A brief overview of some of the key rules and regulations, with full 2023 Sporting and Technical Regulations available as a download at the bottom of this page: 

Technical Overview 

All cars have been built to the same NGTC regulations. First introduced in 2011, these technical regulations are designed to dramatically reduce the design, build and running costs of the cars and engines.  

The NGTC regulations allows independent teams to compete on a level playing field against manufacturer-backed efforts by keeping costs down whilst at the same time rewarding precise engineering and all-important split-second strategy. 

The foundation for NGTC is an emphasis on some common components – turbo, wastegate, intercoolers, ECU (engine control unit), instrumentation and dash, power management system, six-speed sequential gearbox, fuel tanks, differential, subframe, steering, brakes, clutch, wheels, dampers and suspension – which dramatically drives down costs for teams looking to compete in one of the world’s most attractive motor sport arenas. 

Teams have the option of running either TOCA’s unbranded NGTC-spec engine or, whether privateer or full manufacturer-backed entries, developing their own powerplant to the regulations, as long as it is from the same ‘family’ as their chosen model of car – all are 350+bhp 2-litre turbo-charged engines. 

In 2022, the BTCC became the first major touring car series to implement hybrid power as the new hybrid era was launched, alongside the introduction of the new M-Sport TOCA engine. 

For the 2023 campaign, several enhancements have been made to the hybrid system to ensure the deployment carries a greater impact. 

TOCA BTCC Licence 

Entry to the BTCC requires a TOCA BTCC Licence (TBL). 

• 29 permanent TBLs are available to teams 
• Teams may sell, gift, lease, assign or loan their TBL to other existing teams or eligible new entries on a season-long basis only, subject to the approval of TOCA as to the integrity of both recipient and transaction 

Race Weekend Format 

There are 10 events in the current season, with each event run across a weekend (Saturday and Sunday). 

• On Saturday there are two Free Practice sessions of 40 minutes and one Qualifying session of 30 minutes (note ‘Top Ten Showdown’ qualifying format for Donington Park (National), Brands Hatch (Indy), Oulton Park, Knockhill and Silverstone) 
• On Sunday there are three BTCC races of equal distance 

The points system is 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 for the top 15 finishers. This method of scoring is also be applied to independent drivers’ and teams’ championship and the overall teams’ – see full regs for details. 

Single bonus points are awarded for the fastest qualifier, fastest lap in each race and for leading a lap during races. 

Qualifying Format  
 
The ‘Top Ten Showdown’ qualifying that was first introduced in 2020 and is now being adopted at five of the ten events.  
 
All drivers will take part in the normal 30-minute qualifying session to record their lap times. Following a short five-minute break, the fastest ten competitors will then progress to a ten-minute pole position ‘Top Ten Showdown’ session to determine the top ten places on the grid.   
 
The ‘Top Ten Showdown’ will take place (on the Saturday) at the following events:  

• Donington Park (National) – 22/23 April  
• Brands Hatch (Indy) – 06/07 May  
• Oulton Park – 17/18 June  
• Knockhill – 12/13 August  
• Silverstone – 23/24 September  

Goodyear Tyres 

Drivers and teams unanimously requested the reintroduction of the Goodyear ‘Option’ tyre at all events with the exception of Thruxton, where only the hard tyre will be used due to the high-speed and more abrasive nature of the track, and Donington Park (National), where only the medium will be used.
 
The majority of these events will utilise two of the three compounds – hard, medium or soft – where the ‘Option’ tyre must be used at least once during race one, race two or race three – ensuring a variety of strategies. 
 
At two of the events – Snetterton and Croft – all three tyre choices must be used across the three races.  
 
Teams will not have to specify before qualifying, the race in which they will use their ‘Option’ tyre, with all choices being declared upon cars leaving the pit lane. 

Race grids 

• The grid for race one is decided during Saturday’s qualifying session (note different qualifying format for Donington Park (National), Brands Hatch (Indy), Oulton Park, Knockhill and Silverstone) 
• The grid for race two is based on the finishing order of race one
• The grid for race three is based on finishing positions, however there is also a reversed-grid element to the starting order. Numbers representing the cars that finished from sixth to 12th position in race two are put into a bowl, and one number is drawn at random. The corresponding car will start on pole, with the cars that finished ahead of it reversed i.e. if number six is chosen, the car that finished sixth in race two will start from pole ahead of the car that finished fifth, fourth, third etc. The remainder of the grid follows as per the finishing order of race two 

HEM 

Following the successful introduction of Hybrid power into the BTCC in 2022, several enhancements have been made to ensure deployment carries a greater impact from 2023 onwards. 
 
The top seven cars in the championship and/or top seven cars on the grid will have reduced Hybrid time during qualifying and the races on a sliding scale, whilst the minimum speed at which the system can be deployed for those top seven has been increased.  
 
Cars from eighth place onwards will be able to deploy Hybrid power from a reduced minimum speed, ensuring these drivers can utilise the additional power quicker than the leading order.  
 
These cars – from eighth place onwards – will only have Hybrid deployment available for 50% of the racing laps, ensuring a greater tactical element throughout the race with those drivers having to be more strategic in choosing which of those laps to use it.  
 
Hybrid can now also be deployed on the first lap after the safety car and the minimum time between deployments has been increased to five seconds, preventing drivers from staying on the power at the conclusion of one lap and into another. Dashboard display will show each driver the number of HEM seconds, or laps, they have remaining: 

Position	Qualifying & Race	Qualifying	Race
	Deployment Minimum Car Speed (KPH)	Hybrid Seconds/Lap	Laps with Hybrid
			A Circuits	B Circuits
1	135	1	1	5
2	135	3	2	6
3	135	5	3	7
4	130	7	4	8
5	130	9	5	9
6	125	11	6	10
7	125	13	7	11
8	115	15	8	12

Jack Sears Trophy 

Eligible drivers will be those that have never scored an outright podium position. Any driver subsequently scoring an outright podium during the season, will be ineligible for the JST from the next season. Previous overall JST winners are ineligible.

Click here to download the full 2024 Sporting and Technical Regulations

PLEASE NOTE: These regulations may be amended by TOCA during the course of the season with all teams and officials notified of any changes via official championship bulletins.