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The BMW 320 TC is a racing car built under Super 2000 specifications, which competed in the FIA World Touring Car Championship from 2011 to 2014. The car came into use as a customer car, after BMW ended their WTCC factory program at the end of the 2010 season.
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| Category | World Touring Car Championship | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | BMW | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | BMW Motorsport | ||||||||
| Predecessor | BMW 320si | ||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||
| Chassis | BMW E90 | ||||||||
| Engine | 1,598 cc (98 cu in) BMW P13[2] In-line 4 cylinder engine Turbo, 8,500 RPM limited front-mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | 6 speeds + reverse Semi-automatic sequential Limited-slip differential | ||||||||
| Weight | 1,150 kg (2,535.3 lb) (base weight (as per regulations), +/- ballast | ||||||||
| Tyres | Yokohama | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Debut | 2011 FIA WTCC Race of Brazil | ||||||||
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History
editThe BMW 320 TC is the further development of the BMW 320si WTCC, with which Andy Priaulx won the World Touring Car Championship for BMW in 2006 and 2007. Well over 60 models have been delivered to date by BMW Motorsport Distribution.
The new BMW 320 TC, which from 2011 can be used in series in accordance with the new Super 2000 regulations, is driven by a 1.6 litre, DI-turbo, four-cylinder engine called P13, because it was based on N13B16. The six-speed, sequential gearbox, which can be used to configure the circuit-specific transmission ratio, is also a new feature.
2011 WTCC regulation changes
editIn 2011 the FIA introduced the Super 2000 Kit Variant package, which allowed teams and manufacturers to change the engines of Super 2000 racing cars with 1600 ccm turbocharged engines. BMW Motorsport manufactured their own version of the new engine which was available for purchase to customer racing teams from 2011.
The car won five races in the WTCC. Its first victory was achieved by Franz Engstler in Race 2 of 2011 FIA WTCC Race of Germany. The second victory came at 2011 FIA WTCC Race of Japan by Tom Coronel. Norbert Michelisz took the third win in front of his home crowd at the 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Hungary. The fourth and fifth victories came in 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Austria and in 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Japan, both when Stefano D'Aste took the checkered flag in Race 2.
Chassis
editThe self-supporting BMW 320 TC body is manufactured in BMW Plant Regensburg alongside the production body shells for the BMW 1 and 3 Series.
Compared to the production BMW E90 model, the axles and the suspension geometry has been changed significantly. The new axles design include a camber setting that could be adjusted independently of any other settings parameters, such as roll center and track. This would make the axles easier for semi-professional teams to set up. The track width and camber were increased, while the wheel carrier and bearing were carried over from the production model.
Information
edit| Length | 4,539 mm (179 in) |
| Width | 1,858 mm (73 in) |
| Height | approx. 1,350 mm (53 in) |
| Wheel base | 2,760 mm (109 in) |
| Weight | 1,170 kg (2,579.4 lb) base weight (as per regulations), +/- ballast |
| Tank capacity | approx. 45 L (11.9 US gal) |
| Price | 220 000 EUR + VAT |
| Engine type | Four-cylinder inline turbo engine with direct fuel injection and air restrictor |
| Capacity | 1,598 cc (97.5 cu in) |
| Compression | max. 12,5:1 |
| Output | max. 310 bhp |
| Torque | max. 420 Nm |
| Engine Speed | max. 8500 rpm |
Teams and drivers
editCurrent teams and drivers
editThe following teams and drivers entered the BMW 320 TC for the 2013 World Touring Car Championship season:[3]
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ "Official website of the BMW 320 TC". Archived from the original on 2012-01-05.
- ^ https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/latin-america-caribbean/article/detail/T0306961EN/from-m121-to-p48:-an-overview-of-the-evolution-of-bmw-turbo-engines-in-motor-racing?language=en [bare URL]
- ^ "WTCC Entry list 2012". WTCC Hírblog. 2012-03-04.