TOCA – organiser of the British Touring Car Championship – has provided initial outline information regarding its proposed TOCA Junior Championship from 2025.
It is important to note that these details remain subject to the final approval of Motorsport UK in relation to issuing the necessary permits for the new championship. The particulars contained herein are in no way presumptive of that process. Instead, this is to ensure factual advance information is provided to the sport, rather than misinformed conjecture.
The full specification and details of the TOCA Junior Championship is currently scheduled for release in the Spring next year, subject of course to the required MSUK permit having been granted beforehand.
The all-new TOCA Junior race car will feature a bespoke rear-wheel-drive chassis that has been designed specifically for younger drivers. It will provide excellent driver visibility, with modern driver ergonomics. It is designed and built to the latest safety regulations and ROPS protection, along with the best industry standards in safety equipment.
The lively TOCA Junior spec-sealed 1800cc inline 4cyl engine, mated to a sequential gearbox and limited slip differential, will make the car fun, exciting and satisfying to drive.
The race car suspension, mounted on separate front and rear subframes, will provide enough adjustment to tailor the handling to suit each young driver’s needs. This, along with vented disc brakes with front/rear bias adjustment, will provide great stopping power to match the handling and performance.
All controlled parts will be sealed and marked to ensure conformity and a level playing field within their performance parameters.
The car is expected to weigh around 830kgs and thus will meet the MSUK criteria regarding the specific power/weight ratio for junior championships.
The cars will be equipped with the latest specification ‘FIA Advanced Racing Seat 8862-2009’, as well as FIA specification side impact panels and FIA homologated racing nets – all to ensure the highest level of safety for the driver.
The bespoke designed saloon car body will, importantly, provide plenty of space and protection for drivers of all sizes as well as driver coaches/instructors when needed. The front splitter and rear diffuser, along with a rear wing, will give the car extra grip. This, along with the support of Goodyear tyres, will give the car great performance on the most demanding circuits.
The car, parts and running costs will be priced in line with – and in many cases significantly below – some other existing junior cars. A complete spare parts backup will be available at every scheduled championship test day and race meeting.
We envisage that the new TOCA Junior car will be the future of high-level junior racing within the UK. It will provide drivers and teams with the unique ability to operate and learn their craft within the exciting and high profile BTCC environment.
All races will be as a support championship to the BTCC, thus giving TOCA Junior by far the biggest public and media profile of its type in UK motorsport through the enormous trackside audiences and huge free-to-air live television coverage on ITV4 as well as further highlights on the ITV network.
The championship will be rigorously policed and professionally managed by the same team that has, for the last ten years, operated the JSCC – currently the biggest junior championship in the UK. As well, TOCA will be providing ongoing technical and sporting expertise to support and confirm the high-standards and long-term stability of the championship. The BARC will be providing its at-event organisational infrastructure.
Full details of the car and the 2025 programme will be released at its official launch in the Spring, ahead of taking orders and entries for delivery of the car to teams during the course of next year.
The new TOCA Junior car will then be on show at BTCC events throughout 2024.
Initial expressions of interest can be emailed to; tocajuniorinformation@gmail.com.
