specification
As from 1 April 2025, a two-year engine freeze will come into effect, so that no further developments can be made to the homologated engines for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
This decision ensures that the highest-level of competitiveness of each engine will remain but will also significantly save costs to the teams over the next two years.
Goodyear Tyre Options
For 2025, it will be mandatory for the three overall podium finishers in Race 1 to run the hardest Goodyear tyre compound available in Race 2 – as opposed to the previous top ten finishers.
With the usual exception of Thruxton – due its high-speed nature and abrasive track surface – all other events will carry a standard and option tyre compound, with the latter being available to use in one of the three BTCC races.
Safety Car Procedure
A new safety car procedure will be introduced to ensure a smoother, closer and safer restart to all sessions.
When the Safety Car lights are turned off – indicating it will accelerate away from the pack and return to the pit-lane – all cars must cease weaving, braking and/or accelerating and stay no more than two car lengths from the car ahead of them.
The race leader is required to maintain approximately the same speed the safety car was using when it extinguished its lights, until the leader has passed the new ‘Restart Point’ – designated at each circuit by TOCA and to be positioned between the final corner and the start/finish control line – after which the leader can then accelerate up to racing speed.
All cars must maintain their positions, with no overtaking or overlapping until they pass the green flag at the control line.
Jack Sears Trophy
The eligibility rules for competitors in the Jack Sears Trophy have also been tweaked. Drivers that have previously won the Jack Sears Trophy and/or have scored more than one outright podium in the BTCC will not be eligible for the JST.
Qualifying Format
Grid positions for cars that do not progress from both groups in the first Part of the Qualifying session will be changed for 2025.
Those from Group 1 who do not progress into Part 2 will line up on the even numbered side of the grid and those from Group 2 on the other side – thus preventing a change in track or weather conditions having an adverse effect on those groups and their subsequent grid positions.
