FIA WTCC Announces Base Weight for 2011

The FIA World Touring Car Championship (FIA WTCC) has finally confirmed the new weight limits for the 2011 campaign, along with the types of engines eligible for the next year's season. After months of uncertainty, it was revealed that all the Super 2000 cars will be eligible to compete in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

As you all know, the 2010 season of the FIA WTCC will witness the introduction of the 1.6 litre turbocharged engine for the new S2000 cars. However, these will not be the only cars allowed to compete in the championship, as the grid will also comprise the old 2.0-litre cars with petrol-powered normally aspirated and turbodiesel engines.

In addition, minimum weights for the new S2000 cars have been fixed at 1150 kg (2535 lbs) for front-wheel drive versions and 1170 kg (2579 lbs) for rear wheel drive ones. As far as the old cars are concerned, the car weights for the old vehicles will be as follows:

• 1150 kg (2535 lbs) for normally aspirated front wheel drive
• 1155 kg (2546 lbs) for normally aspirated rear wheel drive
• 1170 kg (2579 lbs) for turbodiesel front wheel drive

As announced by the same FIA WTCC organizers, all the cars on the grid will start the 2011 campaign on the maximum compensation weight, or 40 kilos (88 lbs) added to the minimum weights.

Additionally, according to Autosport, the WTCC series will benefit from support from the European Production series at 6 events, as follows: Zolder, Monza, Brno, Donington Park, Oschersleben and Valencia. The aforementioned championship "has been set up by former WTCC racer Jordi Gene for touring cars of any kind - including models from one-make series such as the SEAT Leon, Ginetta GSO, Mini, Renault Clio and FIAT Abarth," according to Autosport.