Leon TDi's

[Sparkz]

Hi Alan, Just wanted to know have you ever considered a rule such as this one?
The diesel cars now must have a catalytic converter and exhaust gas purification system in perfect working order at all times. The diesel cars must not produce visible black smoke at any time during the event

Personally I think this would be a good idea.
Sometimes during a race or off the line there does be black smoke extracting from the back of the TDi's, And I wanted to know would there be a way of stopping it while not hindering its race chances?

Roll on Knockhill :D

[Alan Gow]

Actually we were rather bemused when the WTCC introduced that rule - because all they have done is to merely incorporate the exact same policy that we have had all year....so they were a few months behind us, in that respect.

Also, the Leon TDI's in the BTCC have run catalytic converters and particle filters (i.e the 'exhaust gas purification system') since day one.

There is no real issue with the cars producing the occasional puff of smoke off the line or etc....after all, it's a diesel and pretty much all diesel's (road or race) do that. But when they produce excessive smoke then we have always taken action. In fact, that's exactly why we first called in (and subsequently black flagged) Jason Plato at Snetterton.

The same rule applies, for that matter, with any oil smoke that may be produced by a petrol-powered car.