“The technical side makes it very interesting, as a lot of time and effort is being put in. Time will tell if the concept of having a world championship will work. It’s difficult for me to judge at the moment, if another manufacturer would be interested in the ITC. The next two years will tell. ”
Frank Williams, 1996
The International Touring Car championship was born out of the German DTM series bringing together three of Europe’s major car manufacturers, a level of motor racing technology beyond even Formula 1, and a 25-strong grid of ex-Grand Prix drivers and young would bes …
… and then just a suddenly as it started, with the talk of a FIA backed World championship, it collapsed.
At it’s height ITC was hugely popular and the stakes were high. In an effort to win the three manufacturers taking part, Mercedes, Alfa and Opel, stopped at nothing to achieve their goal.
In the case of Opel they turned to Williams Grand Prix Engineering who brought their skills to bear on the semi-automatic gearbox, power-steering and telemetry.
The Williams connection doesn’t end there either – one of the principal Opel teams in ITC was run by former Williams champion Keke Rosberg.
| Opel Calibra V6 Technical Specification | |
| Phase 5 Engine | V6 engine mounted longitudinally at the front, V-angle 75º, distance between cylinders 102 mm,four overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder. |
| Cubic capacity | 2498 cc. |
| Bore | 94 mm. |
| Stroke | 60 mm. |
| Compression ratio | 12.5:1. |
| Power output | approx. 368kW/500 bhp at 11,650 rpm. |
| Maximum torque | approx. 310 Nm at 9000 rpm. |
| Engine management | Bosch Motronic MS 1.9 |
| Emission control | Computer-controlled three-way catalytic converter. |
| Lubrication | Dry sump |
| Power transmission | Longitudinally mounted six-gear racing gear set, spur-toothed,unsynchronised, sequential shift pattern, three-plate carbon fibre clutch, mechanically or electro-hydraulically operated differential locks, four-wheel drive. |
| Body | Steel body with welded-in steel safety cage, optimum aerodynamics, uses carbon fibre ancillaries, drag coefficient between cw0.33 and cw0.43,depending on the aerodynamic setting, fuel tank divided into three sections (one at the rear, two under the rear seat), oil tank in the rear. |
| Fuel tank capacity | 140 liters. |
| Length | 4673 mm. |
| Width | 1766 mm. |
| Height | 1285 mm. |
| Wheelbase | 2605 mm. |
| Track | 1570 mm, front and rear. |
| Running gear | Double wishbone axles with welded steel wishbones; magnesium wheel carriers and titanium wheel hubs with central fixture; front wheel carriers internally ventilated; springs, dampers and stabiliser bars actuated by push rods and rockers; adjustable damping rate; stabiliser bars hydraulically adjustable; hydraulically assisted power steering. |
| Wheels/tyres | BBS magnesium forged rims.10 x 18 (19)” Michelin racing tyres. |
| Brakes | Hydraulically assisted dual circuit braking system; Bosch 4-way racing ABS front 6-piston monobloc brake calipers each with two linings per wheel; brake calipers made of fibre-reinforced aluminium; internally ventilated steel brace discs, (diameter front 380mm, rear 313 mm). |
| Weight | 1040 kg unladen weight (without camera,driver and fuel). |
