What would you do to the WTCC?

[I Rosputnik]

My rules would feature two classes, A-Spec and B-Spec

Common rules
-Fuel used must be 20% bio-fuel (As a development of the WTCC's approach to being environmentally friendly)
-Cars run together on Endurance races.
-AWD is banned.
-Diesel is banned unless a cheep engine can be produced.

B-Spec - WTCC answer to F2/GP2, a feeder to A-Spec.
Aimed at smaller teams and rookies who want to enter a World Championship, but lack funds to enter A-Spec.
18 cars maximum.
S1600 cars similar to the cars that will be used in WRC next year, but with body kits similar to TC2000 cars.
Teams must have at least 1 or 2 cars.
Professional drivers may enter to help car development.
Manufacturer teams would be allowed to enter, but only if they have entered a team into A-spec.
All cars must be lengthwise 3900 mm to 4600mm
Shorter races - Between half and ¾ of an A-Spec race.
Saloons preferred, but Hatchback are allowed.
Ideal cars - Ford Fiesta/Focus, Peugeot 207/308, Nissan Tiida/Sentra, Chevrolet Aevo/Cruze.

A-Spec - Premier category.
Aimed at Manufacturer teams, professional outfits and experienced drivers. Manufacturers may want to use this class as a way of showcasing their flagship model.
24 cars maximum.
NGTC regulations, however turbochargers are allowed.
Teams must run 2 cars.
Professional drivers only.
All cars must be lengthwise 4500 mm to 5100 mm.
Saloons only.
Ideal cars - Opel Insignia, BMW 5 series, Ford Mondeo/Fusion, Porsche Panamera, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Infiniti G37 Saloon.

Events
F1 style qualifying to begin with.
B-Spec would feature 2 sprint races, while A-Spec would feature 1 sprint race and 1 feature race.
Endurance races would feature both classes racing together.


Tracklist

1. Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos)
2. Autódromo Juan y Oscar Galvez (Buenos Aires)
3. Mosport International Raceway
4. Circuit Mont-Tremblant
5. Marrakech Street Circuit (Heavily revised)
6. Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola)
7. Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
8. Circuit Zolder
9. Brands Hatch
10. Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
11. Motorsport Arena Oschersleben
12. Mantorp Park
13. Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
14. Sepang International Circuit
15. Okayama International Circuit
16. Guia Circuit

It may not suit everyone tastes, but that’s what I’ve come up with.

[Speed-King]

The WTCC doesn't reach 30 cars and you propose more classes?

Here's why:
Nowadays manufacturers can't justify racing without some measurable success (i.e. wins). In any given series only a limited number of manufacturers will ever regularly compete for victories, those that don't will sooner or later leave the series at least as far as their official factory team is concerned, which means as a net result: less variety.
If you have two classes, you have double the amount of victories to gain every weekend, and manufacturers that don't have a chance in class one, can give it a shot in class two.
So ideally, a multiclass format leads to more manufacturer participation, more diversity and more action.

As for the Mustang and the Camaro: These have a history of competing in touring car races and if you allow M3s and S5s like Superstars does, you have no reason for excluding those. And - at least in their home market - these are rather cheap cars (I think you can get a Mustang cheaper than a Golf GTI in the US), so that's also an indication of them being touring cars rather than GTs, which is usually a designation reserved to much more expensive cars.
Oh, and did I mention that they are badass?

[I Rosputnik]

Just some thoughts.

My first idea was to try attract a wide range of cars. What I've noticed is two things in the market right now. A current trend of large sports based saloons, like the Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panameria, while also an increase in compacts. It would be a shame just to leave them in the showroom and not see them race against each other for all of their "sportyness".

The idea of two classes was to as previously mentioned to attract a greater range of cars and to offer a range of talent.

However there are two things that I would need to look at with multiclass touringcars.
1. Both classes can be strong, so you can avoid the whole GT1, GT2 thing in sports car racing.
2. The faster class doesn't turn into something that is not touringcars.

I will be trying single class regulations later, aiming for a middle ground.

[Sodemo]

Firstly, you can guarantee the front wheel drive teams would be against any endurance type race, as their front tyres would just get chewed to bits well before the BMW's with their better balance and tyre life.

Several key things that I would like to see done.

- Longer races (instead of 9 laps of Monza, make it 15)

- Peg back that VAG diesel engine for gods sake. Restrictor limit please.

- Bigger weight breaks for older cars, how about a 60kg reduction for cars over 5 years old?

- Give the cars bigger wheels, 18" is about right.

