FIA World Touring Car Championship 2012 - 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum

I Rosputnik · 19 Jun 2011, 20:44

Thought it would make sense to toss this up now.

As far as I'm aware there has been rumours of three to four new manufacturers for next year and there was an article on Autosport a few months back that Tarquini has been in talks with manufacturers for the 2012 season. My guesses are currently Subaru, Ford and Honda. Subaru has been toying with an entry for a few years and why would AON build a new S2000 car for the BTCC when the regs are going out in two years time? Honda, I'm not sure if the Equipo Petrobras team are still working on the car anymore, but I hope it might come out of the blue.

Also I hope SEAT and Lada returns (Doubt it though) and Volvo expands to a three car team (I'd love to see Thomo back).

And the race in the USA could work wonders for the championship provided they play their cards very carefully.

Any news or thoughts on the 2012 season?

Sodemo · 19 Jun 2011, 21:40

Would love to see Alfa Romeo back, but thats unlikely. Touring car racing for me is BMW VS Alfa, fantastic marques.

My personal "wants" from 2012 would be a move to 18-19" wheels, and moving to a higher boost pressure, to deliver something like 350-380BHP.

None of which is likely to happen of course.

Jamesy-18 · 19 Jun 2011, 22:09

There's always rumours certain manufacturers will join. I doubt it. The WTCC is not in a good place right now.

AndySpeed · 19 Jun 2011, 23:48

Arena Motorsport to tackle the WTCC in 2012? That would seem quite logical. Develop the car a bit in the BTCC this year, then take the two Tom's into WTCC next year.

Alfa Fan · 20 Jun 2011, 00:43

A bit early for this! We need to know what Volvo & SEATs plans are first to ascertain as to whether there will actually be a series? I really can't see Chevy continuing as a factory team as it stands (without any proper competition coming in).

Robbe · 20 Jun 2011, 13:33

Italiaracing reported that Ford/Arena should be in, and Volvo is evaluating their participation.
Chevy probably wins everything there is to win this year. Not sure if there is any official position about 2012, but they have developed a brand new engine this year and the best base to add another championship next year. Beating Ford and Volvo would also be quite good maketing-wise. Let's hope they stay.
Seat would surprise me. The new engine of Sunred's cars is built by Lehmann, the cars are even homologated as SR Leon's so there is currently no support. If Seat would re-enter next year with an own engine, Sunred would have spent a lot of money for nothing.
It's been quiet about Subaru and the other japanese manufacturers.

Lotti says he has confirmation of almost all teams to stay on for 2012, Engstler even has Liqui Moly sponsorship secured, so I'm sure it will go on.

Valenok · 20 Jun 2011, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

Also I hope ... Lada returns (Doubt it though)

It is absolutely impossible

Lada enetered WTCC with governmental support and now all governmental money are spent for project 'Petrov' and 'Sochi GP'.

**FIRE** · 20 Jun 2011, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbe

Engstler even has Liqui Moly sponsorship secured, so I'm sure it will go on.

I don't understand Liqui Moly. They have a lot of logos on the cars. Why do they not put a pro driver in one of the cars?

Jamesy-18 · 20 Jun 2011, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndySpeed

Arena Motorsport to tackle the WTCC in 2012? That would seem quite logical. Develop the car a bit in the BTCC this year, then take the two Tom's into WTCC next year.

Can't see it myself. As Matt Neal pointed out recently, British tracks are very different from the ones WTCC race at. Completely different demands on a car. Would mean this year would be a complete waste of a year, and I think that both Chilton and Onslow-Cole want to stay in BTCC anyway.

awrb · 20 Jun 2011, 22:46

I'm not sure it would be a complete waste really, as good as a year testing at least. And the british circuits are all fairly different so should be enough of a test for the car. After all, the Cruze and Leon were both developed for the WTCC and did pretty well over here.

As for the drivers, Chilton nearly went DTMing before MG Rover decided against it/went bust. And Onslow-Cole expressed interest in the V8 Supercars over the winter.

It would leave a bit of a gap in the line-up for the BTCC though.

helgi · 21 Jun 2011, 05:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbe

Chevy probably wins everything there is to win this year. Not sure if there is any official position about 2012, but they have developed a brand new engine this year.

It's not a Chevy engine. They just didn't have a 1,6 DI Turbo at the time construction began. Cruze engine is an absolute prototype called P203, designed by RML engineers IIRC. And I can't understand why it's called "real cars, real racing" with prototypes all the way.

Leave it with true touringcars and all that Seat buses and Daewoos will have no chance against stock BMW 320.

AndySpeed · 21 Jun 2011, 10:23

I believe it would make sense for Arena to be in the WTCC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

I don't understand Liqui Moly. They have a lot of logos on the cars. Why do they not put a pro driver in one of the cars?

Kristian Poulsen is pretty good there.

Jamesy-18 · 21 Jun 2011, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndySpeed

I believe it would make sense for Arena to be in the WTCC.

Well, if they're not winning in the BTCC at the moment, what hope have they got in the WTCC, a series that is (arguably) more competitive?

Sodemo · 21 Jun 2011, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

Well, if they're not winning in the BTCC at the moment, what hope have they got in the WTCC, a series that is (arguably) more competitive?

I think there is a better class of driver (overall) in the WTCC, that doesn't mean to say that the BTCC is full of bad drivers, far from it. However, names like Muller, Menu, Huff, Farfus, Priaulx, Tarquini, Monterio, Coronel are all world class drivers. OK, Farfus and Priaulx arent there this year, but its still a strong field.

I'm not all that keen on the turbo engines in both the BTCC and WTCC. I think they lack drama, and I miss the growling/buzzing sounds from the naturally aspirated engines. A massive shame to lose the Volvo 5-cylinder too.

AndySpeed · 21 Jun 2011, 12:56

I may be reading between the lines a little too much here, but take a look at comments such as this one from Shaun Hollamby: "I fully understand why he’s gone to the Ford team because they’re offering him something that we can’t which is the potential to do World Touring Cars" and this one on the Arena website: "In addition to their BTCC campaign, it was announced earlier this year that Arena Motorsport would be responsible for building all Global Ford Focus Touring Cars."

To me it hints, very slightly, that they might look to do it in the future. I'll leave it at that, though, as it's still pretty unsubstantiated mind-wandering on my part too

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