!NEW! All Systems Go for Opel Astra TCR’s Second Season

• Intensive further development of Opel’s customer racing touring car for 2017
• Technical partner Kissling Motorsport also takes over customer support 

Next step: Pierre-Yves Corthals, winner of last season’s TCR Trophy Europe, and Belgian team DG Sport Compétition are working on using two Opel touring cars in the TCR International Series.

Before the start of the 2017 international circuit racing season, the Opel Astra TCR is currently undergoing the last phase of technical development. Based on lessons learned from the 2016 debut season, a number of details were optimized on Opel’s 350 hp customer racing touring car during the winter in preparation for the 2017 homologation this March. After this takes place, the Opel Astra TCR can be used in all TCR series around the world. The TCR spectrum encompasses the global TCR International Series as well as a total of eleven national and regional championships, which include the ADAC TCR Germany. In addition, a number of endurance races such as the Nürburgring 24-hours, Barcelona and Dubai feature a class for TCR vehicles as does the most popular privateer sport series in the world, the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring on the legendary Nordschleife.

Enhanced Astra TCR: Opel’s 350 hp customer racing touring car has been further optimized over the winter.

The vehicle homologation will be preceded by the “Balance of Performance” (BoP) test on March 1-2 at the Adria International Raceway near Venice. During this test, the performance of all participating brands’ TCR vehicles is tested by a professional driver engaged by the TCR organization and the cars are then given a base classification. This ensures the competitiveness of all participating vehicles. If necessary, BoP adjustments will be made during the season to assure well-balanced starting fields and exciting touring car racing with large brand diversity.

Opel Astra TCR with driver Pierre-Yves Corthals

In addition to private use in various national championships, the Opel Astra TCR is also to perform on the international stage again this year. The Belgian team DG Sport Compétition – with driver Pierre-Yves Corthals and the Astra TCR the first title holder in the TCR Trophy Europe last season – is working on using two Opel touring cars for the TCR International Series. The season start is on April 2 at Rustavi International Motopark in Georgia.

2016 Opel Astra TCR on Nürburgring

To offer customers support that is as comprehensive as possible, Opel is intensifying cooperation with its longtime technical and development partner Kissling Motorsport. In future, in addition to developing and building the Astra TCR customer vehicles, the touring car specialists from Bad Münstereifel near the Nürburgring will also be responsible for all customer support. “We thus bundle all building blocks necessary for our customer racing program under one roof. This ensures streamlined processes, direct communication channels and efficient service for Astra TCR customers,” says Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott.

!NEW! Opel Astra TCR Celebrates Race Debut in Bahrain

• TCR International Series 2016 kicks off on the Bahrain International Circuit
• Target Competition with two Opel Astra TCR driven by Jordi Oriola and Andrea Belicchi
• Testing under special conditions

Campaign opener in Bahrain: Two Opel Astra TCR of Team Target Competition will compete for this first time this season.

The opening race of the Touring Car Racing (TCR) International Series in Bahrain on April 2 and 3 will not only mark the start of the second season of the competition, it will also see the start of a new chapter in 

Opel’s touring car tradition. Two new Astra TCR cars, run by the Italian Target Competition Team, will take to the track in the kingdom on the shores of the Persian Gulf. Thirty-nine-year-old Italian veteran Andrea Belicchi and 19-year-old Spanish youngster Jordi Oriola will be behind the steering wheel of the customer racing cars from Rüsselsheim.

Opel drivers: Italian veteran Andrea Belicchi (39) and 19-year-old Jordi Oriola from Spain will be behind the steering wheels of the 330hp Astra TCRs.

In the light of the specific external conditions on the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, built in the middle of the desert around 30 kilometers from the capital Manama, the Target Team will face a tough challenge. The expected temperatures of over 40C represent a substantial challenge for the engine cooling system, the turbocharger, the transmission and the brakes. Tire wear will also be a major topic in the desert heat. The 5.412km-long Bahrain International Circuit consists of six left and eight right-hand corners together with four straights, the longest being the finishing straight with a length of around 1.1km.

The Astra TCR is thus facing it first major challenge. The technical staff of Opel Motorsport and Target Competition made significant progress in relation to the vehicle set-up during the final test drives on the Spanish Valencia circuit. 1993 German Touring Car championship winner and former Formula One driver Nicola Larini also stated that the Opel Astra TCR “has a very good handling”. Larini was responsible for test all the TCR cars of the different brands to create a basis of the “Balance of Performance” (BoP).

