WTCR 2022

[S griffin]

Now that’s an interesting bit of news, wonder why Ma is going there? It does seem to suggest there’s no longer a four car per team limit, unless there’s something more we don’t know about

To be fair, Ma probably would be happy in any series

[Evantra]

Sochi rounds predictably cancelled, and I guess little chance of Lada's return too.

[BobJones]

Aye, the Lada return is now understandably on ice along with Huff's deal.

[S griffin]

That’s a shame, Lada always added to the series. Huff can always return, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the BTCC

[Csaba]

Originally Posted by S griffin

That’s a shame, Lada always added to the series. Huff can always return, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the BTCC

Do you think there is still a chance for Huffy returning to the UK? Looking at the BTCC thread daily, I don't really see a team (who can afford him) he could get a drive at.

PMR don't seem to have a good enough budget for anything, and if we look at better teams, BTC could be an option, but I can't really imagine it. Or we will be surprised by Toyota signing him?

But also with (all???) the Cupra backed drivers leaving Zengo, I don't know if Huff can find a seat in WTCR.

[S griffin]

I think there is a chance, but he needs a seat that is right for him. I wouldn’t think it would be PMR, nor BTC or Toyota. Maybe if there was another BMW seat available he would take it. I just hope someone picks him up, even temporarily, like some do at times

[Racing Harz]

Björk and Urrutia stay at Lynk & Co Cyan Racing.
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2022...tiago-urrutia/

[S griffin]

Good choices there, just hope the car is competitive enough

[Csaba]

Ehrlacher just posted a counter on his social media accounts with an announcement coming in 4 days time (or at least was at 4 days yesterday evening). I bet he is also staying at Cyan.

[S griffin]

He hasn't made any noises about going elsewhere, so he probably is staying. Don't see where else he could go either

[Racing Harz]

Ehrlacher and Muller stay at Lynk&Co.
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2022...-lynk-co-line/

[FIRE]

5 cars for Lynk & Co...

[BobJones]

Five for L&C, only two for Hyundai. Cupra in the balance, no Ladas, another blue domination I suspect although this is probably Honda's best chance for a title in a long time.

[S griffin]

Fair play to them, hopefully we will have enough top quality drivers. And hope Cupra can make it too. Although I will miss the Lada's. Just a shame we haven't had more entries at this time. It will be interesting to see if someone like Citroen or Ford will enter. It will be the competition we need against the Hondas and make the Hyundais job harder

[redshoes]

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2022...ner-cancelled/
Czech Republic round cancelled, season will now start in Pau

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by redshoes

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2022...ner-cancelled/
Czech Republic round cancelled, season will now start in Pau

Understandable with everything going on.

But... Pau, Macau and Vila Real? 3 non-overtaking street circuits on an 8 race calendar? From the looks of things, entries are going to be low this season as well? Not looking brilliant.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Understandable with everything going on.

Is it? Not wishing to downplay the seriousness of the war in Ukraine, but Czechia isn't exactly right next door and Most is on the western side of the country. On that basis Hungary will off too as it directly borders Ukraine.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Understandable with everything going on.

But... Pau, Macau and Vila Real? 3 non-overtaking street circuits on an 8 race calendar? From the looks of things, entries are going to be low this season as well? Not looking brilliant.

Pau and Macau are classics. Vila Real is a bit meh. However if they went to Pau Arnos that would be even better!

[Evantra]

So.... only 11 cars confirmed so far? A bit worrying?

[FIRE]

Expect 4 cars from Comtoyou but that still makes only 15 cars.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Expect 4 cars from Comtoyou but that still makes only 15 cars.

I am very surprised TCR hasn't started going hybrid. Of course ETCR exists, but doesn't seem to have made much of an impact and/or the technology isn't there (affordably) for full grids / longer races yet.

Not that hybridisation would make much difference from a fan view, but really it's only Hyundai and Lynk 'pushing' TCR at the moment(?). It seems the flow of new manufacturers / 'constructors' (like JAS) has slowed. WTCR and TCR Europe grids are dwindling. Of course Covid had an impact but you'd imagine things would've recovered by now.

