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Class 1 Touring Cars

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Class 1 Touring Cars refers to two generations of prototype silhouette-style touring car regulations employed by the FIA.

First generation (1993–1996)

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The first generation was a production-based formula introduced in 1993 along with Class 2 Touring Cars, the latter officially becoming known as Super Touring cars from 1995. Class 1 permitted more liberal modifications to the vehicles than those allowed for Class 2 cars.[1]

These Class 1 regulations restricted engines to a maximum of six cylinders, 2.5 litres capacity and four valves per cylinder.[2] The basic unit had to be derived from a production engine made in quantity by the same manufacturer as the car, although it did not have to be from the same model as that being raced and could be extensively modified.[2] All-wheel drive, traction control, anti-lock brakes and electronically controlled differentials were permitted.[2] Aerodynamic aids were free below the wheel centreline and, from 1995, suspension systems could be purpose-built rather than production-based.[3]

Class 1 Touring Cars contested the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) series from 1993 to 1995,[4] the International Touring Car Series (ITC) in 1995[5] and for the International Touring Car Championship (ITC) in 1996.[6]

Only three manufacturers, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz and Opel, competed in Class 1 during the short history of the original category, with genuine works efforts (Audi and BMW had built cars based on the B4 80 Quattro and E36 M3 respectively for the class, but never raced them)[7] and the withdrawal of Alfa Romeo and Opel from the ITC at the end of 1996 effectively spelt the end of the class.[1]

Second generation (2019–present)

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In early 2014, the DTM and the Japanese Super GT Series began a co-operation agreement in which the two series would begin to merge their technical regulations.[8] This led to an official tie-up in September of the same year, with plans for the DTM to move to 2.0-litre inline-4 engines by 2017.[9] Aerodynamic alterations were agreed in 2015, with the seeds sown for potential joint-races between the series.[10]

Later in the same year however, the regulation changes were postponed to 2019 given DTM manufacturers' reluctance to potentially engage in more costly development.[11] Super GT would also delay the implementation of the regulations to 2020, as the final regulations were signed off in 2018.[12]

The second generation of Class 1 Touring Car is a purpose-built racer based on a two-door road-going model. The cars feature a two-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, capped at 650 hp and mounted in the front of the car. Push-to-pass and DRS are employed on the DTM vehicles (but not in Super GT), which benefit from 3.4t of downforce. All vehicles must be front-engine, rear-wheel drive.[13][14]

The first Class 1 cars debuted at the 2019 DTM Hockenheim round. DTM and Super GT conducted joint-races at the end of 2019, however both saw the previous generation Super GT GT500 cars enter.[15] Aston Martin, entering DTM for the first time through the new regulations, concluded their program after a single season with constructors R-Motorsport claiming the cars were too expensive.[16] Audi followed suit by announcing their departure from the series for the 2021 season in April 2020.[17] The DTM eventually abandoned the regulation set after just two seasons and switched to a GT3–based formula from 2021, leaving Super GT as the only remaining series with these regulations for GT500 competitors although the GT300 category still uses Group GT3 rules to this day.[18]

Specifications

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List of FIA Class 1 homologated touring cars

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First generation (1993–1996)

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Marque Picture Model Engine First race Last race
Alfa Romeo 155 Alfa Romeo Busso-based 2.5L V6 60°
Alfa Romeo 690[19] 2.5L V6 90° 		1993 DTM – Zolder 1 1996 ITC – Suzuka
Mercedes-Benz 190E Mercedes-Benz M102 2.5L I4 1993 DTM – Zolder 1 1993 DTM – Hockenheim 2
C-Class Mercedes-Benz M106[20][21] 2.5L V6 90° 1994 DTM – Zolder 1 1996 ITC – Suzuka
Opel Calibra General Motors C25XE 2.5L V6 54°
Cosworth KF (Isuzu 6VD1 derived)[22] 2.5L V6 75° 		1993 DTM – Hockenheim 2 1996 ITC – Suzuka

Second generation (2019–2023)

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Marque Picture Model Engine First race Last race
Aston Martin Vantage HWA AFR Turbo 2.0 I-4t 2019 DTM – Hockenheim 1 2019 DTM – Hockenheim 2
Audi RS5 Turbo Audi RC8 2.0 TFSI I-4t 2019 DTM – Hockenheim 1 2020 DTM – Hockenheim 2
BMW M4 Turbo BMW P48 Turbo 2.0 I-4t 2019 DTM – Hockenheim 1 2020 DTM – Hockenheim 2
Honda NSX-GT Honda HR-420E 2.0 I-4t 2020 Super GT – Fuji 1 2023 Super GT – Motegi
Civic Type R-GT GT500 2024 Super GT – Okayama
Nissan GT-R Nismo Nissan NR20A 2.0 I-4t 2020 Super GT – Fuji 1 2021 Super GT – Fuji 2
Z 2022 Super GT – Okayama
Toyota GR Supra Toyota RI4AG 2.0 I-4t 2020 Super GT – Fuji 1

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Alfa Romeo 155 DTM Retrieved from www.ultimatecarpage.com on 19 November 2009
  2. ^ a b c European Touring Car Championships, Automobile Year, 1995/96, page 206
  3. ^ European Touring Car Championships, Automobile Year, 1995/96, page 207
  4. ^ DTM History 1984–2008 Archived 2010-05-04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.dtm.com on 19 November 2009
  5. ^ 1995 ITCS schedule and standings Retrieved from www.motorsport-archive.com on 19 November 2009
  6. ^ 1996 ITCC schedule and standings Retrieved from www.motorsport-archive.com on 19 November 2009
  7. ^ Hundscheid, Marcel (2018-01-05). "The Glory Years of DTM Part 3: 1990 – 1993". Motorsport Retro. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  8. ^ "Will the Class One series ever exist?". Car Throttle. 24 March 2016.
  9. ^ "DTM moves to turbo engines for 2017 as part of Super GT alignment". Autosport. 30 September 2014.
  10. ^ "Class One kommt ab 2017 (in German)". Auto Motor und Sport. 20 May 2015.
  11. ^ "Streit um neuen DTM-Turbomotor (in German)". Auto Motor und Sport. 29 September 2015.
  12. ^ "DTM and Super GT finalise 'Class 1' rules tie-up and joint races". Autosport. 23 June 2018.
  13. ^ "DTM, Super GT seal move to Class 1 regulations". Speedcafe. 24 June 2018.
  14. ^ "Class One: New Regulations To Combine DTM and Super GT". Winding Road. 2019-09-17.
  15. ^ "'Dream race' a success but no plans for any more joint races yet". Touring Car Times. 27 November 2019.
  16. ^ "R-Motorsport Aston Martin squad withdraws from DTM after one season". Autosport. 24 January 2020.
  17. ^ Klein, Jamie (27 April 2020). "Audi announces decision to quit DTM after 2020". motorsport.com. motorsport.com. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  18. ^ "DTM to use spec GT3 cars for new era in 2021". Motorsport.com. 6 November 2020.
  19. ^ Boretti, Alberto A. (2009). "Design of the 690 and 420 Touring Car Racing Engines". SAE Technical Paper Series. Vol. 1. SAE International. doi:10.4271/2009-01-1683.
  20. ^ "Motor M 106 des Rennsport-Tourenwagens Mercedes-AMG C-Klasse, 1994" (in German). Daimler AG.
  21. ^ "90s Mercedes DTM Technology More Like F1". 8 September 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  22. ^ "25 Years Ago: Opel Wins World Touring Car Championship with Calibra". Opel Automobile GmbH.
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