New Vauxhall Astra racer to join TCR series in 2016

It’s not long since the new Vauxhall Astra road vehicle reveal, but Opel’s motorsport divison are already working on a race-bred version, shown in this teaser drawing. However, it is believed it will come with a 2.0-litre turbo engine producing around 240kW and 410Nm.

The current Astra three-door (sold here as a Holden Astra) now competes in the series alongside Seat, Audi, Honda and Volkswagen.

“Touring auto racing has always been an important part of Opel“, said Müller.

However, we can tell you that the TCR series have a set of regulations that, among other things, specify that race cars must use two-liter turbocharged engines that have an output of 330 horsepower and maximum torque of 410 Nm (302 lb-ft). Muller wouldn’t be drawn on whether a complete auto would be ready in time to be displayed at Frankfurt (although we’ll be somewhat surprised if it isn’t) but she did say that track testing was due to begin in October.

“We want to give ambitious privately owned teams a platform for exciting sport at reasonable costs”, Müller added. The hot-rodded hatchback will be presented to the public in mid-September at the Frankfurt Motor Show alongside its regular-production counterpart. As for the wild styling, the OPC will likely look a little more sedate.

Opel cars have been represented on the grid of the TCR worldwide Series in 2015 by Campos Racing, who modified a pair of Opel Astra Cup cars to fit in with the new series.