ETC Cup - Salzburgring, 18/19 October 2008

[Robbe]

If it comes true, this is a fantastic entry list.

BTW, wasn't it a prize for the Eurocup winner to drive in a SEAT Leon for this event? There is not a single SEAT listed yet.

About entries from ProCar: It's Wolfgang Treml not Kurt Treml Kurt is the team manager of Engstler Motorsport and actually Wolfgang's brother.
And as the ProCar is driving at the same weekend, I could imagine Peter Rikli in his Accord (multiple race winner) or Jens Guido Weimann in his Mercedes will also enter.

[stedevil]

I really hope much of it will come true, because IMO ETCC should be the BEST independents, not just a grid with almost unknown drivers/teams that it has partially felt like the last years.

Looking forward to a smashing event

PS Why is West Coast missing? Will they be busy in a WTCC supporting role?

[Jon411]

That is one competative entry list, especially from Sweden, will be a great even if only half of the Swedes turn off.

Also, good to see the Motorbase guys are going from the UK as well as WSR - so we'll have 2 UK teams. Disappointed that GR-Asia are not able to defend their title as I was hoping they'd be able to use the Aircool car seeing as they didn't have any WTCC cars to use.

[Valker]

What about other categories? Is there any other super production series running than Baltic and Russian any more? What about that new S1600 cup? Some cars from ProCar div2 and RTCC touring light but any others?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by JMeissner

Preliminary entry list put together by us:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=2753

Thoughts?

I expect some Russian entries.

[JMeissner]

Im sure there will be Russian entries, they're a bit hard for us to track before the official entry list though =)

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by Valker

What about other categories? Is there any other super production series running than Baltic and Russian any more? What about that new S1600 cup? Some cars from ProCar div2 and RTCC touring light but any others?

Im sort of wondering, if so many S2000 cars enter as has been hinted at and potentially a lot of S1600 (Im assuming eg all 30 cars from JTCC eg should be eligible in the S1600 category if they want to participate), maybe the Super production and S1600 cars should be a separate race?

[Subaru_WRX_STi]

Originally Posted by JMeissner

Preliminary entry list put together by us:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=2753

Thoughts?

where is the WSR bimmer, I thought they are planing to do ETC instead of the WTCC finale at Macau

[redshoes]

WSR is listed. 3 West Surrey Racing entries, fifth on the Expected Entries list.

[Jon411]

Motorbase have said they have no plans to take part in the ETCC, which is a shame:

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/btcc...tcc_entry.html

[Subaru_WRX_STi]

Originally Posted by redshoes

WSR is listed. 3 West Surrey Racing entries, fifth on the Expected Entries list.

shame on me I didin't see that ! I hope to see more BTCC teams doing the ETC too, Team Dynamics and Motorbase, now its an STCC affair lol

[JMeissner]

Nogues to drive SEAT:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=2774

[Valker]

Originally Posted by JMeissner

Nogues to drive SEAT

Uh... Nogues allowed to enter even though he hasn't done minimum %50 of a national championship nor any of the qualifying rounds... I gues this means there aren't many eligible drivers to enter and hence expecting a week grid.

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by Valker

Uh... Nogues allowed to enter even though he hasn't done minimum %50 of a national championship nor any of the qualifying rounds...

There is one more way to join, and has always been. Check the #3 post in this thread.

[JMeissner]

Exactly.

And as for a weak grid, don't think we have to worry about that this year.

[stedevil]

Indeed, the grid does look to be quite impressive. Maybe you sitting partially on the inside of a team could shed some light on why it's become so popular this year? Eg, why hasn't flash engineering been participating before, even though you've been potential overall winners if participating? Surely it can't just be about the 1 more way to qualify yourself to the event?

[Valker]

Originally Posted by stedevil

There is one more way to join, and has always been.

I'm aware of that. And IMO it exists, and has always existed, just to make sure there is a way to add some more cars into otherwise small pack.

Why do we even need qual rounds and 50% min if anyone who wants to enter can get a wild card anyway?

[JMeissner]

Originally Posted by stedevil

Indeed, the grid does look to be quite impressive. Maybe you sitting partially on the inside of a team could shed some light on why it's become so popular this year? Eg, why hasn't flash engineering been participating before, even though you've been potential overall winners if participating? Surely it can't just be about the 1 more way to qualify yourself to the event?

I would say that it is due to a number of reasons. The scheduling of the race is better this year, its not as close to the season as it was last year. The track is situated in the middle of Europe which makes it easier and cheaper for most of the teams around Europe to get there. They have sharpened the rules so it is more difficult for WTCC-team to enter. They have changed the prize money so more teams can score. And so on...

[JMeissner]

Engström confirms entry:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=2776

[JMeissner]

Updated list:

Confirmed entries

Chevrolet Denmark - Chevrolet Lacetti - Michel Nykjær
Golden Motors - Honda Accord - Alexander Lvov
Golden Motors - Honda Accord - Andrey Smetsky
Geipel Motorsport - Toyota Auris - Philip Geipel
Geipel Motorsport - Toyota Corolla - Charlie Geipel
Engstler Motorsport - BMW 320i E46 - TBA
Engstler Motorsport - BMW 320i E46 - TBA
Engstler Motorsport - BMW 320i E46 - TBA
SUNRED - SEAT Léon - Oscar Nogués
Honda Racing - Honda Accord - Tomas Engström

Expected entries

Chevrolet Denmark - Chevrolet Lacetti - TBA
Hartmann Honda - Honda Accord - TBA
Hartmann Honda - Honda Accord - TBA
Poulsen Motorsport - BMW 320si - Kristian Poulsen
West Surrey Racing - BMW 320si - Colin Turkington
West Surrey Racing - BMW 320si - TBA
West Surrey Racing - BMW 320si - TBA
Flash Engineering - BMW 320si - Richard Göransson
Flash Engineering - BMW 320si - Jan Nilsson
MA GP - Alfa Romeo 156 - Mattias Andersson
GTM Motorsport - BMW 320si - Mikko Eskelinen
JH Motorsport - Honda Civic - Jänis Horeliks
Xtreme Race - BMW 320si - Urmas Kitsing
Kissling Motorsport - Opel Astra - Wolfgang Tremel
Sports & You - BMW 320si - Cesar Campaniço
Rikli Motorsport - Honda Accord - Peter Rikli

[Pettersson]

Nice with a Honda from Sweden, but couldn't they send Thed Björk instead... Sure, Tomas is a decent driver but Thed is certainly faster IMHO.

[PorscheFanNo1]

For sure, too bad we wont see Thed there, he would be a contender for the title.

[stedevil]

Yeah, it's nice to see Engström back in ETCC this year again, but there is no doubt who is the sharper of the Honda teams two drivers. I can only assume Thed was busy or the team dont have enough cash to pay him as the reason they dont send him over Engström (if both cars are out of the question).

[Jon411]

There is mention on the BTCC forum that WSR may not be racing now

The numbers are taking a fair old whack if that is the case. Then again you only need 5/6 decent front runners to make it half decent - and they should get that I hope.

[Valker]

Auto-Sport.ru says ADAC Procar driver Andrei Romanov (Engstler BMW) will race in ETC Cup for sure and Oleg Petrishin, another Russian from Procar, is likely to be there too.

Some RTCC-drivers should enter the SP cup, but last years winner Aleksey Basov isn't one of them. Dmitry Dobrovolskiy (Aimol Racing Opel Astra Coupe) is almost sure.