WTCC, 2006, Rumours, news, dates etc

[redshoes]

Although in the case of Brands Hatch it would be better is they actually did use the GP circuit. The Indy circuit tends to produce a long line of cars with little overtaking.

[E46]

Originally Posted by 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??

Mexico City has too long straights for a touring car race, no? Fundidora coud be interesting.

Abu Dhabi is a mistery, i have got few info about this urban circuit. It seems to be in a place named Saadiyat Island.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by 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

What a BS schedule - no Spa! They should drop Magny-Cours instead.

[Joe Taylor]

They obviously don't want to spend a weekend playing second fiddle to FIA GTs

[Monkey Head]

Originally Posted by cybersdorf

Also, not sure if Curitiba is the best track Brazil has to offer.

i would prefer piquet track

[Mike_Wooshy]

Santa Cruz Do Sol would be my prefrence for a brazilian track.

[Asa]

Originally Posted by Monkey Head

i would prefer piquet track

If I am correct, that circuit is already demolished.

I am not too surprised that Japan is not included, as the WTCC teams are all worried that they will end up with a lot of damaged cars after the Macao street race, as they tend to do. So there is very little chance of a race after Macao. While before Macao the Japanese are busy with the F1 Grand Prix and Super GT finale.

[Mike_Wooshy]

I dont think its demolished as such the 1 half and the oval have been but half remains intact AFAIK.

[Fechna]

What really bothers me is that there is the split between WTCC and the GT and if you look at the WTCC field in 2006 only BMW and Chevy are not driving with Hatchbacks. I don´t think that many people are going to see these tiny cars racing 2x 25 min without those sportcars in the package. This could be the beginning of the end. Witch manufacturer want to race in front of, let´s say 10.000 spectators? Why the f*** is even Alfa switching to a hatchback!?

[Fechna]

What really bothers me is that there is the split between WTCC and the GT and if you look at the WTCC field in 2006 only BMW and Chevy are not driving with Hatchbacks. I don´t think that many people are going to see these tiny cars racing 2x 25 min without those sportcars in the package. This could be the beginning of the end. Witch manufacturer want to race in front of, let´s say 10.000 spectators? Why the f*** is even Alfa switching to a hatchback!?

[redshoes]

It's not just the spectators at the track it's the TV audience and general publicity to consider as well. I don't dislike GTs but personally I'd rather watch a varied support package that 3 hrs of GTs
Alfa and everyone else race hatchbacks because that's where the market is. Like it or not the WTCC is as much a marketing exercise as a race series. Selling those 'tiny cars' is how these manufacturers make money.

[Les]

i must say that the WTCC support package is not particularly enthralling. It needs more races and less hanging about

[Dani Filth]

it was the WTCC & FIA GT that attracted the spectators. . there was not much need for strong support races .. but from 2006 . the situation is different

[Fechna]

Originally Posted by redshoes

It's not just the spectators at the track it's the TV audience and general publicity to consider as well. I don't dislike GTs but personally I'd rather watch a varied support package that 3 hrs of GTs
Alfa and everyone else race hatchbacks because that's where the market is. Like it or not the WTCC is as much a marketing exercise as a race series. Selling those 'tiny cars' is how these manufacturers make money.

"Win on sunday, sell on monday" is just only working in a general promotional sense. Nobody is buying a Leon, because Seat is winning with this special car. But it´s a possibility to improve the image of brand. So IMO If Alfa would be racing with a saloon next year it would have the same effect in a marketing sense like racing with the hatch. But if doubt if the spectators (also on TV) want to see these tiny cars racing. This works in Denmark or Britain in national series, but this is a World Championship and if you want to attract new watchers and fans (and new manufacturers thinking in longer terms than 2 years) you would have to get at least a bit of the attention the WRC gets. And even the WRC has regulations to get bigger cars into the championship. I fear after the split with the FIA GT it´s only a matter of time the FIA wrecks another series. Even if it seems to work right now.

[E46]

Originally Posted by Fechna

I fear after the split with the FIA GT it´s only a matter of time the FIA wrecks another series. Even if it seems to work right now.

FIA will wreck WTCC and FIA GT, they have done it many times before and will do again. However i think FIA GT could have problems before yet, Ratel´s move leaving Super Racing Weekends doesn´t seem too smart, and that kind of Moto GP package for GTs, do you think that it will work? Sincerely.

[kmchow]

It's a shame that the WTCC doesn't have a US or Canada round. Would it be bad if the WTCC became an official F1 support race and went everywhere that F1 goes?

[Bleu]

WTCC is not going to Helsinki in 2006, but they are still working to get race in 2007. The race would be in different location as it was in 1995-97 with ITC, GT and others driving.

[E46]

Originally Posted by kmchow

It's a shame that the WTCC doesn't have a US or Canada round. Would it be bad if the WTCC became an official F1 support race and went everywhere that F1 goes?

What tracks would be suitable in NA for WTCC?

[Chris Y]

Lime Rock Park

[cybersdorf]

Every road course or roval, really.

[Alfa Fan]

Watkins Glen!

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by cybersdorf

Every road course or roval, really.

Rovals

[Dani Filth]

please explain what's a roval ?? .. is it like the Daytona or indy with the infield ???
the cars would look nice on the oval part .

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

...... is it like the Daytona or indy with the infield ???
.

Correct.

BTW I remember now, Puebla was also a roval.

[Dani Filth]

i saw puebla on the live streming . .. so didn't see that much ..