WTCC, 2006, Rumours, news, dates etc

[Alfa Fan]

Originally Posted by Monkey Head

That's true
and i think that Pubela's karting track should be dropped too.

Puebla was actually quite an interesting track I thought. Quite close to a street circuit, interesting blend of corners and something a bit different from the long sweeping GP circuits the series races on. I really hope the series returns there.

[Monkey Head]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Puebla was actually quite an interesting track I thought. Quite close to a street circuit, interesting blend of corners and something a bit different from the long sweeping GP circuits the series races on. I really hope the series returns there.

as i said before,the main problem is factilies.
i not mind they continue if tidy up the gravels and built a new garage

[Adam43]

Every series should want to be at Spa, but I do take the point that it is less needed for the WTCC. A move to Brands would be good to, for similar reasons. All this assumes almost a total split from GTs.

A couple more world events would be good. I like the Adelaide suggestion, but is that realistic?

[FIRE]

Muller looks to WTCC

Former BTCC champion Yvan Muller has admitted he has had talks with Team ORECA about driving a Seat Toledo Cupra in next year's World Touring Car Championship, according to this week's Motorsport News.

Source: http://www.autosport-atlas.com/news.aspx?id=46255&g=2

[Alfa Fan]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Source: http://www.autosport-atlas.com/news.aspx?id=46255&g=2

We get these stories every year. Expect him to resign for VX in the BTCC

[E46]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Source: http://www.autosport-atlas.com/news.aspx?id=46255&g=2

Muller was suggested with SEAT Sport at Spa, this can do sense.

[Hazard]

Of course Muller's driven for Seat in the ETCC before. Though they weren't very quick then. Thompson had a far better run when they went over in the unstoppable Alfa.


Of course, I expect Muller wouldn't be allowed by Vauxhall to drive the Seat car this year whilst they are now rivals in the BTCC? (Assuming there aren't any event clashes, haven't looked yet).

[touringlegend]

I don't see why a driver of Muller's class wouldn't want to be in the WTCC personally. He'll jump ship sooner or later. Not sure if it's the most competitive drive out there, if you remember the Leon will be SEAT Sport's car.

Just had a thought, another Muller in the WTCC, argh!!

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Just had a thought, another Muller in the WTCC, argh!!

They should sign IndyCar driver Buddy Rice as his teammate

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

They should sign IndyCar driver Buddy Rice as his teammate

Oh dear..., I just couldn't help myself, had to laugh at that KB!!

[pitcrew]

be great to get some of the dtm best (drivers) into wtcc and getting track time at brands sounds great

[Net-Ranger]

Originally Posted by Monkey Head

as i said before,the main problem is factilies.
i not mind they continue if tidy up the gravels and built a new garage

I'm going to Puebla in 3 weeks i will try to take a look to the track to see what they are doing lately, what i heard from the last june race was that the main problem is the acess to the track, i hear someplace in mexican media that they will try to get the circuit conected more directly to the main highway, also some improvements are expected on the Control Tower area, but apart of that i don't hear anything else

[E46]

Autopista magazine says Toyota was talking with KSO at Spa. It seems Toyota would like a S2000 for WTCC 2006, perhaps a Corolla or Avensis. Article says also that Brilliance is trying to close its budget and Mazda wondering about how much a WTCC season costs.

[Dani Filth]

more more more . i don't mind
there were rumours about S2000 Diesel .. but so far nobody seems interested ..

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by E46

Autopista magazine says Toyota was talking with KSO at Spa. It seems Toyota would like a S2000 for WTCC 2006, perhaps a Corolla or Avensis. Article says also that Brilliance is trying to close its budget and Mazda wondering about how much a WTCC season costs.

If Toyota will enter WTCC with a factory team, maybe Honda will give JAS more factory support.

[iconic]

i hope so! how close are speed touring car challenge to s2000? mazda has factory 6s there, maybe those can be used?

[kmchow]

That would be great if Toyota/Mazda returned to the WTCC.

[rustyfan]

The more brands the merrier, I say. You know, like in the STCC

[redshoes]

This won't come as much of a surprise to anyone but at least now it's official

KSO press release
With regards to the 2006 season, KSO (promoter of the FIA World Touring Car
Championship) and Eurosport (host broadcaster of the FIA World Touring Car
Championship) requested to SRO (promoter of the FIA GT Championship), to reduce
from three hours to two hours the length of the FIA GT Championship races.
This request was proposed for the following reasons:
a) because KSO wished to have a better balance of track time between the FIA
WTCC and the FIA GT during the weekend
b) because KSO wished to reduce from three days to two days the duration of
the racing meetings
c) because Eurosport is convinced that the current three-hour format of the FIA
GT races is too long for a good TV coverage
After a number of inconclusive meetings, yesterday evening KSO have decided to
stop their commercial relationship with SRO from 2006.
Therefore, from the next season the FIA World Touring Car Championship events will
not include any rounds of the FIA GT Championship, as it is already the case this year
for the rounds in Puebla, Valencia and Macau.

[redshoes]

Forgot to add that I think overall this will be a good thing. I've never especially liked the current format of only a short break between the 2 races. Hopefully this will now allow the 2 WTCC races to be spaced out a bit more with a support race or two in between, much like the BTCC before it's current 3 race format.

[E46]

Two days ago KSO released a provisional schedule for 2006, the big new are 12 races and not 10. Strange Fuji isn´t there and however there is one race in UAE (and urban!).
9 April - Monza - Italy
23 April - Magny Cours - France
7 May - Brno - Czech Republic
21 May - Brands Hatch - Great Britain
6 June - Helsinki - Finland
25 June - Puebla - Mexico
2 or 30 July - Curitiba - Brazil
3 September - Oschersleben - Germany
17 September - Istanbul - Turkey
1 October - Valencia - Spain
29 October - Abu Dhabi - UAE
19 November - Macao - China

[cybersdorf]

Puebla again - hm. Why not Fundidora or Mex City?
Also, not sure if Curitiba is the best track Brazil has to offer.
Helsinki should be good, though.
Abu Dhabi, what??

[Kicking-back]

I think that would be Dubai, rather than Abu Dhabi



Unless it's a street circuit

[Dylanl]

I want a race in Australia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

I think that would be Dubai, rather than Abu Dhabi



Unless it's a street circuit

E46 did say it was urban.


Great to see Brands Hatch on the calendar. They were only starting to get the idea by using the International Track at Silverstone this year that long GP circuits don't suit 2 litre Touring Cars.