WTCR 2022

[Racing Harz]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

Well, he raced the 24h Dubai in a GT3 this weekend and he absolutly loved the R8 LMS and was really quick in it. So, maybe he goes into GT-Racing.

He´ll switch to Audi and confirmed on Social Media, that he´ll race the R8 LMS GT3.
https://gt-place.com/2022/01/20/audi...ern-fuer-2022/

[FIRE]

Team Engstler also running Honda in TCR Germany.

[NaBUru38]

Luca Engstler is set to leave WTCR for GT3 racing.

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2022...contract-2022/

[Racing Harz]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

He´ll switch to Audi and confirmed on Social Media, that he´ll race the R8 LMS GT3.
https://gt-place.com/2022/01/20/audi...ern-fuer-2022/

Good morning NaBUru.

[NaBUru38]

Oops, I got confused by the "he"s.

[FIRE]

I think it's a good step for Luca Engstler to get on it's own instead of racing for his dad's team.

[Racing Harz]

Hyundai confirmed, that only two Elanta will race in WTCR. BRC Racing will enter the cars for Michelisz and Mikel Azcona.
https://motorsport.hyundai.com/ready-to-tour-the-world/

[Csaba]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

Hyundai confirmed, that only two Elanta will race in WTCR. BRC Racing will enter the cars for Michelisz and Mikel Azcona.
https://motorsport.hyundai.com/ready-to-tour-the-world/

And this actually gives us more questions than answers...

What will happen with Vernay?
Without Azcona, are there any clues of the Cupra-Zengo program still in place? Well, they still have Ekström and Gené (?), as we heard those BTCC rumours of Huff getting interest from BTCC.

[FIRE]

Cupra putting their money on eTCR?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

Hyundai confirmed, that only two Elanta will race in WTCR. BRC Racing will enter the cars for Michelisz and Mikel Azcona.
https://motorsport.hyundai.com/ready-to-tour-the-world/

Somehow I expected Loeb Racing replacing Team Engsler. Unfortunaly only two cars for Hyundai.

[BobJones]

Huff and Vernay working with Lada? If not in WTCR, at least on some development?

[Csaba]

Originally Posted by BobJones

Huff and Vernay working with Lada? If not in WTCR, at least on some development?

Seems completely unlikely for me.
Even though Huff raced for Lada fpr a couple of years, but I think their program is just for the national championship (they would need a bigger funding for international level). Or they could prove me completely wrong

In the case of Vernay, I think he can still get a good seat in WTCR, but I was surprised he is not at BRC for 2022.

[Csaba]

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2022...l-vernay-2022/

Vernay confirmed by Hyundai for multiple programmes in 2022. Question is, will there be another WTCR customer team, or he will return to TCR Eu alongside eTCR???

[Umai Naa]

Target have left, and Engstler are with Honda now.

Besides there being a 4-car BRC team again, who else has a strong tie to Hyundai?

[Csaba]

Besides there being a 4-car BRC team again, who else has a strong tie to Hyundai?[/QUOTE]

And also who has a big enough budget? Hard questions.

And to make things even more complicated, Comtoyou was testing in the last few days, and at the wheel of the Audi was a Spanish veteran, who "does not belong there"
So I assume the Cupra-Zeng? relation is over? Or at least with factory support.

https://www.facebook.com/comtoyourac...52646390196616

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Target have left, and Engstler are with Honda now.

Besides there being a 4-car BRC team again, who else has a strong tie to Hyundai?

Will they run 4 cars? The news suggested Hyundai will run only two cars.

Last year Sébastien Loeb Racing was running 4 Hyundai's in TCR Europe?

[FIRE]

And also who has a big enough budget? Hard questions.

And to make things even more complicated, Comtoyou was testing in the last few days, and at the wheel of the Audi was a Spanish veteran, who "does not belong there"
So I assume the Cupra-Zeng? relation is over? Or at least with factory support.

https://www.facebook.com/comtoyourac...52646390196616

Can't read the Facebook page. Do I understand correct Jordi Gene was testing a Cupra or Audi from Comtoyou?

[Umai Naa]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Will they run 4 cars? The news suggested Hyundai will run only two cars.

Last year Sébastien Loeb Racing was running 4 Hyundai's in TCR Europe?

Totally forgot about SLR.

[Csaba]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Can't read the Facebook page. Do I understand correct Jordi Gene was testing a Cupra or Audi from Comtoyou?

Well, he was testing an Audi in his Cupra suit
But definitely drove an Audi.


Yes, I also forgot about SLR, and with Target returning to TCR Europe with 3 Hyundais (as probably the supported team), maybe SLR are goind back to WTCR?

[FIRE]

About our speculation:

Aggressive Team Italia has bought four Hyundai Elantra N TCRs from Sebastian Loeb Racing ahead of the 2022 season and plans to challenge for the TCR Italy crown.

...

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2022...taly-campaign/

In 2022 no SLR in touring cars or maybe new Hyundai's for WTCR or TCR Europe?

[FIRE]

Comtoyou Racing plans to continue its programmes in the WTCR and TCR Europe this season, running the new generation Audi RS 3 LMS in both championships.

“We are working on a setup for WTCR and TCR Europe, but we cannot confirm it yet unlike other years. We do however plan to run the new generation Audi in TCR Europe this year,” said Jean-Michel Baert, team principal, to TouringCarTimes.

...

Magnus, Berthon and Vervisch have been confirmed for Audi Sport’s 2022 customer racing programme, but Comtoyou Racing is yet to confirm its line-ups or the setup of its programmes for the upcoming season.

“It’s early days as we are still in February, but we are looking for customers who want to compete with the new generation Audi,” said Baert.

...

The team completed a test recently that sparked rumours as it featured Jordi Gené behind the wheel. There are however no plans of the Spaniard joining the team, according to Baert.

“No, he is not going to be a part of the team. He just joined us during the test to get some laps in ahead of the season,” said Baert.

Source: https://www.touringcartimes.com/2022...pe-programmes/

[Racing Harz]

Ma Qing Hua will race for Lynk & Co Cyan Racing.
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2022...eturn-lynk-co/

[Csaba]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

Ma Qing Hua will race for Lynk & Co Cyan Racing.
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2022...eturn-lynk-co/

Now we can ask, who will be replaced by Ma?

Muller will finally retire after his semi-retirements?
Will Urrutia join a different team or championship?

Or will Björk depart after two difficult season? But he was the Swedish driver in the Swedish/Chinese team, so...

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Csaba

Now we can ask, who will be replaced by Ma?

Muller will finally retire after his semi-retirements?
Will Urrutia join a different team or championship?

Or will Björk depart after two difficult season? But he was the Swedish driver in the Swedish/Chinese team, so...

I find it hard to believe Muller ammounces his retirement at the beginnning of a new season.

Based on results it makes most sense Björk is replaced.

Or is Ehrlacher after winning two titles moving to something else like GT3 or LMP2?

[Csaba]

In the meantime, Hungarian Eurosport commentator Lantos András wrote on his page, that there is a chance of Ma joining the team in a fifth car, and not replacing anyone.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the rule of having max 4 cars (divided in two teams) is not in place anymore. Or they could add a plus, one car team for Ma under a different Lynk banner.