[WTCC] FIA WTCR 2018: WTCC / TCR Merger?

[Bramzel]

According to the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com the WTCC/TCR merger is pretty much a done deal:

https://nl.motorsport.com/wtcc/news/...e-2018-979676/

Short summary:

• Merger at hand for 2018 already
• Negotiations in the final stage
• Class 1 regulations proposed, but no support from both factory and private teams
• Both championships running TCR regulations next to each other would be bad for both
• Championship would lose its 'FIA World Championship' status and would become a 'FIA World Cup'.
• No more factory teams, privateer teams only (similar to GT3)
• Both WTCC and TCR Int. refuse to release statements about the matter, but a deal is expected in several weeks.

My opinion: great for both series, and it proves Lotti was right after all

[Cinghio44]

So WTCR will be the only international touring car competition? It will be based on a TCR calendar?

[Moneyseeker]

Sounds a good idea to me, much better to adopt the TCR rukes than have a small grid of class TC1 cars. Much better economy of scale as cars can be invested in and raced in a wide range of championships around the World.

As for the spectacle, TV views and circuit spectators want big grids of cars they can identify with, the lap time and performance relative to TC1 cars won't be noticeable IMO.

[Bcarr6]

I hope this is a sensible merger and not TCR international running the WTCC calendar

Don't want to see Morocco back, or Villa Real. Or Argentina, or Qatar

Let's have a well supported, big grid, using decent worldwide circuits.

Monza, Spa, Zhejiang, Hungaroring, Brands Hatch? Maybe even a US Race now there is TCR cars over there


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Cinghio44]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

I hope this is a sensible merger and not TCR international running the WTCC calendar

Don't want to see Morocco back, or Villa Real. Or Argentina, or Qatar

Let's have a well supported, big grid, using decent worldwide circuits.

Monza, Spa, Zhejiang, Hungaroring, Brands Hatch? Maybe even a US Race now there is TCR cars over there


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I absolutely agree with that

But i think it's more the WTCC that will merge in the TCR Int. honestly if I understand correctly

[S griffin]

WTCC can’t swim against the tide anymore, it had to go with the majority and that is TCR. Hopefully the series can improve again now

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by S griffin

WTCC can’t swim against the tide anymore, it had to go with the majority and that is TCR. Hopefully the series can improve again now

It's a different series.

[steve_r]

Hopefully the action will rise up to the standards of TCR, and not drop to the snoozefest standards that WTCC has been for a long time.

[pimmy]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

I hope this is a sensible merger and not TCR international running the WTCC calendar

Don't want to see Morocco back, or Villa Real. Or Argentina, or Qatar

Let's have a well supported, big grid, using decent worldwide circuits.

Monza, Spa, Zhejiang, Hungaroring, Brands Hatch? Maybe even a US Race now there is TCR cars over there

They should keep going to Argentina, if possible. It's nice to have the country on an international calendar and I like the circuit.

Zhejiang is a terrible track, so no thanks.

This should be a good solution to the divided international scene. If this year's main TCR entrants stay on and are joined by the WTCC privateers, that'll be a good field.

[redshoes]

Good PR spin here. Is it really a merger?

A cynic might say that it is the WTCC being canned and International TCR being given FIA status. although I guess that depends on who ends up running the show.

[NaBUru38]

But who will promote the new championship, Eurosport or Lotti's WSC?

[Matt K]

For now it seems a good idea and good solution but still there are so many unknows that a lot can change until we will see a finished product.
As far as I know, it will be promoted by Eurosport which is good but I'd rather see TCR calendar instead of WTCC.
For me a bit of a shame that there won't be any manufacturers however I know why is it so. But the greatest solution will be to have factory-supported teams like in BTCC for example. We know that Hyundai for example was involved in i30 TCR.

[Andrew Abbott]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Good PR spin here. Is it really a merger?

A cynic might say that it is the WTCC being canned and International TCR being given FIA status. although I guess that depends on who ends up running the show.

There's a good reason why TouringCars.Net haven't referred to it as a merger - our journalist Damian Meaden is in the paddock and the way things are being described is more of a realignment.

