What exactly are the ETCC cars?

The BMW 320i ETCC cars are very similar to those customers can buy from their local dealers, but they have to be homologated in Group N to make them comply with the Super 2000 category in which the BMW 320i is competing. At least 2,500 series-production versions have to have been built during twelve months and the cars have to have at least four seats, four doors and a minimum length of 4.2 metres. The BMW petrol engine is normally aspirated and is limited to 2000cc. However, from 2004 the rules have allowed for the inclusion of categories for both touring cars with turbo diesel engines and also those complying with the Super Production regulations. In the Super 2000 category no electronic aids of any kind are permitted and two types of transmission are allowed - a conventional H-shaped gate with a maximum five speeds and a sequential shift six-speed. Depending on which is used, there is a different vehicle weight.

Rules and regulations for the ETCC races

The FIA ETCC races are part of the LG Super Racing Weekends, and on each weekend there are two races with each being a minimum of 50 kilometres. These race starts are an hour apart and the teams can spend only 15 minutes working on the cars between each race. For the second year the points allocation has been 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 for both Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championships. Only the two best-placed cars from each marque will score Manufacturers' points. The grid for race
one is determined during qualifying, but for race two the top eight finishers from race two start in reverse order. There is a success ballast system, with the three drivers scoring the most championship points over the two races having 30 kg, 20 kg and 10 kg respectively added to their cars for the next racing weekend. The top three in the championship also have these same amounts added. These
are cumulative and the maximum any one driver can carry is 40 kg.

The 2004 FIA European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) was one of great highs and lows for the BMW national teams, but the hard work and dedication from all the teams was worthwhile when at the end of the 20-race season the top championship honours went to the manufacturer and its drivers. More...

BMW ETCC 320i racers

A total of six national teams and up to eight BMW 320i models made for some first-class touring car sport in the FIA European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) and earned BMW second place in the Manufacturers' Championship in 2002. The customer teams were competing with the backing of the national BMW dealers in Belgium, Germany, Britain, Holland, Sicily and Spain.

ETCC Drivers: The inspirational Alex Zanardi climbs into the cockpit after a horrible racing accident, thanks to BMW, and Andy Priaulx wins it in 2004.

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