[WTCC] 2017 WTCC News & Rumours

[Racing Harz]

Wrong thread.

[NaBUru38]

The WTCC should try to attract Alfa Romeo, Renault, Opel and Kia.

[thlbtcc]

Wonder if Honda will pull out a 4th car for Japan again to help with the title chase? In which case, will Volvo follow and wheel out one of their 2016 cars for Muller?

[Finesse]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

Wonder if Honda will pull out a 4th car for Japan again to help with the title chase? In which case, will Volvo follow and wheel out one of their 2016 cars for Muller?

Or maybe they could call Jaap van Lagen !

[Finesse]

Originally Posted by Rubio

The main problem is lack of TC1 cars and costs for private teams.

Aero doesn't cause that much problem, there were quite a lot of very good races during the last 4 years, and action really depends on competition.

TC1 has made the cars faster but not that much attractive as DTM cars, but taken the costs very high - so actually with this set of rules puts WTCC is in the middle of nowhere - expensive cars but not so fast and attractive. Which has become worse due to Citroen and Lada withdrawal and no interest from other makes.



Although I still believe that with more competiton and more factory teams (with no such Citroen domination) this concept would work very well.

Plus, it seems that touring car racing is not attractive for manufacturers themselves (not speaking about customer programs) - there is Formula E, WEC.

Like the way you think !

[Finesse]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

The WTCC should try to attract Alfa Romeo, Renault, Opel and Kia.

That would be nice....

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Finesse

Or maybe they could call Jaap van Lagen !

The new Jeroen Bleekemolen... Always willing to sacrifice a free weekend to work instead.

[Finesse]

Maybe Eurosport and the Fia should buy the cars currently not raced and rent them to teams next year, maybe even with an RML engine deal....

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Finesse

That would be nice....

But realistic?

Why would a manufacturer enter WTCC?

[Finesse]

Originally Posted by FIRE

The new Jeroen Bleekemolen... Always willing to sacrifice a free weekend to work instead.

YEP !!! And fast with everything....

[Finesse]

Originally Posted by FIRE

But realistic?

Why would a manufacturer enter WTCC?

Imo the cars look great so why not...

[Finesse]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

The WTCC should try to attract Alfa Romeo, Renault, Opel and Kia.

NISSAN (RML)

[Metzo]

Originally Posted by Finesse

Maybe Eurosport and the Fia should buy the cars currently not raced and rent them to teams next year, maybe even with an RML engine deal....

or enter it themself and let guest drivers drive like VIP car they had in the Porsche Supercup some years ago

[NaBUru38]

The Pulser Nismo would be nice.

[Finesse]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

The Pulser Nismo would be nice.

I totally agree..!!!

[Bcarr6]

The WTCC and DTM look like they are in hot water

Is it simply that manufacturers lack interest in factory programs that aren't seen as eco friendly in some way, these days?

They are all happy to build customer TCR cars, but that doesn't effect their new desired green image like a big factory WTCC or DTM program would?

My solution:

Merge DTM and WTCC, with a core of euro races, with a small selection of good tracks in further afield. But only 3-4 and probably bunched together.

Cars would be TCR style but 4 door saloons, make them look cool but strong build, and keep costs reasonable. To me touring cars isn't about being the fastest cars, it's about wheel to wheel hard racing

Allow each manufacturer 4 cars (providing enough mfg's enter)

Each mfg has two Pro cars and two Am cars, single drivers in each, allow factory run or customer run, whichever is preferred by entrants.

That way, each brand has two Pro guys fighting hard up front in manufacturer branded cars, but we have Am's filling the grid and fighting for their own trophy

Format could be 2x 40-50 min races, I see no need for pit stops, save the cost on that, concentrate on good hard racing

I think the TCR has shown that touring car racing doesn't need to be mega fast or technical, just give us a good size grid, and decent drivers fighting hard

[Tarzaan]

Just my thoughts.

According to some sources (motorsport tolal) DTM will introduce 2 liter turbo engines from 2019, same as the japanese SuperGT use in their top class. This will open the door for the japanese manufacturers.

Imho this will be perfect for Honda.

They have a succesfull TC1 car in the WTCC, but we all know TC1 has no real future.

So if the Honda and Volvo can make some kind of agreement too enter 5-6 cars in next year in WTCC, with the Citroens the WTCC can held a last season with TC1 cars. It would be a kind of swann song + it gives them some time to figure out how to continue after 2018.

From 2019 Honda/JAS can switch to the new DTM with their SuperGT car, Volvo might follow them.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

My solution:

Merge DTM and WTCC, with a core of euro races, with a small selection of good tracks in further afield. But only 3-4 and probably bunched together.

They've tried this before.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

I think the only path forward for WTCC is a move to TCR regulations where factory teams are allowed. Maybe even a merge with the International series, essentially winding the clock back to 2005. I don't know if DTM will survive, but if they can convince Alfa or Lexus to come in they should make it.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson

I think the only path forward for WTCC is a move to TCR regulations where factory teams are allowed. Maybe even a merge with the International series, essentially winding the clock back to 2005. I don't know if DTM will survive, but if they can convince Alfa or Lexus to come in they should make it.

A merger with WTCC would also be good for TCR International. Currently the full season TCR entries are not overwhelming.

I don't see a new manufacturer joining DTM. Although with DTM needing extra cars on the grid an interested manufacturer maybe has some leverage to get some things done the way they want.

[S griffin]

I think TC1 has had it's day, TCR is the way to go for WTCC if it wants to survive. Would have a quality lineup around some of the world's best race tracks

[MissClarrpz]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I think TC1 has had it's day, TCR is the way to go for WTCC if it wants to survive. Would have a quality lineup around some of the world's best race tracks

When did it have its day? 2014 and 2015 was Citroen dominance plus 2015 about going new places, 2016 reduced the domination (well Honda was there then got DSQ and lost performance) and 2017 is the clear up of TC1 with only 2 manufacturers left. The only time TC1 looked good was at the Nordschleife and Yokohama tried to prevent that as much as possible.

TCR cars in WTCC should be just as good as TCR Inter unless they try to radically change something (Joker lap, Q3...). I think they should just stick to the basics with the format and the racing. While their 'experiments' were generally good ideas (MAC3, Main race more points) you don't need them.

[Matt]

MAC3 is awesome, keep that.

[Alessio]

Perhaps WTCC take on TCR regulations and permit manufacturers, move TCR International to become the new ETCC to allow privateers to have a playground to play in without having to match the high costs required to fight the manufacturers? WTCC and TCR Int. can't survive together with both under TCR regulations anyway.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by MissClarrpz

When did it have its day? 2014 and 2015 was Citroen dominance plus 2015 about going new places, 2016 reduced the domination (well Honda was there then got DSQ and lost performance) and 2017 is the clear up of TC1 with only 2 manufacturers left. The only time TC1 looked good was at the Nordschleife and Yokohama tried to prevent that as much as possible.

TCR cars in WTCC should be just as good as TCR Inter unless they try to radically change something (Joker lap, Q3...). I think they should just stick to the basics with the format and the racing. While their 'experiments' were generally good ideas (MAC3, Main race more points) you don't need them.

OK maybe it's better to say it's had it's chance, but the racing is nowhere near as good as it was during S2000. It needs to go to TCR and less gimmicks involvoed