BoP uses the key elements weight and engine performance to create a balance between all vehicle concepts and thus give every carmaker the chance to field a competitive car for customer sport. Equal opportunity is one of the key characteristics of the TCR (Touring Car Racer Series) that was developed for five-door compact class cars with a maximum engine displacement of 2.0 liters. Another major factor in favor of the TCR is the possible use of the vehicles in a multitude of national and continental championships in addition to the global TCR International Series. Three races of the international competition, including the one in Bahrain, will be held as part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix supporting program. Each round of the TCR consists of two heats.

Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott is already excited ahead of the Astra TCR’s competitive debut but is also managing expectations. “We are a newcomer to the TCR series with our Astra and will definitely need a bit more time to further optimize the vehicle. Furthermore, the conditions in the desert are unique. Therefore, we should treat the two races in Bahrain as another important test. We aim to learn as much as possible to have a fine-tuned the Astra TCR as soon as possible after the races.”

For customer racing: Opel Astra TCR is based on the serial production Astra and benefits from its lightweight construction and outstanding aerodynamics.

!NEW! Outstanding Aerodynamics: Best Conditions for the Opel Astra TCR

• Efficient aerodynamics are one of the keys to success in touring car racing
• Meticulous wind tunnel work important element of vehicle development
• Already excellent aerodynamics of serial production Astra as the perfect base

Key to success: Aerodynamic efficiency is the result of a well-balanced ratio of downforce and drag. 

Aerodynamics have become increasingly important in motorsports. In the past, aerodynamic problems have often been hidden by simply increasing engine performance. However, the key to success in modern motorsports is now the same as in serial production: efficiency. This was one of the most important development goals for the Opel Astra TCR that was created to compete in the Touring Car Racer Series (TCR).

New Opel Astra TCR: Wind tunnel testing for efficient aerodynamics.

Aerodynamic efficiency is the result of a well-balanced ratio of downforce and drag. In order to achieve the perfect combination of high speeds through the corners and on the straights, engineers strive to have as much as possible downforce while simultaneously reducing drag as far as possible. The new Astra comes with the perfect prerequisites for a close to serial production touring car. The “Car of the Year 2016” has an outstanding drag coefficient for hatchbacks of 0.272. It therefore is perfectly suited to serve as the base for a fast racing car.

Compared to its serial production sibling the width of the Opel Astra TCR has been increased to 1,950 millimeters – the maximum permitted by the rules. The bumpers, fenders and side panels have also been modified. The front splitter and the rear wing are the main elements creating the decisive downforce. Both features have been defined as standard components in the TCR regulations to keep costs down. Manufacturers can thus not change the shape or finish but they can fine-tune the mounting position. The location of the rear wing is especially important. According to the regulations, the rear wing is not allowed to protrude the roofline. Furthermore, it is not allowed to protrude by more than 1,050 millimeters – measured from the center of the rear wheel hub.

Increased width: The front splitter and the rear wing are the main elements creating the decisive downforce.

The downforce created by the rear wing increases the more it stands in the wind. However, this simultaneously increases drag, which is detrimental for top speed. Therefore, a compromise between drag and downforce needs to be found. The same goes for the setting angle of the front splitter. It needs to be as flat as possible while being steep enough to the keep the front axle stable when braking and to prevent understeer in the corners. Once again the aerodynamic balance in decisive, i.e. the downforce ratio between front and rear axle. This ratio needs to be well balanced so that the car remains stable no matter what the driving situation.

Meticulous preparation: Wind tunnel work about the position of the rear wing, the angle of the front splitter and the design of the fenders and the side sills.

In order to get as close to this delicate balance as possible from the very start, the development team around Opel Motorsport’s Senior Manager Dietmar Metrich put the Astra TCR through an aerodynamics test lasting several days. The team decided to use the wind tunnel of Stuttgart University for the tests. “It has a rolling floor and can simulate speeds of up to 250 km/h. That makes it ideal for our purposes,” explains Metrich.

Time in the wind tunnel is expensive and therefore calls for meticulous preparation. “We used models to prepare various solutions. This gave us to chance to test and change the configurations when we were on site,” says Metrich. “It was mainly about the position of the rear wing, the angle of the front splitter and the design of the fenders and the side sills.”

Dietmar Metrich suddenly turns very quiet when it comes to communicating data and measurements. “I can tell you this much: we feel perfectly prepared thanks to the excellent suitability of the base model. We will only find out where we stand when the cars compete on the race track but that makes the whole thing really exciting!”

!NEW! Pre-Season Testing: Countless Kilometers for Opel Astra TCR

• Development of Opel’s new customer racing touring car right on schedule
• Positive findings after five-day test drives in Estoril, Portugal
• Delivery of first cars to customer teams at end of February 

For customer racing: Opel Astra TCR is built in accordance with the regulations of the Touring Car Racing Series.

