[STCC] 2015 STCC news & rumours

[PorscheFanNo1]

2015 STCC calendar is out:

08-09 May Skövde Airport Race
29-30 May Anderstorp
05-06 June Gothenburg
10-11 July Falkenberg
14-15 August Karlskoga
11-12 September Solvalla
25-26 September Knutstorp

Sadly no Mantorp Park, not even the return of Anderstorp and Karlskoga can make up for that...

When it comes to teams Volvo, WCR, Dacia and PWR have said they will continue next season, but not much on number of cars or drivers yet. Looks like we will see most if not all teams returning.

[thlbtcc]

I for one hope a return for Dahlgren in an extra Vovlo, but perhaps he will be occupied with WTCC work? Fingers crossed that Linus can get a Kia drive again too.

[rich07]

Emma Kimilainen confirmed to return with PWR.

Awesome to see the championship return to Anderstorp, I love that track .

[BudLightJaguar]

Skövde Airport is a totally new venue, isn't it? The profile is quite simplified and and I guess it's really flat because it will be built on an airfield. At least the tickets shouldn't be as expensive as in Solvalla since the area is paved throughout the year, not just for one weekend and to be torn next Monday.

[Mr Pink]

So, does anyone have any insight into the volvo situation?

[Speed-King]

With Volvo being the main supporter behind the TTA-concept this could open things up for a new rule change fairly soon. The TTA-cars will be five years old by 2016, so a switch to a new ruleset (TCR) wouldn't surprise me.

[Spanner monkey]

I think it will be NGTC rules

[thlbtcc]

Originally Posted by Mr Pink

So, does anyone have any insight into the volvo situation?

It sucks. The Polestar blue, and the racing pedigree that matches, has made Volvo cool again. Volvo was always about safety, but marketing just that feature in the past made them fuddy, old, boring. Polestar cars and racing makes them cool, just like racing 850 Estates did. Even in the US journalists say the look "rad" (or words to that effect). Now the brand will return to people who like brown jumpers and slippers. It's big news for the STCC and I'm very worried after a promising 2014. It impacts tracks and grid sizes.

[Tja]

Originally Posted by thlbtcc

It sucks. The Polestar blue, and the racing pedigree that matches, has made Volvo cool again. Volvo was always about safety, but marketing just that feature in the past made them fuddy, old, boring. Polestar cars and racing makes them cool, just like racing 850 Estates did. Even in the US journalists say the look "rad" (or words to that effect). Now the brand will return to people who like brown jumpers and slippers. It's big news for the STCC and I'm very worried after a promising 2014. It impacts tracks and grid sizes.

Polestar said to Touringcartimes that they've got a contract for 2015 for the STCC and that discussion about the future will take place later on. So at least for next year, STCC should be okay. This kind of noise coming from Volvo's marketing director isn't good though. It also comes at a very odd point in time. Volvo Cars Australia have been saying all year that the old "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" worked well for them, a lot better than they expected actually. And now this, it just doesn't make sense to me

[Mr Pink]

I remember reading a lengthy interview with the Geely VP some time after they bought Volvo and I remember him expressing zero interest in motorsport, maybe the decision is from high up the ranks.

[GusGasfuss]

Originally Posted by Tja

Polestar said to Touringcartimes that they've got a contract for 2015 for the STCC and that discussion about the future will take place later on. So at least for next year, STCC should be okay. This kind of noise coming from Volvo's marketing director isn't good though. It also comes at a very odd point in time. Volvo Cars Australia have been saying all year that the old "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" worked well for them, a lot better than they expected actually. And now this, it just doesn't make sense to me

Alain Visser of Volvo said lately, that they only like Formula E as a future motorsport.
I don't know, if marketing worker are really into knowing, what will be right for a car maker`?

[kurski]

Michelin is back as tyre supplier for the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship ahead of the 2015 season.

