World Touring Car Championship in 2005

[FIRE]

The WTCC starts in 2005:

Calendar:
6 March - Buenos Aires
3 April - Monza
24 April - Magny-Cours
8 May - Donington
22 May - Brno
28 June - TBA (With Seat competing I would say a race in Spain)
31 July - Francorchamps
4 September - Oschersleben
25 September - Istanbul
20 November - Macau

Drivers need to wear HANS system in 2005.
source: pitstoptv.be


I hope WTCC will a succes, but I am afraid the rising costs will be a problem for teams like Carly Motors, the Danish Peugeots and RS-Line.

[Kicking-back]

It's only two trips outside Europe - which the teams have agreed to.

As long as things are kept realistic it won't be a problem.

[touringlegend]

Aren't the organisers providing the transport to the fly away races anyway - so in theory it's just like any other event.

[touringcarnut]

Sounds like good stuff, I just hope it can get the right level of promotional support to make it a success, and the costs can be kept under control!

[redshoes]

There's already quite a few European teams/drivers who go to Macau and with it adopting Super 2000 regs this year it's a ready made event. I'm guessing the GTs will go to Zhuhai again instead (assuming they will still be together at the European rounds) - can't really see them squeezing round the streets of Macau.

Istanbul seems a bit of an odd choice. I was expecting Dubai, especially as they are racing there later this year. Likewise Buenos Aires, but then I believe that had been rumoured a while back.

Essentually it's a European-plus rather than proper World championship, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

[Dani Filth]

maybe it will make more Japanese and/or Korean manufacturers thinking about joining the series .. a series with 5-6 manufacturers would be great ..

[tonyp]

We need a lot more manufacturers to make it interesting plus we need some small car races i.e clio's or fiesta's to give the young lads chance to show us what they can do

[Cadete]

Glad to see Macau is in Since there will be no Portugal, we'll have at least someplace that was once Portuguese.

[Super Tourer]

As a side note - the wearing of the HANS device will be mandatory in this series from 1st January 2005.

"The World Motor Sport Council has approved a recommendation by the FIA Safety Commission to adopt the 'HANS' (Head And Neck Support) safety device in closed cars competing in FIA-sanctioned championships. It will be obligatory in the FIA GT Championship from September 1, 2004, and in the World Touring Car Championship and the Woorld Rally Championship (factory teams only) from January 1, 2005."

http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=38211&s=54

A good step forward in safety, I notice that of the current BTCC drivers, only Michael Bentwood currently wears a HANS system.

[F3lollipops]

Originally posted by Cadete
Glad to see Macau is in Since there will be no Portugal, we'll have at least someplace that was once Portuguese.

I got a press release from the nice Macau people about this today... It seems that the WTCC race and the Macau Guia Race will be one and the same.

I for one can't wait for next November - let alone this one

[racer69]

Lets see if the re-born WTCC will last a little longer than the last World Touring Car Championship........

[touringlegend]

There's rumours (well straight from the ETCC bosses mouth) that another manufacturer is gearing up for entering next year. There was a rumour a while ago about Kia joining. Could be them.

[429CJ]

Soul-less GP tracks Monza and Magny Cours should be replaced by something better.

[Kicking-back]

Monza, soul-less?

I think not!

[FIRE]

Originally posted by touringlegend
There's rumours (well straight from the ETCC bosses mouth) that another manufacturer is gearing up for entering next year. There was a rumour a while ago about Kia joining. Could be them.

Kia will maybe enter the Dakar rally, see wrc.com on 14/10/2003:

.....The manufacturer says it will start recruiting new staff later on this year, who will be based at its new headquarters in Russelheim in Germany. It also plans to scout for what it calls 'the finest drivers to assist in the development and testing with the goal of putting them on the podium'.

The new 50m Euro headquarters will also house Kia Motorsport's Dakar programme which it hopes enter in the near future.

[429CJ]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
Monza, soul-less?

I think not!

It's that new 1st chicane. Why make a chicane with 90 degree entrance, this is not a street course.

[touringcarnut]

I do think that chicane has been ruined from its former glory. But, its still a super track. i just hope it gets a good amount of TV coverage!

[DiscoGoober]

Here's an idea: for helping Kia win in their first ever attempt at motorsports in the Andros Ice Racing Championship, how about entering the WTCC with Yvan Muller (while still doing the BTCC, of course, if possible)?

[gttouring]

thi s is so cool, a race at Tskuba or suzuka would be keen, or even a round at Elkhart lake or Laguna Seca
oh we can dream
who are confirmed new Manufactruers? or is this a rebadging of the ETCC, to be the WTCC?

[Kicking-back]

Originally posted by gttouring
or is this a rebadging of the ETCC, to be the WTCC?

spot on

[BSchneiderFan]

Originally posted by 429CJ
... Soul-less GP tracks Monza...

<Pause to choke on vino rosso while the shade of Tazio Nuvolari whispers "WTF?" in my ear>

[touringcarnut]

[SFonseca]

Originally posted by touringlegend
There's rumours (well straight from the ETCC bosses mouth) that another manufacturer is gearing up for entering next year.

Nissan.

[FIRE]

Indeed, I think there's a greater chance to see Nissan in ETCC/WTCC, especially because the Nissan World Series will stop after this season.

[Kicking-back]

Good call!