Etcc?

[Phoenix1]

I read in Autosport about an FIA ETCC using 2000 regulation cars. Is this going to start in 2005 and how do all the series work/not work togther from BTC (TOCA) to WTCC.

[FIRE]

The European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) uses the Super2000 rules since a couple of years. Next season the ETCC will become the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). The S2000 rules are also used in the STCC (Sweden), DTC (Danmark), DPM (Germany) and I think in the Asian Touring Car Championship. In BTCC S2000 cars are also allowed (Last season the Seats were the only S2000 cars in BTCC, next season they are joined by 2 Lexus cars). There aren't big differences between BTC and S2000 cars. BTC cars are not allowed in WTCC.

WTCC website: www.fiawtcc.com

[Kicking-back]

No.

It's a one off race for teams from around Europe to do.

A championship would be madness.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

No.

It's a one off race for teams from around Europe to do.

A championship would be madness.

The European Touring Car Cup is indeed a one off race for teams which are using S2000 or Super Production cars. Teams who compete in WTCC are not allowed to take part. See this page for more info. If I am right Super Production is a sort of light version of S2000.

[kmchow]

If WTCC teams are not allowed, how many cars realistically, would show up for the ETC Cup? How many teams would have that much budget to travel to the race?

[E46]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

A championship would be madness.

Wait, it´s FIA.

[E46]

Originally Posted by kmchow

If WTCC teams are not allowed, how many cars realistically, would show up for the ETC Cup? How many teams would have that much budget to travel to the race?

This could be a "deja vu" of Touring Car World Cup in 1996.

[JMeissner]

Its not that very expensive for a team to travel to just ONE race. I think we could see many entries if its managed allright.

[kmchow]

Weren't the previous world cups open to everyone, yet most of the attendees were the Works (modern day WTCC?) teams?
I don't want to negative, but I do sincerely hope a lot of non WTCC teams would show up. OTOH, if the turnout is low, I guess the WTCC organizers could always open up the entries to WTCC teams.

[E46]

Originally Posted by kmchow

Weren't the previous world cups open to everyone, yet most of the attendees were the Works (modern day WTCC?) teams?

Yes, they were open to everyone, but in 1996 FIA got the worst possible date for World Cup (in October,at Austria and without TV coverage) and no-one official team attended. Only a few Czech private teams did it but finally this race edition was cancelled.

ETCC Cup? I am pessimistic, with national seasons finished I doubt how many teams will have budget to go.

[kmchow]

Originally Posted by E46

Yes, they were open to everyone, but in 1996 FIA got the worst possible date for World Cup (in October,at Austria and without TV coverage) and no-one official team attended. Only a few Czech private teams did it but finally this race edition was cancelled.

ETCC Cup? I am pessimistic, with national seasons finished I doubt how many teams will have budget to go.

I guess it's bad to "force" the teams to go? Perhaps each national organizer would collect an add'l fee as part of the regular entry fees. The top 3 teams in each national series would then get a subsidized or paid trip to the ETCC Cup?? That sounds the most "fair"?

[dinkytoy]

There are a lot of plans of running this one off race but nothing will be finalised until april or so, or even later. First the proposed date will be at the end of all national championship rounds (One option was to have the final championship race on the saturday and the cup race on sunday...but that might get very complicated). The venue might be BRNO as they dropped out of the WTCC and DTM Calendar. The race will be open to all kind of teams (exept WTCC teams) who will run the car to the S2000 rules and national scrutineers will work together with the WTCC FIA Tech.delegate to look after the eligibility for a proper race.

[Kicking-back]

Thanks for the update, dinkytoy - watching this one with interest.

[E46]

Originally Posted by kmchow

I guess it's bad to "force" the teams to go? Perhaps each national organizer would collect an add'l fee as part of the regular entry fees. The top 3 teams in each national series would then get a subsidized or paid trip to the ETCC Cup?? That sounds the most "fair"?

Yes, it sounds fair. Question is if national promoters can broach this spending.

[Valker]

At least in Finland the series promoter has no money at all...

But I think LMS team could afford to send their Audi A4 to the CUP. Finnish champ Olli Haapalainen drove this season one race in STCC and one in Germany. Runner-up Pasi Lähteenmäki drove another LMS Audi in Germany so it seems they have money to travell...