Lotus Engineering to conduct engine test for the BTCC

Many teams switched to the two-litre NGTC turbo engines this season and even more are expected to run them in 2012.

Lotus is now conducting independent tests and will report to the BTCC's Engine Technical Review Panel, which includes representatives from engine builders in the series.

BTCC director Alan Gow confirmed the tests were not aimed at equalising all the engines, but should prevent large disparities.

"The purpose of this programme is not to make every race engine perform in exactly the same way," he said. "It's only right that the best engineering, the best design, the best teams and, of course, the best drivers still see their efforts related to their on-track performances.

"The test programme is simply to reduce any wide performance variances resulting from significant differences in the fundamental port/valve designs of the original production engines. It will identify and quantify those that produce superior airflow through the cylinder head and those that don't, in order that their baseline turbo boost pressure is set accordingly."

Gow also confirmed further tweaks during the season, such as occurred this year aiming for parity between normally aspirated, NGTC and S2000 turbo machines, could occur in 2012.

"During the course of the season, a strict mathematic calculation - based on a rolling average of each model's qualifying and lap times over a set number of events - will determine if any further changes should be made to their respective boost levels," he added.

"This will have the virtue of being an entirely clear, definitive procedure which utilises a set calculation and methodology to adjust any significant performance imbalances."