Now as some of you know, the Chevrolet Cruze WTCC car actually uses the Opel derived C20XE. That's right, the same engine first used in touring car racing in the 80's is still used at top level motorsport today. In fact, Chevrolet won both the drivers and the manufacturers titles in 2010, while using this engine! Now this isn't quite the same beasty we saw developed up to Super Touring level during the 90's, in fact it is far from it. Wet sump, single throttle body, well down on power from that of the Vauxhall and Opel Vectras, which were rumoured to make in excess of 320bhp at the time, the current engine makes around 280bhp - still, pretty reasonable for an NA 2 litre and more than enough to fend off the competitors.
Which brings me on to my next point, the sadness I spoke about earlier. 2010 is the last year that the WTCC will run the factory teams under the "S2000" regulations. Next year the WTCC is following suit with the BTCC, along with WRC and going to a set of regulations that mean they will be running 1600cc turbocharged petrol engines. Now I'm not all pesimistic on this, these small engines will be making around 300bhp and 70% more torque than the current NA engines! That is a formula for good racing in anyones books and should put them all on equal pegging. What I am sad about, is that I won't get to hear the sound of a C20XE screaming at 8000rpm and competing at the top level of touring car racing in the world!
The C20XE, along with the Cruze, Lacetti and any other vehicles that it is fitted to can continue in the championship for the following year, but only run as customers cars under the regulations and will be phased out completely over the next few years, in favour of the 1600cc turbo engines and cars. So, this marks the end of an era so to speak and a sad one in my eyes at least.
