[WTCC] WTCC 2013

[I Rosputnik]

Citroen are looking at going to the WTCC in 2014 with Sebastien Loeb.

O_O'

[kurski]

The FIA and Eurosport Events Ltd. have renewed the commercial rights for the World Touring Car Championship until 2017.

[kober]

Originally Posted by kurski

The FIA and Eurosport Events Ltd. have renewed the commercial rights for the World Touring Car Championship until 2017.

Good news! Hopefully, a little bit of granted stability will attract a manufacturer or two.

[NaBUru38]

So it's Honda, Ford, Seat, Citroën and Lada so far, plus the BMW and Chevrolet privateers.

[redshoes]

Must be time for a WTCC 2013 thread, if only to stop the 2013 news being posted in the 2012 thread.

Calendar as announced by FIA today
10/03 ESP TBA*
24/03 ITA Monza*
07/04 TBA TBA*
28/04 SVK Slovakiaring*
05/05 HUN Hungaroring
19/05 AUT Salzburgring
09/06 RUS Moscow Raceway*
30/06 PRT Porto*
21/07 BRA Curitiba*
15/09 USA Sonoma*
13/10 CHN Shangai*
27/10 JPN Suzuka
17/11 MAC Macau*

Spare dates: 04/08, 25/08
* Subject to ASN’s confirmation

[BtccLee]

Will try and keep up to date more next year.

Never has and never will appeal to me anywhere near as much as the BTCC but still think it is a fantastic series and getting better.

Will also try to follow the end of this year, supporting Huffy...

[FIRE]

double

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

So it's Honda, Ford, Seat, Citroën and Lada so far, plus the BMW and Chevrolet privateers.

Only Honda is confirmed.

[LeoncaValla]

Nissan still possible.

[kober]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Only Honda is confirmed.

But it's almost impossible that there won't be at least one Leon, Cruze and 320 on the grid next year

[NaBUru38]

Do you really mean that Lada isn't confirmed?

[LeoncaValla]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Do you really mean that Lada isn't confirmed?

Russian long harness I think the confirmation must wait until the new year.

[I Rosputnik]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Must be time for a WTCC 2013 thread, if only to stop the 2013 news being posted in the 2012 thread.

Calendar as announced by FIA today
10/03 ESP TBA*
24/03 ITA Monza*
07/04 TBA TBA*
28/04 SVK Slovakiaring*
05/05 HUN Hungaroring
19/05 AUT Salzburgring
09/06 RUS Moscow Raceway*
30/06 PRT Porto*
21/07 BRA Curitiba*
15/09 USA Sonoma*
13/10 CHN Shangai*
27/10 JPN Suzuka
17/11 MAC Macau*

Spare dates: 04/08, 25/08
* Subject to ASN’s confirmation

Interesting calendar, while I doubt we will see the UK (T_T) or Germany return any time soon with Citroen considering to join, would the KSO look at returning to France to replace Morocco?

Although if Citroën do enter I would be a little nervous about the calendar. I remember in the WRC, they weren't keen on racing outside of Europe and yet curiously they are looking at the WTCC because of how diverse the calendar is. If there is one thing I like about the WTCC is that the calendar has a nice balance between European rounds and international rounds (I'm happy that there is a race in Japan and the USA). I have my fingers crossed Ford enter as a works team, it should protect the US race if they can make it work.

Personally I would rather see the WTCC continue to stretch out a bit and see if it could make a name for itself internationally rather then recede back. Not saying I would like the championship to leave Europe completely, in fact I would like think if it can spend a few years working on improving the championship internationally it might be able to return to Germany and the UK with a stronger focus.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

Although if Citroën do enter I would be a little nervous about the calendar. I remember in the WRC, they weren't keen on racing outside of Europe and yet curiously they are looking at the WTCC because of how diverse the calendar is.

If I remember well Citroen isn't interested in the Middle-East events.
China is an important market for Citroen.
I can imagine they also want to race in South-America and Marocco (or elsewhere in Africa).

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

If there is one thing I like about the WTCC is that the calendar has a nice balance between European rounds and international rounds (I'm happy that there is a race in Japan and the USA). I have my fingers crossed Ford enter as a works team, it should protect the US race if they can make it work.

No problems with this calendar, except for the fact the first half of the season is only in Europe and the second half only outside Europe. I would like to see a mix.

[LeoncaValla]

Originally Posted by FIRE

No problems with this calendar, except for the fact the first half of the season is only in Europe and the second half only outside Europe. I would like to see a mix.

It will be expensive logistics for private teams.