BTCC to limit emissions from 2009

Each competing car's emissions will be required to be below a certain CO2 level, which is expected to be similar to the levels produced by its showroom model.

BTCC boss Alan Gow said: "With both the motor industry and Government committed to reducing cars' emission levels, we have an equal responsibility and opportunity to do the same.

"This is the most positive and relevant step the BTCC can take to demonstrate our genuine, similar commitment.

"To my knowledge no other major championship in the world has a regulation to enforce a maximum emissions level.

"I have no doubt that many other championships in the UK, and indeed around the world, will eventually follow this route - so I'm very proud of our world-leading initiative."

Gow believes that the decision to reduce emissions is a more productive way of helping the environment than the options taken up by some other championships.

"We could, of course, have simply mandated the use of bio-fuels," he said. "However, reducing our race car emissions to a figure at, or below, their road car equivalent with the type of fuel that we all normally use is a far more relevant and meaningful commitment.

"This is particularly as bio-fuels are not readily available to the public, nor widely used in everyday life."

"Our new emissions regulation also provides an ideal showcase for effective motor sport technology - to greatly reduce and regulate our emissions without any discernable loss of performance."

The series will research the emissions tests during 2008 in consultation with the major engine builders and teams.