The Opel Astra TCR development program is going at full speed. Last week, the new customer racing touring car built in accordance with the TCR (Touring Car Racing Series) regulations covered countless kilometers over five test days on the Circuito do Estoril in Portugal. “It was a very good test,” says Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott. “The timeline is still very tight, but we are on schedule. Opel Astra TCR ran reliably at the last test drives in Zandvoort and Estoril, it’s performing well. Now we’re working on fine-tuning details before the first vehicles are delivered to our customer teams at the end of February.” The Opel Astra TCR makes it public premiere at the Geneva Motor Show (March 3 – 13, 2016).

Pre-season testing: Countless kilometers for the Opel Astra TCR on the race circuits in Zandvoort and Estoril.

Opel Motorsport Technical Director Dietmar Metrich and the team at Opel development partner Kissling Motorsport paid special attention to the front axle’s sophisticated concept. “On a racing car with around 330 hp and front-wheel drive, this is a key component. All the longitudinal and lateral forces of a TCR car, so in addition to braking and steering this also means acceleration, affect the front wheels,” explains Dietmar Metrich. “And this is not only about the lap times, it is also about tire wear. So whoever has a car with a well-performing front axle has a clear advantage in tough competition. And because the front-wheel suspension pivot point is not specified in the TCR guidelines, we have some leeway in the design of the front axle.”

During the last test drives, the technicians concentrated on the basic setup to draw out the Opel Astra TCR’s maximum performance. This is in line with Dietmar Metrich’s credo: “It’s always easier to make a fast racing car solid than to make a solid one fast. But ultimately the best of both has to be at hand.” What is extremely important in the process is the meticulous balancing of the mechanical grip of the chassis and wheels as well as the aerodynamic grip, which is mainly created by the rear wing and front splitter. Both give the racing car fast and easy-to-drive handling. The racing car driver’s information on the car’s driving behavior is as significant as the lap times. Finely tuned vehicle balance is also especially important for brake performance. Opel Astra TCR’s brake system from the renowned manufacturer AP enables extremely late braking points. This is ensured by 378 mm brake discs and six-piston brake calipers at the front along with 265 mm brake discs and two-piston brake calipers at the back. The driver can modulate the braking balance from the cockpit.

Opel Astra TCR is also top in terms of dynamic strength. The sequential, six-speed racing transmission operated by a paddle shift located on the steering wheel from the French specialists Sadev works without difficulty. And the four-cylinder, two-liter turbocharged engine with two overhead camshafts and multi-point injection has already proved its strength and endurance in long-distance events. The 16 valve 330 hp unit with maximum torque of around 420 Nm also delivers impressive figures in its TCR trim. In this case it is boundaries set by the guidelines that limit the engine’s potential performance.

The key concept here is “Balance of Performance”. To ensure that every automaker – regardless of the technical basis of their production series platform – can bring a competitive racing car to the racetrack while also putting an end to cost-intensive technical spin-off pursuits, the regulation guardians balance the racing cars using a tried and tested system. The two “Balance of Performance” adjustment points in the TCR are engine performance and weight, whereby the engine performance is controlled via electronics or so-called mapping. The TCR guidelines thus enable exciting customer racing with maximum cost control.

“We still have lots of work ahead of us before our TCR debut,” says Jörg Schrott. “But I’m already looking forward to the coming season. The TCR is exactly what the teams and fans want. Thrilling, breathtakingly close motorsport featuring cars the spectators can identify with – this approach is a surefire success.” 

!NEW! Opel Astra TCR: New Touring Car for Customer Racing Presented

• Sneak preview of the 330 hp touring car for the TCR Series
• Use in short and long distance races possible
• First cars to be delivered to selected customer teams at the end of February 2016 

New Opel Astra TCR will presented for the first time in the Belgian town of Mettet.

Opel took full advantage of the international TCR (Touring Car Racing) presentation at the circuit Jules Tacheny in Mettet, Belgium, showing their new customer racing touring car for the first time. The Opel Astra TCR combines ultra-modern racing technology with an effective safety concept while simultaneously remaining close to production. It enables the Opel teams to compete in short and long distance races – such as the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring – with a technically unchanged vehicle.

New Opel Astra TCR is powered by a highly efficient 2.0 Turbo with 330 hp

The 5-door Astra is powered by a highly efficient two-liter turbocharged engine that will deliver 330 hp and maximum torque of 420 Nm (both determined by the “Balance of Performance” concept), thus ensuring that vehicle with a curb weight of 1,200 kilograms has enough propulsion. This power is transferred to the front wheels via a sequential, six-speed racing transmission with the paddle shift located on the steering wheel. Adhesion is established via a twin-disc sinter metal clutch. An automated double declutching system creates stability when shifting down. The racing car is decelerated by 378 mm brake discs and 6-piston brake calipers at the front along with 265 mm brake discs and 2-piston brake calipers at the back. The driver can modulate the braking balance from the cockpit.

