- Championships
- Race Format
- Qualifying sessions
- Untimed sessions
- Championship points system
- Manufacturers
- Teams
- Pit stops
- Tyres
- Success ballast
- Driver discipline
- Safety car
- Spare cars
- Spare engines
- Testing
- Series info

CHAMPIONSHIPS

The British Touring Car Championship comprises the following championships:

- BTC Touring Championship for Drivers
- BTC Touring Independents' Cup for Drivers
- BTC Touring Championship for Manufacturers
- BTC Touring Championship for Teams
- BTC Production Championship for Drivers
- BTC Production Championship for Teams

RACE FORMAT

Each meeting will feature two championship rounds of equal length, combining BTC Touring and BTC Production classes, both races featuring a mandatory pit-stop for BTC Touring cars only.

QUALIFYING SESSIONS

There is a single 20 minute session at each meeting, the lap times from which determine the grid order for the first race of the meeting. The grid for the second race of the meeting will be formed by the BTCC competitors in their finishing order from race one.

BTC Production cars will always form their grid behind the BTC Touring cars in the feature race, irrespective of qualifying times.

UNTIMED SESSIONS

Cars are permitted two 40-minute practice sessions, where times do not count towards qualifying position. These take place in the morning on two day meetings or on the first day of 3 day meetings.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS SYSTEM

Points can be scored for each of the championships listed above in all championship races. For each championship, points are awarded to the drivers listed as classified finishers in the Final Results for each race. The points system is as follows:

1st	- 15 points
2nd	- 12
3rd	- 10
4th	- 8
5th	- 6
6th	- 5
7th	- 4
8th	- 3
9th	- 2
10th	- 1

i - Pole position: One additional point will be awarded to the driver who starts on the pole position in both Touring and Production classes at the first race of each meeting. (Applies only to BTC Touring Drivers and BTC Production Drivers championships.)

ii - Fastest lap: One additional point will be awarded to the driver setting the fastest lap in both Touring and Production Classes in each race. (Applies only to BTC Touring Drivers and BTC Production Drivers championships.)

iii - Race leader: One additional point will be awarded to each driver who is classified as a BTC Touring race leader (on crossing the start/finish line during the course of the race) during each Race. (Only one point is awarded, irrespective of how many times a driver leads.)

i, ii & iii apply only to BTC Touring Drivers and BTC Production Drivers championships.

The BTC Production class will run as a championship within a championship. Therefore, cars will be eligible for bonus points (lap lead/fastest lap/pole position) irrespective of their overall position in the race.

Independent entries in the touring class score points in the respective touring class championships, in addition the drivers will also score points in the independents cup.

MANUFACTURERS

BTC Touring manufacturers/importers must nominate a maximum of three cars prior to each round. Only these cars will be eligible for points. Points can be scored in both races at each meeting.

TEAMS

Points will be awarded to the two highest-placed cars from each team. The BTC Touring and BTC Production categories each have their own Teams Championships.

PIT STOPS

Pit stops are mandatory for all BTC Touring cars in both races at each meeting. Two complete wheels must be changed during the stop, which must take place between ten laps and 18 laps with the exception of Brands Hatch Indy circuit where the pit stop window will be open between 14 laps and 26 laps. The pit stop for each race remains unchanged even after the Safety Car is used or there is an aborted start and the race distance is reduced. Stops are not mandatory for BTC Production cars.

A maximum of seven personnel are permitted in the pit lane to carry out a pit stop for one and two-car teams. Seven extra personnel are permitted for three and four-car teams. The pit lane speed limit is 40mph (64kph).

TYRES

Dunlop is the nominated tyre supplier for the championship. BTC Touring cars are limited to 20 dry/slick tyres each meeting, including untimed practice sessions. BTC production cars are limited to 16 tyres each meeting. There is no limit to the number of grooved tyres used. The use of tyre warmers is prohibited.

SUCCESS BALLAST

Drivers in both BTC-Touring and BTC-Production will this year once again be awarded 'success ballast' based on their finishing position in a race.

Success ballast will be applied to each driver following each championship race based on the finishing order of that race.

The increase in success ballast weight or permitted reduction in weight awarded after the first race will be effective for the second race in the same meeting. The increase in success ballast weight or permitted reduction in weight awarded after the second race will be effective for the untimed practice, official qualifying session and the first race at the following meeting. There is no accumulation of success ballast.

Ballast will be awarded to Touring class drivers as follows:

1st position: +42 Kg
2nd: +30 Kg
3rd: +18 Kg
4th: +9 Kg
5th: +0 Kg
6th: -9 Kg
7th: -15 Kg
8th: -21 Kg
9th or lower: -24 Kg (Includes DNS/DNF)

The standard weight for a BTC Touring car (with driver) is 1174 Kg. As shown above, any driver finishing in 6th position or lower will be permitted to remove the specified amount of weight from the car. For example, a driver finishing in 8th position in the Sprint Race would be permitted to run with a car weighing 1153 Kg or more in the Feature Race. The weight reductions ARE NOT compulsory, however, the carrying of extra ballast awarded is.

In the Production class, the following applies:
1st position: +42 Kg
2nd: +30 Kg
3rd: +18 Kg
4th: +9 Kg
5th or lower: +/- 0Kg

As shown above, there are no permitted weight reductions in the Production class, however the extra ballast must be carried the same as in the Touring class.

DRIVER DISCIPLINE

A range of penalties can be imposed against a driver or team deemed to be in breach of the regulations. These include: a pit "drive-through" during the race; a time penalty; reprimand; fine; docking of points; or exclusion from future events. Video evidence from the TOCA-nominated TV company will be accepted.

SAFETY CAR

The Safety Car may be deployed at any stage. The first five laps behind the Safety Car will not be counted as race laps. Thereafter, each lap will count towards the race. When the Safety Car pulls into the pits, racing must not resume until cars pass a green flag waved at the start/finish line.

SPARE CARS

No replacement cars are permitted at any TOCA meeting or test.

SPARE ENGINES

Each driver is permitted a maximum of four sealed engines during the course of the championship. The BTCC Clerk may deduct a maximum of 15 championship points for every subsequent change of engine above the permitted limit.

If a sump is damaged for any reason it may be changed under supervision without the loss of an engine life however the driver will be required to start the next race from the back of the complete grid. Engine seals can also be removed for visual inspection and the repair of oil leaks only, under the supervision of a BTCC scrutineer, without the loss of an engine life.

TESTING

Testing between Saturday 16th November 2002 and Sunday 19th January 2003 is prohibited.

Testing is then unrestricted until 7 days before the first meeting of the 2003 Championship.

There are the following official test sessions in 2003:

A half day Thruxton Test ? April 25th, 2003
A familiarisation test at Rockingham ? June 20th, 2003

During the 2003 BTCC season, entrants in the BTC Touring Indepedents Cup for Drivers are permitted to test on circuit general test days up to a maximum of 4 days per registered driver.

Entrants in the BTC Production class may test on Circuit General Test Days up to a maximum of 5 days per registered driver during the course of the 2003 BTCC season.

Outside of these criteria, the only testing permitted during the course of the 2003 BTCC season is for shakedown purposes on non-BTCC circuits.

The BTCC and TocaTour is promoted and governed by Toca and British Motorsport Promoters. The official series website can be found at http://www.tocatour.co.uk, and this can be used to contact the series organisers directly, as well as to view official announcements and releases. The official site also features live streaming of Toca Radio on racedays.