[Motorsportfreak]

Fredrik Larsson drives again for WestCoast Racing.
http://www.touringcartimes.com/2015/...tcoast-racing/

[Marcus666]

Gonna bump this thread. I asked a team manager/or some lower position for Team Kia, last year when the Team were showing of their car. Why they changed from S2000 to Silhouette based regulations. The answer lay in that the S2000 cars where basicly going slower and slower for each year, and that the cars got more and more separated because of the regs. The silhouette concept was chosen because of the field bunching up more, and the racing was going to get more fair. I guess that was proven wrong with the "Blue train" in 2012-2013...

I still like the Touring car silhouettes more than normal touring cars. What I don't like is those antique-like 3.6L Nissan engines witch does sound monotone and crap (There is already a Porsche supercup doing support races). Why not go with 2.0L I4 with Turbo or even 2.0L I5 with Turbo. They are both in Volvo's lineup of production cars and I4s are in almost every other car manufactures portfolio that lines up in the STCC.

And yes, I am for more horsepower. That's why I really don't understand those restrictors in DTM, without them, the Super GT and DTM could do races together right now! Although I would say that the STCC should have maximum of 450-500 hp due to the short tracks.

[BudLightJaguar]

Originally Posted by Marcus666

What I don't like is those antique-like 3.6L Nissan engines witch does sound monotone and crap (There is already a Porsche supercup doing support races). Why not go with 2.0L I4 with Turbo or even 2.0L I5 with Turbo. They are both in Volvo's lineup of production cars and I4s are in almost every other car manufactures portfolio that lines up in the STCC.

Yes, it sounds very monotone and as a Nissan-based spec engine it has zero relevance with the current grid.

[Motorsportfreak]

The race at Gothenburg is cancelled
http://www.touringcartimes.com/2015/...ace-cancelled/

[PorscheFanNo1]

And even worse, whole track will be gone soon. Cant say I'm surprised since the spectator numbers have been quite low last few years, but it would have been nice if they could have improved the track to make it better. Its location relative to the city is just perfect.

I was under the impression though that it was Volvo who owned the track, have they sold it to the city then? One more hint on whats to come from Volvo maybe....

[Pettersson]

Ahead of the first Gothenburg City Race in 2008, STCC only had a 5 year deal with the city/municipality. This was extended a few years, can't remember the details. But I believe it hasn't been a secret since day one that the city wants to turn it into a residential area, as plans for the development has been around for a few years.

So Volvo brand does not suit motorsport, Alain Wisser said. And now they are dropping the race (at their own circuit in their home town) in favour of boats... I think STCC needs the city race. Which event was actually scheduled first? Cars or boats? If the STCC race was first, then it says a lot of the state STCC is in today (not that we didn't already know). If boats were first, than it's a matter of bad planning before signing the deals.

[Marcus666]

Unless there is a few event additions for next year, this looks probably like the downfall of STCC:

[Motorsportfreak]

Göransson stays at Team Tidö
http://www.touringcartimes.com/2015/...ith-team-tido/

[Motorsportfreak]

Twillight race at Mantorp Park at Thursday the 25th of June
http://www.touringcartimes.com/2015/...ght-stcc-race/

[PorscheFanNo1]

Originally Posted by Motorsportfreak

Twillight race at Mantorp Park at Thursday the 25th of June
http://www.touringcartimes.com/2015/...ght-stcc-race/

Best decition they've made in years. Short track is awesome for spectators, evening race even better. Will for sure be there

[Motorsportfreak]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Best decition they've made in years. Short track is awesome for spectators, evening race even better. Will for sure be there

That ist really cool, but the date isn´t it

[Mr Pink]

Originally Posted by Motorsportfreak

That ist really cool, but the date isn´t it

I think it can be smart! Hopefully a nice summer night, some people started their vacation and other people can head to the track after work for a compact night of racing. I think it's an appealing concept to a lot of casual fans. If I'm in my hometown I'll definitely be going.

For example, the swedish speedway series races on Tuesday nights and they continuously draw relatively good crowds.

[kurski]

Team Kia has signed Norwegian driver Kevin Aabol for the 2015 Scandinavian Touring Car Championship season.