The chassis is fully adjustable and comes with ultra-modern damper technology. The efficient aerodynamics, which include an adjustable front splitter and rear spoiler that for cost reasons are standard components and identical on all TCR vehicles, are also relevant for the vehicle set-up. Electronic assistance systems such as ABS and ESP are not permitted.

In order to ensure that the Opel customer teams can use their Astra TCR for a number of years without making any technical adjustments, the car already comes with features that the International Automobile Association (FIA) will only declare mandatory from the 2017 season such as the 100-liter fuel safety tank.

Opel’s commitment in the Touring Car Racing Series marks the continuation of a long and successful tradition in touring car racing. Customer racing has always been a key pillar in Opel’s motorsport commitment in many countries across Europe alongside factory-backed participation in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) or national championships such as the German Supertouring Championship (STW). The concept of the TCR matches this philosophy perfectly – with powerful, optically impressive close-to-production touring cars available at affordable prices, the TCR meets the current requirements of the interested customer teams.

The TCR also offers Opel the perfect platform to present its new volume model in a racing environment in the involved markets. The various national championships, obviously including the new German TCR series (ADAC TCR Germany), which will be staged under the overall control of Opel’s longtime partner ADAC, and the European championship are an ideal playing field for Opel and its customer teams. The three-tier concept – national and continental championships along with the global TCR International Series – ensures that customer teams can compete worldwide with the same car.

The Astra TCR is being developed in close cooperation with Opel’s longstanding partner Kissling Motorsport from Bad Münstereifel. Initial performance checks are set to take place before the end of October. A limited amount of Opel Astra TCRs will be delivered to selected customer teams from February of next year. The race-ready vehicle will cost a competitive €95,000 (plus VAT).

!NEW! Sneak Preview of the New Opel Astra TCR

• Opel to present the new touring car in Belgium on October 15
• Development of racing car with roughly 330 hp going according to plan
• TCR seen as ideal field for outstanding touring car customer racing

Powered by Opel: New Astra TCR comes with a two-liter turbocharged engine with roughly 330 hp.

Development of the new Opel Astra TCR for the young but already hugely successful Touring Car Racing Series (TCR) is going according to plan. The customer racing touring car based on the new Opel Astra will be presented to the public for the first time at the official TCR presentation scheduled to be held on the Circuit Jules Tacheny in the Belgian town of Mettet on October 15, 2015.

For customer racing: New Opel Astra TCR racecar.

The Astra TCR, developed by Opel Motorsport in conjunction with long-standing technology partner Kissling, comes with a two-liter turbocharged engine with roughly 330 hp and a string of technical highlights. The racing car will continue the long tradition of customer racing at Opel with its symbiosis of close-to-production but high performance and spectacular technology.

The TCR Series, launched for the 2015 season, offers the perfect playing field for professional customer teams. Thanks to the three-pillar concept, a TCR vehicle can race in national and continental championships along with the global TCR International Series – all of which have exactly the same homologation. Germany will have its own TCR racing series with the ADAC TCR Germany. Furthermore, a TCR class will be introduced for the ADAC 24h race on the legendary Nürburgring, thus further increasing the possibilities for the Opel Astra TCR.

!NEW! Opel Astra TCR: 330 hp for the Racetrack

Opel developing a racing car for the 2016 TCR International Series

New Astra for the Racetrack: Opel’s motorsports division is developing a touring car in accordance with the current regulations of the TCR series for national and international customer racing.

Opel is expanding its activities in customer touring car racing. Based on the new Astra K, which will celebrate its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) this September, the motorsports division of the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker is developing a touring car in accordance with the current regulations of the TCR series for national and international customer racing.

The TCR series, inaugurated in 2015, is based on a three-pillar concept that includes national and continental championships along with the global TCR International Series – all of which have exactly the same technical regulations. Therefore, a TCR vehicle can be used worldwide without undergoing any technical modifications. The two-liter turbo-charged engines have an output of 330 hp (246 kW) and maximum torque of 410 Nm.

“Touring car racing has always been an important part of Opel. The philosophy of the new TCR series corresponds to our idea of customer racing. We want to give ambitious privately owned teams a platform for exciting sport at reasonable costs,” said Opel Group CMO Tina Müller.

The Opel Astra TCR is currently under development and the technical specifications will be announced at a later date. Testing of the new customer sports touring car is set to start in October.