World Touring Car Championship: General News and Discussion

[Mothers Worry]

Moscow street race planned for 2010 

From autosport.com:

Moscow street race planned for 2010 

Saturday, November 22nd 2008, 10:02 GMT

The World Touring Car Championship wants to add a Moscow street race to its calendar by 2010 as part of a plan that will also see Russian manufacturer Lada ramp up its involvement in the series.

WTCC boss Marcello Lotti and Boris S Aleshin, president of Lada parent company Avtovaz, met in Moscow this week to finalise the deal to bring the WTCC to Russia.

"We will be working together with the FIA and RAF (Russian sport's governing body) to identify a suitable street circuit and a date for the 2010 season," said Lotti. "Our priority is to race in Moscow."

The independent Russian Bears team ran Lada 110s this season with limited success, but the intention is for Lada to join the WTCC as a fully-fledged manufacturer operation running the new Priora.

"We sell now 160,000 cars per year and we intend to increase these figures," said Aleshin.

"Motorsport is a good means to promote our products. Our goal is to be in the middle of the pack during our first WTCC season, and then we will be working to improve. We are really ambitious."

[Mothers Worry]

WTCC considers variable reverse grids

From autosport.com:

WTCC considers variable reverse grids

Thursday, November 27th 2008, 15:11 GMT

The World Touring Car Championship could introduce a BTCC-style variable reverse grid for the second race of each event next season, reports this week's Autosport.

The series currently reverses the top eight finishers from the first race to decide the grid for race two, but this system encourages drivers to slow their pace and give away positions at the end of the first race in order to secure pole position for race two.

As in the British championship, the number of cars reversed would vary between six and ten.

The proposal was due to be discussed in Paris this week by the FIA's Touring Car Commission.

The WTCC has also announced a set of technical revisions to the regulations ahead of next year. A turbo-boost limit will be introduced and cars homologated before December 2006 will be given a 15kg weight break.

Although the latter is intended to help independent runners, it will also benefit BMW because the 320si is a pre-2007 car, while SEAT and Chevrolet will run the newer Leon TDi and Cruze respectively.

Jonathan Ashman, president of the FIA Touring Car Commission, told Autosport: "It's aimed at helping the independent teams. The old system didn't really help them, especially those who are using older cars.

"The downside of the balancing system was that our priority had to be the factory cars, but this should help the balance for the older cars."

[Mothers Worry]

Revised success ballast for 2009 

From autosport.com:

Revised success ballast for 2009 

Sunday, November 30th 2008, 11:22 GMT

The World Touring Car Championship will revise its success ballast system next season, with weight placed on car models rather than individual drivers.

The previous system was widely criticised as it prevented drivers from producing consistent results, but series bosses believe the compensation weight will balance the performance of the rival cars, leaving the drivers to compete freely.

The new system will be calculated by taking an average of the two fastest lap times of each car in qualifying and the race over three rounds. The weight changes will then be applied for the following three rounds.

If a car's average time over three events is within three tenths of a second of the fastest model, no action will be taken. If it is outside the 0,3s mark, 10kg will be deducted for every 0.1s up to a maximum of 60kg.

Then if the average times of a car with reduced weight gets within 0.3s of the quickest, 10kg will be returned per 0.1s.

Series bosses explained that the system is not intended to be an absolute equaliser, but to help slower into a more competitive position. They are confident that success will still depend on the best driver and car combination, rather than the compensation system.

[Mothers Worry]

BMW confirms continued presence

From autosport.com:

BMW confirms continued presence

Monday, December 1st 2008, 11:49 GMT

German car maker BMW has confirmed its continued presence in the World Touring Car Championship, where it hopes to recapture the titles lost this year.

BMW won all the drivers' and manufacturers' championships from 2005 to 2007 but was beaten by rivals SEAT this year.

The WTCC announced it will revise its success ballast system and other rules next season, something that has convinced BMW to stay in the championship.