Eurosport get to keep acting as promoter for a global touring car series, WSC let their IP be used under licence and a watchful eye, with the regional series protected, and the FIA get to keep the top of the touring car pyramid intact, in a way.

These things are still being finalised and no one will make an official comment at present.

[Metzo]

i wonder what will happen with the TC1 cars if the merger happens. doubt any of the teams who own the cars will be able to sell them. should they add TC1 class to ETCC? or just let them disappear?

[Bramzel]

They'll find their way to Museums to remember our children to never make such mistakes again

[Metzo]

i thought they said the same after original class 1 regulations.

[Juntos]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Good PR spin here. Is it really a merger?

Can't agree more. Seems a journo will fly back home in first class!

Would you pay $1 to see a picture of Ribeiro and Lotti together signing that agreement? I'd!

[kurski]

WTCC drivers comment possible TCR/WTCC merger
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2017...crwtcc-merger/

[Fechna]

The move to TCR is great, but it would be a shame if WTCC gets downgraded to a World Cup... TCR would shine even more with manufacturer backed teams like BTCC.

And from a branding standpoint a privareer world cup just dosent sell.

[BLiTZ]

Whilst it's a bummer if there'll be no official manufacturer teams, I imagine (much like GT3) there'll be manufacturer backed/supported/approved (however you want to call them) teams bringing a high level of professionalism to the series.

For example if JAS run their own team then I'd still expect it to have Castrol backing and some of the Honda 'factory drivers' (much like RJN's GT-R's run under Nissan's lubricant partner Motul's sponsorship and draw from their pool of drivers).

Unless Volvo cobble together a V40 TCR (something they already didn't fancy doing to stay in the STCC), I guess that's them out!

[Tarzaan]

Maybe the grid will be bigger and the races will be more spectacular, but without factory teams thre will be very few private teams who can pay decent salary to quality drivers.


I still think TCR are designed to national or regional championship.

TC1 rules could work with some minor modifications and a less dumb series management/promoter (big holes in the calendar, race tracks where racing is impossible, tie the hands of Citroens rivals with the stupid joker system, etc.)

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

Whilst it's a bummer if there'll be no official manufacturer teams, I imagine (much like GT3) there'll be manufacturer backed/supported/approved (however you want to call them) teams bringing a high level of professionalism to the series.

For example if JAS run their own team then I'd still expect it to have Castrol backing and some of the Honda 'factory drivers' (much like RJN's GT-R's run under Nissan's lubricant partner Motul's sponsorship and draw from their pool of drivers).

Unless Volvo cobble together a V40 TCR (something they already didn't fancy doing to stay in the STCC), I guess that's them out!

JAS build the TCR cars, so I doubt they will run a team.

They might run a GT3 team next year (or a Honda/Accura DPi)

[Racing Harz]

Originally Posted by BLiTZ

Unless Volvo cobble together a V40 TCR (something they already didn't fancy doing to stay in the STCC), I guess that's them out!

Volvo has discontinued the V40 this year

[S griffin]

I think this is the right move, grids were falling in the WTCC, whereas TCR has always had good grid numbers. So exciting times ahead, hopefully we can have quality and quantity in 2018

[RED55]

Current WTCC is not sustainable , TCR makes more economic sense and there is no reason why there cannot be works backed teams , the great bonus for TCR is the cars become an Asset for the teams that can be used year on year or sold on for not a lot of depreciation. Once British teams get a hold of the TCR concept even popular BTCC will be harder to sell to drivers. Every car maker has the ability to offer a TCR car , its probably the first time that Global Touring car racing has been able to offer an outlet for a showroom model without homologation specials ,yes it costs money to develop the cars into an end product but it gives the manufacturers an actual revenue stream related to motorsport , the quality of service and support for customer teams will be reflected by the manufacturers commitment and input. the grids should increase and the racing should become more open and related to talent from team and driver rather than massive budgets.even works paid drives may have the possibility to return , giving new talent a target to aspire to, or simply putting in a good even fight to the big boys will be massive reward.

[BobJones]

Originally Posted by Fechna

The move to TCR is great, but it would be a shame if WTCC gets downgraded to a World Cup... TCR would shine even more with manufacturer backed teams like BTCC.

And from a branding standpoint a privareer world cup just dosent sell.

Exactly.