New BTCC car based on Toyota mule

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A Toyota will be the basis of the test and development car for the next generation of British Touring Car Championship contenders.

The Toyota Avensis is being developed to the budget Next Generation Touring Car rules that will be introduced next season. Work is already underway on the car at GPR Motorsport and testing will begin in the hands of former BTCC champion James Thompson after the car’s public debut in October.

BTCC organiser TOCA believes that the use of common components across all NGTC cars will mean a cost saving of 50 per cent compared with a current Super 2000 car. The NGTC will be eligible from next year and will race side by side with the existing cars until at least 2013.

Toyota, which has supplied the donor car to TOCA, stressed that it is not planning a factory return to the BTCC.