"I am pleased that a compromise was reached regarding the 2009 rules," said BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen.

"This balances out the different engine concepts and should allow for fair and even competition between the manufacturers.

"We are absolutely determined to be back at the top of the WTCC at the finale of the 2009 season in Macau. We shall announce our team and driver line up at a later point in time."

[Everso Biggyballies]

This isnt strictly WTCC but it sort of is...... Saab have run their new S2000 spec (WTCC/BTCC/STCC) car in the final round of the Swedish Touring Car Championship .   It seems as if it is a potential success, so who knows where it might end up racing next year.  It will be running on the full BioPower Ethanol setup..... At the moment it seems likely to show in the STCC, but it could go further.

If its looks are anything to go on it will be great.  (I think it looks pretty good for a Saab!)

First pictures of new S2000 Saab 93 BioPower

The new S2000 manufacturer for the Swedish Touring Car Championship has been revealed: Saab. A brand new Saab 93 BioPower has been build in S2000 specification by the team Dealer Sport. STCC race winner Jens Edman completed a shakedown of the car at Saab's test track in Trollhättan, Sweden.

Edman was more than pleased with the first run of the new Saab and hopes to be back in the STCC next year.

"It was a perfect day, we had absolutely no problems at all with the car. We only did 15 laps, but the car felt great," said Edman to TouringCarTimes.com.



Team boss and team owner Jan Warnestad was equally pleased with the first outing of the new S2000 Saab.

"We are more than pleased with the new STCC Saab! We think the car will be a strong competitor in the STCC-field, especially thanks to Saab's strong position in the BioPower-area," said Warnestad.

The team Dealer Sport, previously named Opel Team Sweden, ran an Opel Astra for Tommy Rustad in STCC 2007, but pulled out from the series ahead of the 2008 season. Edman was negotiating with the team ahead of the 2008 season, but if Edman will be behind the wheel of the car next year remains to be seen.



"We are discussing things for next year at the moment. It would have been really nice to be back in the STCC, I have been in Denmark for six years now. The STCC has grown really strong and I hope to be back for 2009," said Edman.

Saab has backed the team during the building of the first S2000 Saab. But the level of official involvement from Saab in the team next year is unknown so far.



The engine of the car is Saab's four cylinder, two litre engine and will be run on bio-ethanol. The gearbox is a six-speed sequential from Xtrac, the some one the team used in the Opel Astra.



The car also completed a test run during the final race of the STCC at Mantorp Park recently.

Source: TouringCarTimes

[Everso Biggyballies]

Chevrolet unveil new colours

Chevrolet has unveiled the livery that will be carried by its new Cruze model in next year's World Touring Car Championship.

The new colour scheme, which was launched today at the Bologna Motor Show, will be seen on the cars of Rob Huff, Alain Menu and Nicola Larini during 2009.

Today also marked the the first public appearance by the Cruze WTCC, which will replace the Lacetti model that won 14 races between 2005 and 2008.

Testing of the Cruze is continuing ahead of its race debut at the opening round of the new season at Curitiba next March.

[Mothers Worry]

F1-style qualifying format for WTCC 

From autosport.com:

F1-style qualifying format for WTCC 

Friday, December 12th 2008, 13:15 GMT

The World Touring Car Championship will adopt a Formula One-style qualifying format for next season.

Today's meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council revealed that the 30-minute session will be split into two parts, with the fastest ten drivers advancing through the 20-minute Q1, into the 10-minute Q2 - which will decide the first five rows of the grid.

The times set in Q1 will decide the order from 11th downwards.

The sessions will be extended to 30 and 15 minutes respectively for events held on street circuits.

The grid for the second race of every round will be decided by the results of the first race - with the top eight drivers reversed - as at present.

Top ten shoot-out anyone?

[Mothers Worry]

Priaulx 'fired up' to reclaim title

From autosport.com:

Priaulx 'fired up' to reclaim title

Thursday, December 25th 2008, 09:46 GMT

Former triple World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx believes that losing his crown to Yvan Muller will give him renewed motivation to reclaim it in 2009.

