Touring car racing and rallies are now significantly closer thanks to the adoption of the Global Engine.
After becoming the common denominator between the FIA World Touring Car and World Rally championships, the new 1.6-litre turbocharged power plant is set to be adopted in national and regional series as well.
The new unit for the WTCC cars supplies about 320 bhp, with a significant increase of 30 bhp compared to the 2.0-litre normally aspirated and turbo diesel engines.
However, more than power itself, the new engine’s peculiarity will be reliability as in 2011 competitors will be only allowed one engine change during the season and after the ninth event. Further changes will result in grid penalties. From the 2012 season all engine changes will be penalised.