WTCC WTCC 2013 - Page 4

Spanner monkey · 21 Nov 2012, 21:15 (Ref:3169573)

Quote:

Alex Macdowall has been testing a Ginetta G55 today. Could be leaving WTCC? (would be a shame)

Must be testing for the Britcar 6hr race this weekemd - he's done it for the last 2 or 3 years.

jsmee · 21 Nov 2012, 22:12 (Ref:3169591)

Menu seems keen to work on a development project, which to me only (at the moment) works for Citroen in 2014, or possibly SEAT in 2014 when they possibly create a new Leon. Similarly, Lada or Team Aon are both development projects, but as Lada have Thommo that only leaves Arena Ford.

I can imagine Huff leaving the WTCC. Just watching some interviews for the local news he doesn't seem overly motivated to defend his title... Possible move to DTM/Prototypes/GTs?

By the way, I've just read that as well as testing the Ginetta G55, Alex Macdowall has also tested the Beechdean Motorsport Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 today.

James

W.A Trichlorostyrene · 22 Nov 2012, 13:22 (Ref:3169804)

All this silly season talk makes me think of what might have been if Volvo had stayed in the series, or if Polestar sold the cars to some competent independents team.

I miss that car... It definitely had potential.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsmee

I can imagine Huff leaving the WTCC. Just watching some interviews for the local news he doesn't seem overly motivated to defend his title... Possible move to DTM/Prototypes/GTs?

Muller doesn't sound very bothered about WTCC either. In Autosport a few months ago, he said he was exploring different options, including some in vastly different fields, such as rallying, NASCAR/"stock car" racing, or even cycling.

NaBUru38 · 22 Nov 2012, 13:27 (Ref:3169810)

No races in the United Kingdom, Germany or France. That's far from ideal.

jsmee · 22 Nov 2012, 13:32 (Ref:3169816)

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.A Trichlorostyrene

All this silly season talk makes me think of what might have been if Volvo had stayed in the series, or if Polestar sold the cars to some competent independents team.

I miss that car... It definitely had potential.

Muller doesn't sound very bothered about WTCC either. In Autosport a few months ago, he said he was exploring different options, including some in vastly different fields, such as rallying, NASCAR/"stock car" racing, or even cycling.

I agree with the Volvo comment. It sounded amazing too.

I could see Muller looking into rallying. He was pretty good in the Mini this year on that one outing.

Seems interesting that Muller and Menu have both referenced S. American stock car and touring car championships as a possibility. Must be better championships than I thought.

James

Bramzel · 22 Nov 2012, 13:46 (Ref:3169825)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsmee

Seems interesting that Muller and Menu have both referenced S. American stock car and touring car championships as a possibility. Must be better championships than I thought.

Better budgets mostly I think

Not that they aren't proper championships, but I think Muller and Menu are mostly looking at places to race without bringing money of their own.

iceman-1987 · 22 Nov 2012, 15:09 (Ref:3169861)

spainish round will be replace or not?

I Rosputnik · 22 Nov 2012, 15:32 (Ref:3169866)

Subaru is deciding between the WTCC and the WRC.

W.A Trichlorostyrene · 22 Nov 2012, 15:33 (Ref:3169867)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsmee

Seems interesting that Muller and Menu have both referenced S. American stock car and touring car championships as a possibility. Must be better championships than I thought.

Menu has already done a few one-off appearance in Argentina's TC2000 in the past. It doesn't seem to be a bad championship, great car counts, and some well known names.

Bramzel · 23 Nov 2012, 09:47 (Ref:3170153)

Opels new VLN weapon, the Astra Cup developed by Kissling. Come on Opel, turn it into a WTCC car and I might even like your brand again...

Nigma · 23 Nov 2012, 13:41 (Ref:3170225)

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.A Trichlorostyrene

Menu has already done a few one-off appearance in Argentina's TC2000 in the past. It doesn't seem to be a bad championship, great car counts, and some well known names.

Hasn't Huff done a few rounds of the TC2000's before as well?

Juntos · 24 Nov 2012, 10:14 (Ref:3170489)

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

Subaru is deciding between the WTCC and the WRC.

It is every year the same rumour. Blunt denial is crude and can be used against one as a sort of confirmation.

James C. · 24 Nov 2012, 12:01 (Ref:3170523)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsmee

So far....

CONFIRMED
Lukoil LADA: Lada Granta WTCC: James Thompson/Alexei Dudukalo
Honda Racing Team JAS: Honda Civic S2000 TC: Tiago Monteiro/Gabriele Tarquini
Munnich Motorsport: SEAT Leon WTCC: Rene Munnich/Marc Basseng/Markus Winkelhock
OAK Racing: Honda Civic S2000 TC: ???/???

OAK is not confirmed at all, it is just a rumour from Japanese press as far as I know.

And the three others are "set to", which means more 95% than 100% certain IMO.

Oh, and Motorsport-total seems to be a great site to read rumours about WTCC : The latest story is about RML trying to enter Renaults for 2014.

jsmee · 24 Nov 2012, 13:17 (Ref:3170540)

Quote:

Originally Posted by James C.

OAK is not confirmed at all, it is just a rumour from Japanese press as far as I know.

And the three others are "set to", which means more 95% than 100% certain IMO.

Oh, and Motorsport-total seems to be a great site to read rumours about WTCC : The latest story is about RML trying to enter Renaults for 2014.

Yeah, from what I've read, apart from Honda, the others still need to dot the i's and cross the t's. So yeah, call those 95% certain

I Rosputnik · 24 Nov 2012, 14:45 (Ref:3170562)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juntos

It is every year the same rumour. Blunt denial is crude and can be used against one as a sort of confirmation.

Still, it's a rumour that comes around here and there. If we see what happens with the WRX then maybe the rumour could be put to bed.