The BMW driver, whose run of four consecutive FIA touring car titles was brought to an end by the SEAT driver, finished fourth in the standings this year with just one victory at Pau in June.

"To be honest, the best thing that could have happened to me in 2008 was not to win the championship," Priaulx told autosport.com. "It re-ignites that desire all over again.

"I've had a really good year and I've driven really well. I wasn't placed so well, but the way I look at is is that it makes you a better driver when you get an opportunity to prove yourself again."

BMW has confirmed that it will return to the WTCC in 2009 in a bid to reclaim the drivers' title which it has won four times - the first coming with Roberto Ravaglia back in 1987. Priaulx is expected to be part of that line-up and is hoping to be able to reclaim his spot at the top of the touring car world.

"I've proved in the past that with the right equipment I can win the title," said Priaulx. "After the year I've had I'm really fired up."

[Mothers Worry]

Huff praises new qualifying format 

From autosport.com:

Huff praises new qualifying format 

Friday, December 26th 2008, 15:46 GMT

Rob Huff has welcomed the World Touring Car Championship's new Formula One-style knockout qualifying format.

The Chevrolet driver, who finished third in this year's standings, believes it will make the series more entertaining for fans as well as adding an extra challenge for the drivers.

"I think it's fantastic, this is one thing that I think touring cars have been missing a little bit," he said.

"It's pretty much Superpole because we only get one shot on the tyres at 90 per cent of the circuits we go to. That's one area I've worked really hard on for the past 12 months and it was one of the key factors in my good season.

"I'm very excited about it. It will make it a bit more entertaining and lively for the fans, and more exciting for the championship because it throws some

[Forzasab]

Why oh why cant we have these here in Australia!!!
They look hot!
Oh that's right we live in Cabville! 

[Mothers Worry]

Muller: Rules make title repeat hard 

From autosport.com:

Muller: Rules make title repeat hard 

Sunday, December 28th 2008, 11:50 GMT

Yvan Muller believes it will be 'very hard' for him to defend his title next year following regulation changes designed to even up the field.

The Frenchman is unhappy with the FIA's decision to reduce the turbo boost pressure of his SEAT Leon Tdi - and thinks it will be enough to hamper SEAT's efforts to win another title.

Speaking exclusively to autosport.com, Muller said: "Unfortunately the FIA has reduced the turbo (pressure), and honestly that is not normal because the BMW was most of the time quicker than us. We can prove it with the sector times, and we are penalised.

"We just won the championship because we did a real team effort. Many times a BMW was better than us in the first two sectors, but the driver made a mistake in the third sector and this is why we win.

"Many times (Augusto) Farfus does the pole or the best in the warm up, which proves the car can do it. So I am a bit worried and it will be hard.

"If the rules stay like this, it will be very hard for any diesel SEAT to be at the level to win the championship. Maybe we can be at a better level by next season, but we don't have much money to do testing. I think it will be hard, but everything is possible."

Although unhappy about the turbo decision, Muller is supportive of the other rule changes that have been made. In particular he thinks that the new success ballast system - which is based on each car's average speed rather than individual drivers' - and the Formula One-style knock-out qualifying system will improve the championship.

"I think the new weight penalty system is a good thing," Muller added. "We will have to see how it will be in action, but the idea is quite good.

"Sometimes people don't understand why a driver can be on pole one day and 12th another day, so it's quite good that it is more of an average of the cars. The change to qualifying will make it even more exciting. That is a good move as well."

[Mothers Worry]

Poulsen joins Engstler for full season 

From autosport.com:

Poulsen joins Engstler for full season 

Wednesday, December 31st 2008, 09:37 GMT

Former rally driver Kristian Poulsen will join the World Touring Car Championship for a full campaign in 2009 with Team Engstler.

