The British Touring Car Championship’s inaugural race of the hybrid era took place last weekend at Donington Park. Everyone in attendance was eager to find out how the hybrid system would spice up the racing.

TOCA decided to remove the success ballast handicap that has been part of the championship for two decades and replace it with a hybrid boost handicap, in a bid to keep the series relevant with the changing automotive landscape. The top drivers have reduced use of the extra 30kW electrical boost, depending on their championship position in both qualifying and the three races that take place over the weekend.

The hybrid system that is in all of the cars on the BTCC grid, has been developed by one of our long-standing clients, Cosworth. Francis, one of our Content and Communications Coordinators, was onsite performing Press Officer, photography, and social media duties for the weekend on behalf of Cosworth.

The weekend was positive all around with fans, drivers, and the media praising how the hybrid system added a new dynamic to the racing. Drivers now have to strategise on the fly, when and where they are going to use the extra electrical boost and the spectacle was brilliant.

ITV4’s coverage showed viewers exactly when each driver was utilising the hybrid button with new, striking blue graphics which let everyone know how the race, in terms of hybrid energy, was playing out.

All in all, it was a great weekend of racing and we’re really excited to see how the championship develops over the next coming races. Let’s see what Brands Hatch delivers in a few weeks.