Here's the Renault rumour on touring car times.

If Renault enter and if Lada enter, does that mean a conflict of interests? Plus if Renault and Citroen enter in 2014 and does that weaken the point of the USA race? (Even though I am very fond of Sears Point)

Edit - Silly Season for 2013 and beyond.

kober · 24 Nov 2012, 16:58 (Ref:3170596)

Quote:

Originally Posted by James C.

The latest story is about RML trying to enter Renaults for 2014.

The same story on TouringCarTimes implies that the interest that both Citroen and Renault have in WTCC is connected with a new 2014 technical regulations? Any news about the new rules? Are they moving away from S2000?

Speed-King · 24 Nov 2012, 21:04 (Ref:3170675)

Keeping aligned with rallying and going for something close to the new R5 regs?

I Rosputnik · 24 Nov 2012, 21:20 (Ref:3170685)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Keeping aligned with rallying and going for something close to the new R5 regs?

They are keeping the 1.6 Turbo engines, but if there is a chance (rumour or not) I'd love to see them race with the Megane RS. On that note there is currently a group N Megane RS in rallying, and I'd love to see a touring car version of group N regulations.

NaBUru38 · 24 Nov 2012, 23:06 (Ref:3170714)

Group N is being replaced by Group R. Like SK says, R5 is the closest thing to a Super 2000.

About Subaru, the WTCC is the better option for them by far, because it has more races outside Europe, including three in Asia and two in the Americas.

JorritVD · 28 Nov 2012, 23:08 (Ref:3172816)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

About Subaru, the WTCC is the better option for them by far, because it has more races outside Europe, including three in Asia and two in the Americas.

No company will ever make a easy decision like that.

There is a big marketing-strategy. WRC and WTCC have different viewer numbers but also different types of viewers. Maybe WTCC has more viewers, but maybe rally has more diehard motorsport viewers. Who will actually buy the road-going car? or who do you want to get in contact with?

Why is Honda got into WTCC? for the market in Asia? well probably not, because they got also got a SuperGT programm and there were not really a lot of spectators at the WTCC races in japan for example.

So there will be an investigation about the costs, profits, marketing, communication, etc. Eventually they will look to best solution that provides the best ROI (Return on Investments) and goodwill.

awrb · 29 Nov 2012, 00:14 (Ref:3172852)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JorritVD

There is a big marketing-strategy. WRC and WTCC have different viewer numbers but also different types of viewers. Maybe WTCC has more viewers, but maybe rally has more diehard motorsport viewers. Who will actually buy the road-going car? or who do you want to get in contact with?

Along those lines, which looks better on a poster outside the dealerships? A WTCC car driving round a track, or a WRC car sliding round a gravel bend? And which will attract the average buyer who doesn't care about motorsport?

I Rosputnik · 29 Nov 2012, 23:07 (Ref:3173277)

Quote:

Originally Posted by awrb

Along those lines, which looks better on a poster outside the dealerships? A WTCC car driving round a track, or a WRC car sliding round a gravel bend? And which will attract the average buyer who doesn't care about motorsport?

Sounds a bit like a niche of a niche.

Meanwhile, a Dutch team is dreaming of entering a Mercedes Benz A-class in the future.

While this may never happen, an A-class would make for a nice touring car.

JorritVD · 29 Nov 2012, 23:15 (Ref:3173282)

Quote:

Originally Posted by awrb

Along those lines, which looks better on a poster outside the dealerships? A WTCC car driving round a track, or a WRC car sliding round a gravel bend? And which will attract the average buyer who doesn't care about motorsport?

Even those stuff they take into account. But if you want to promote a car like the Cruze, you can't really enter that in the top 1.6L WRC, because it's to big.

I think the Impreza could go both directions. But both WTCC and WRC has it's positives, but also negatives. And which series has more positives than negatives, will maybe be it.

Also it could be that during the investigation they discover that WTCC and WRC aren't good options. So they go to look for something different like Dakar or V8 Supercars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by awrb

And which will attract the average buyer who doesn't care about motorsport?

I can't really give a direct answer.

With promotion you can't focus on all people. You will be focusing on a certain group or groups of people. For example families with children (Volvo = safe), old people, green people (Toyota Prius), business people (BMW, Audi, Lexus), people with money (Ferrari, Porsche), people with no money (Dacia).

So it's more like what kind of impression(s) you want to deliver to the people you focus on.

NaBUru38 · 29 Nov 2012, 23:18 (Ref:3173286)

If WRC was an serious world championship...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henk Vuik

My dream is to take part with my team in the WTCC, and to race a Mercedes A-Class powered by a 1.6-litre turbo engine…

That doesn't sound very serious. But it's on WTCC's official website, so...

awrb · 30 Nov 2012, 13:08 (Ref:3173503)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JorritVD

With promotion you can't focus on all people. You will be focusing on a certain group or groups of people. For example families with children (Volvo = safe), old people, green people (Toyota Prius), business people (BMW, Audi, Lexus), people with money (Ferrari, Porsche), people with no money (Dacia).

So it's more like what kind of impression(s) you want to deliver to the people you focus on.

Exactly, and Subaru had great sucess with the image they gained from the WRC in the past. Yes, the series is in a pretty bad state right now but it seems to be improving (slowly, unfortunately). I just can't quite see why they'd enter the WTCC.

A picture of a car sliding around a hairpin in Greece, flying through the air in the snow in Sweden or even cutting a corner in Spain with sparks flying over the tarmac all look more exciting than a WTCC car. And a poster stating "World Rally Champions" will impress people, "World Touring Car Champions" will make people as what a touring car is.

I'm a big touring car fan, but I'm just unsure why a manufacturer would choose it over the WRC. Maybe I'm missing something though.