The Dane contested four rounds of the WTCC in 2008 in an independent BMW, and is looking forward to a full season next year racing alongside his team boss Franz Engstler.

"I have only been driving circuit racing for two years, so it will be an enormous challenge that I am really looking forward to," said the 33-year-old.

"I got to know Franz and found him a nice guy. He rented one of our cars for the European Touring Car Cup and now I will rent a car from him. 2008 was a pretty good year but I believe 2009 will bring even more success."

[Mothers Worry]

SEAT confirm unchanged line-up 

From autosport.com:

SEAT confirm unchanged line-up

Wednesday, January 28th 2009, 11:56 GMT

SEAT have officially confirmed that their factory World Touring Car Championship line-up will remain unchanged for 2009, with title-winner Yvan Muller again joined by Gabriele Tarquini, Rickard Rydell, Jordi Gene and Tiago Monteiro.

The expected announcement came at SEAT's gala awards event in Barcelona yesterday.

The team dominated last year's WTCC, winning 12 out of 24 races along with the manufacturers' title, and taking a one-two in the drivers' standings with Muller and Tarquini.

SEAT president Eric Schmitt said the company saw no reason to change a winning team.

"I am very proud of the successes achieved by our team and am pleased to announce that SEAT will continue with its racing activities in 2009," he said.

"We want to defend our world championship titles with the same team and the same drivers as last year.

"I'd also like to thank Jaime Puig and all of the drivers because the magnificent teamwork they demonstrated last year was the key to our success. I trust it will also be a decisive factor this year."

[bpratt]

WTCC calendar announced

WTCC calendar announced

By Jamie O'Leary    Wednesday, October 21st 2009, 14:22 GMT

Next year's World Touring Car Championship will include rounds at Zolder and the Algarve for the first time.

A 12-round calendar was published following a meeting of the FIA World Motorsport Council on Wednesday with the Zolder round putting Belgium back on the schedule for the first time since 2005.

Portugal's round, meanwhile, moves away from the Porto street circuit as the local government only allows the track to be used every two years.

Italy retains its place on the calendar, although the venue has yet to be confirmed. This year's event was held at Imola.

The only other significant change to the calendar is the switching of the Spanish round at Valencia from May to September.

2010 WTCC calendar:

7/3    BR   Curitiba
11/4   MEX  Puebla 
2/5    MA   Marrakech
23/5   I    TBC
20/6   B    Zolder
4/7    P    Algarve
18/7   GB   Brands Hatch
1/8    CZ   Brno
5/9    D    Oschersleben 
9/9    E    Valencia Ricardo Tormo
31/10  J    Okayama 
21/11  MO   Macau 

[Mothers Worry]

SEAT quits World Touring Cars 

From autosport.com:

[float=left][/float]

SEAT quits World Touring Cars 

Wednesday, January 13th 2010, 20:04 GMT

SEAT has withdrawn its factory team from the World Touring Car Championship.

The Spanish manufacturer had been expected to quit the series since the end of last season, but delayed its final decision until this week.

The firm will continue to give technical support to customer teams who run its petrol or diesel-powered Leons in the WTCC.

SEAT Sport director Jaime Puig said: "After achieving all possible successes in the WTCC, we are now going to focus all our efforts on customer sports in different championships.

"We are always eager to win when a SEAT is on the track and to do so, SEAT Sport will provide all of our customers with the necessary technical support."

SEAT has won the last two WTCC titles with Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini, but has been at the centre of an ongoing row over the equalisation of its turbo diesel cars with the category's normally-aspirated petrol machinery throughout both seasons.

Its cars were granted a variable limit to their turbo boost pressure in the first three races of 2009, provoking rival manufacturer BMW to threaten to quit the series when it learned of the waiver. The limit was then reduced, prompting SEAT to issue its own quit threats.

SEAT's communications director Dominik Hoberg added: "SEAT will continue with a noteworthy presence in motorsport in 2010 but the company will have a different approach as regards to its motorsport activity."