- Give the cars slightly more power, needs to be around 330-350bhp.

- Keep the series more Euro centric to keep costs down.

- Improve the rubbish Eurosport coverage (somehow?!) - see thread in the Le Mans forum.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Keep the series more Euro centric to keep costs down.

Then rename it to European Touring Car Championship. It's like the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which races this year in Argentina, Brazil, Açores and the rest of the rounds in Europe.

[duke_toaster]

The ISC requires three continents for it to be a World Championship. I suppose you could have Turkey + Marrakech + 10 races in Europe? However, I still think Macau is a good race to have on the calendar, with a race in Africa they could easily dump the Mexico and Brazil flyaways.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Then rename it to European Touring Car Championship. It's like the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which races this year in Argentina, Brazil, Açores and the rest of the rounds in Europe.

It should be called the ETCC in any case - it surely doesn't deserve the "world" title when it runs mainly in Europe with largely European cars does it?

To my mind, a World Championship should be a pinnacle - best cars, best teams, best drivers etc.

The current WTCC doesn't have any of those factors, although the drivers are among the best and some of the teams would be up there too.

Would be nice to see them move away from the small engined, buzz box approach to something a bit more edgy - like DTM but without the crazy bodywork. Don't see V8 Supercar type cars having enough interest to a wide range of countries for that type of car to be considered but if the current cars were updated with bigger engines, more rubber and were a lot wilder to watch and drive, that would be a positive thing.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Tourer

It should be called the ETCC in any case - it surely doesn't deserve the "world" title when it runs mainly in Europe with largely European cars does it?

All FIA World Championships run the majority, or near the majority, of their rounds in Europe. That's because that's where most of the teams are based.

To my mind, a World Championship should be a pinnacle - best cars, best teams, best drivers etc.

The current WTCC doesn't have any of those factors, although the drivers are among the best and some of the teams would be up there too.

Best cars? Built to the S2000 rules, they have the best cars.
Best teams? RML, WSR, RBM et al would argue that the WTCC has the best cars.
Best drivers? Tarquini, Turkington (OK, on a part season run), Alain Menu, Yvan Muller - I'd say the WTCC has the best drivers.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

All FIA World Championships run the majority, or near the majority, of their rounds in Europe. That's because that's where most of the teams are based.

True. However, having just two rounds outside Europe in a 8 or 13-round championship and call it World Championship is lying. 4 out of 12 races outside Europe as now is fine to me.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

All FIA World Championships run the majority, or near the majority, of their rounds in Europe. That's because that's where most of the teams are based.

Some truth in that but at least others such as sports cars etc make an effort to run elsewhere and have drivers from a much wider range of countries.

It just feels like the ETCC re-named for marketing reasons or a bit of a deal - which of course is exactly what it is.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Best cars? Built to the S2000 rules, they have the best cars.
Best teams? RML, WSR, RBM et al would argue that the WTCC has the best cars.
Best drivers? Tarquini, Turkington (OK, on a part season run), Alain Menu, Yvan Muller - I'd say the WTCC has the best drivers.

Best cars to S2000 rules? Possibly - but as I said, pretty uninspiring rules unfortunately, particularly when compared to some other series.

As I said, some of the teams in WTCC are no doubt good but there are some VERY good teams running in other touring car series that would likely give them a run for their money or be better.

Best drivers? Yeah, the guys that you mention ARE good but I'm sure that Mattias Ekstrom, Timo Scheider, Jamie Whincup & James Courtney as a short list of examples would be as good or better so there are quite a few of the best who are not taking part in the "world" touring car championship.

Point I'm making is that the so called WTCC does in fact have a very narrow focus and should be doing more to make itself a true world series, that's all.

[Icebaby]

Coverage dreadful as stated, commentators not given enough of a role, pit walks and garage visits. I thought it died when Alfa Romeo left finally in 2007 its not the same without them...

[I Rosputnik]

Eurosport has terrible coverage. Everytime I hear that "Race, ya gotta go fasta!" I feel like flinging my remote at the TV. Also the graphics are very dated. Why can't it have the sort of graphics GT1 or F1 has?

[NaBUru38]

What's the point of a World Championship if you don't want it to be really worldwide?

[BootsOntheSide]

The WTCC is a dismal show at the moment - it's just about the only major championship I only watch if there's nothing else on. The cars aren't exciting to watch or challenging to drive, there are too many boring street circuits with no racing, and the racing usually ends up processional. NGTC rules might be the simplest option, even if they are unproven so far. It's got to be cheap, but above all it's got to be exciting.