World Touring Car Championship unlikely to see 'radical' technical changes despite hybrid possibility
World Touring Car Championship promoter Marcello Lotti does not think there is any need for the series to make radical changes for its 2015 rules package, although hybrid technology is likely to feature
The FIA's environmentally friendly technology in motorsport working group is investigating the possibility of a common hybrid system being adopted in the WTCC's next set of regulations. Lotti does not envisage any proposed system being part of a wider, radical, change.
"The FIA are working with the manufacturers to try and look into some evolution of some points of the regulations for 2015," said Lotti. "I think this includes the idea to have a common hybrid system. All the manufacturers are open to welcoming this... presentation, I should say."
Initial discussions relating to the possible use of a hybrid system suggest an off-the-shelf product is favoured to keep development costs to a minimum.
"It is not something that someone would need to develop," added Lotti. "I know the FIA has just started to receive some offers. It is a system that exists. It would be a common system, and it would go to the non-traction axle: to the front axle for rear-wheel drive, and rear axle for front-wheel drive."
Lotti pointed to rekindled manufacturer interest in the series, with Honda and Lada set to join the 2013 grid, as evidence that the championship does not require any serious change of direction.
"We may make some cosmetic changes to the cars at some point, why not? We have to do something. We may look to make the cars appear more aggressive, but not to change the DNA of the championship," he said. "Maybe a little bigger wing or rear bumper, but not a silhouette car.
"We are very happy with the race format, I am not looking to have any special races with driver changes like in V8 Supercars."
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