Toyota project is great, but being based in South America is the car going to make it to Europe and Asia?
Fiat is good news too but been two years of silence, reminds me a lot of the Subaru project where the car wasn't developed enough for anyone to want to race.
New Cupra is great but no news for WTCR this year?
The Alfa must have reached, or be near too, the end of it's run seeing as the road car was discontinued a good few years ago?
Audi have already quit once. New VW cancelled.
Opel getting old too (old gen Astra.)
Renault all gone quiet.
Honda / JAS getting old (or at least feels like it!), hopefully we could get the next gen soon?
Not that many Peugeots left, old gen also.
Funnily enough the TCR site still lists Kia.
Any involvement from Lada is out of the question for a while.
MGs haven't made it out of China.
Mazda project came to nought.

Maybe it's just me, and I do love TCR. But seems we're in danger of grids getting smaller and smaller, and very few current-gen cars being developed.

[FIRE]

Last year Italy had a great grid. For this year it looks good again, same for Scandinavia and Danmark.

UK has made a big step in de good direction. I think also Germany has bigger grid compared to last season. Last week the first round of the South-American series had something like 17 or 18 cars.

Due to the costs situation of WTCR is not bright.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Last year Italy had a great grid. For this year it looks good again, same for Scandinavia and Danmark.

UK has made a big step in de good direction. I think also Germany has bigger grid compared to last season. Last week the first round of the South-American series had something like 17 or 18 cars.

Due to the costs situation of WTCR is not bright.

Yes seems a lot more positive for national championships than international.

UK is a good grid, but nearly all old i30s and Cupras bought by the promoter.

[Csaba]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Expect 4 cars from Comtoyou but that still makes only 15 cars.

Reacting to your message, and some of Evantra's comments.

This interview with team boss Zengo Zoli was posted today on the Hungarian Eurosport website by commentator Lanti. https://www.eurosport.hu/wtcr/zengo-...Ai6SgwnY-X9VhA

You can put it in a translator if you want, I will try to translate the most important parts.
First of all, we have the 11 confirmed entries, and he is speculating just +2 Audis, not 4.

In the case of Zengo team, Zoltán says that he is really disappointed with the situation and the attitude of the manufacturers towards his team. He again outlines that the salaries of Huff and (partially) Ekström's were paid by him, and not Cupra, and he would pay their full wages in 2022 (and also says, that Huff and Ekström are willing to stay), if a manufacturer would join his team. Basically he is asking for even less support and money, then he did ask from Cupra, but still cannot confirm anything for this year. He is negotiating with multiple parties, and with the delayed season start in WTCR, is still hopeful, but utterly disappointed, as they won the eTCR, had WTCR wins, but are not getting any more support from Hungarian companies, even though a lot of money is spent on sports in the country, as a huge coin laundry (well, the later part was just my own remark).
And again, with no buget for testing before the start of the season, I don't know what they can expect really.

And without Zengo, are anyone who could run a Cupra program? I don't really think so.

From other manufacturers we cannot expect too much. Asked by Evantra above, the Renault program will return to TCR Europe this year, with 2 cars running Down Under for GRM, and I think that is all, 4 or maaaaybe 5 cars were built.
The Peugeot case was the most disappointing for me. They did not put a good support behind the WTCR program, but did still support a few teams in TCR Europe for years. Well, by now the car is quite old, but had real potential as we saw in the hands of Julien Briché, and Jordan Cox is leading currently the Aussy championship with the 308. Also I really loved the look of the car on track, for me it looks much nicer than on TV screens.

[Evantra]

Ah interesting, thank you.

I think last year was Zengo's best year of (W)TCR by a long way so sad to hear they may be on the sidelines.

I suppose if WTCR are lacking entries they might be more lenient on race-by-race / local entries (like the wildcards a few years back) so maybe we'll get some more cars here and there. Zengo at Hungaroring?

Good to hear the Renault program is still going, they are good looking cars.