2006 ETCC Estoril News and Rumours

[christianm]

So, this year's ETCC will be held at Estoril in October. Has anyone heard any rumours? Entries?

http://www.fiaetcc.com/2k6/

[Hazard]

Wow, thought that had gone quiet - glad it's back...really enjoyed last years.

Zanardi can compete again though on the same criteria he competed last year. I'd expect mostly Italian & Swedish tourers to show...(considering the lack of S2000 cars in the BTCC at present).

Seat surely will field Plato again - notice current WTCC leader Thompson can't compete, with a 70% cut off for national championships and he'd have done 60%, both he and Turner are out. They'd be able to field Roda and/or Colciago though.

Maybe Radermacker for Chevrolet, maybe even in the current RML car.

Everything's guesswork from me so far.

[Alfa Fan]

Will Eoin Murray be eligible? He will have done 60% of the BTCC, but has not appeared in the WTCC.

Hopefully Mark Smith, Martyn Bell and Adam Jones will appear alongside the SEATs. Depends on budgets I guess.

[Alfa Fan]

Here's who I'd guess would be their:

Casper Elgaard BMW 320i E46
John Nielsen BMW 320i E46
Jens Moller BMW 320i E46
Jason Watt Peugeot 307
Michael Carlsen Peugeot 307
Jan Magnussen Peugeot 307
Michel Nykjaer SEAT Toledo Cupra

Vincent Rademecker Chevrolet Lacetti
Rainer Bastuck Chevrolet Lacetti
Claudia Hurtegen BMW 320i E46
Franz Engstler BMW 320i E46
Marc Hennerici BMW 320i E46

Alessandro Zanardi Alfa Romeo 156
Alessandro Balzan Alfa Romeo 156
Elio Marchetti Alfa Romeo 156
Riccardo Romagnoli Alfa Romeo 156 Gta
Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i E46
Stefano Valli BMW 320i E46
Simone Iacone BMW 320i E46
Davide Roda SEAT Leon
Roberto Colciago SEAT Leon

Richard Goransson BMW 320is E90
Duncan Huisman BMW 320is E90
David Bjork BMW 320i E46
Carl Rosenblad BMW 320i E46
Jan Nilsson BMW 320i E46
Robert Dahlgen Volvo S60
Alex Storckenfeldt Volvo S60
Johan Stureson Peugeot 407
Mattiask Anderson Alfa Romeo 156

Jason Plato SEAT Leon
James Thompson SEAT Leon
Darren Turner SEAT Leon
Martyn Bell BMW 320i E46
Eoin Murray Alfa Romeo 156
Adam Jones Lexus IS 200
Mark Smith Alfa Romeo 156

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by christianm

So, this year's ETCC will be held at Estoril in October. Has anyone heard any rumours? Entries?

http://www.fiaetcc.com/2k6/

Would a race in central Europe instead of Portugal not be more logical? In example Assen (Holland), Salzburgring (Austria) or Sachenring (Germany).



Image source: www.fiaetcc.com

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Claudia Hurtegen BMW 320i E46
Franz Engstler BMW 320i E46
Marc Hennerici BMW 320i E46

They do not the full German championship so probably not allowed to start.

Will Eurosport (2) do live coverage?

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by Alfa Fan

Here's who I'd guess would be their:

Jason Plato SEAT Leon
James Thompson SEAT Leon
Darren Turner SEAT Leon
Martyn Bell BMW 320i E46
Eoin Murray Alfa Romeo 156
Adam Jones Lexus IS 200
Mark Smith Alfa Romeo 156

And as I said...

Thompson and Turner aren't eligible as they'd have driven 60 & 40% of the BTCC each, and need to have competed in 70% to be allowed. I'm certain that number's probably been invented to keep Thompson out - since the aim is to keep the WTCC guys away.

Same applies to Eoin Murray, who would at best have in 60%.

Jones, Bell & Smith are okay...though it's doubtful they'd have the finances to compete, and considering the strength of the other championships competitors, probably not that worthwhile. That said, other teams could compete and sign these drivers up of course (not likely)

I'd think Giovanardi would be a hot favourite for a drive, probably Alfa or Honda.

Chilton, Neal etc. also may get asked to drive for someone.

Doubt Zanardi would be in an Alfa? You meant BMW right?

[redshoes]

Oh no, another Alfa Fan predictions list

The Sporting Regs link says eligable drivers must have competed in 50% of the national series not 70% as quoted on the front page. Even if Murray had done enough BTCC rounds to qualify I doubt he'd have the budget. Of the other three I think only Bell would have a chance to raise the budget.

Anyone who has driven for a manufactorer WTCC is excluded so that counts Thompson out even if the lower participation limit applies.

Although the regs don't specifically state it I had assumed that the eligable drive must have completed 70% of a national series in a S2000 car, rather than just in a series which accepts S2000 cars. If that's the case then Chilton, Neal, Giovanardi, etc wouldn't be eligable.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Anyone who has driven for a manufactorer WTCC is excluded so that counts Thompson out even if the lower participation limit applies.

Last year this rule didn't exist.

[Hazard]

Yes, as doesn't that rule Zanardi out?

[redshoes]

I think the rule change is a good one. The event should be a chance for national level privateers to prove themselves against their peers. Allowing works drivers in makes a mockery of that. In fact I think I posted that in the equivilent thread last year.

[Hazard]

I'll answer my own question

drivers designated by their ASN and who have not
taken part in the FIA World Touring Car
Championship with a Manufacturer’s team.

So, Zanardi and Thompson aren't eligible.

My interpretation of this though

drivers who have competed in a minimum of 50% of
the rounds that have actually taken place, counting
towards the National Championships in which the
Super 2000, Diesel 2000 and Super Production
technical regulations are adopted, are eligible to enter
the Cup.

Means from the BTCC, Giovanardi, Neal, Chilton, Collard etc. are allowed in my interpretation...the reference is to the championships not the cars the drivers compete in.

Since Honda didn't back the JAS entry, Giovanardi also gets away with the fact he actually drove in a WTCC event.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by redshoes

I think the rule change is a good one. The event should be a chance for national level privateers to prove themselves against their peers. Allowing works drivers in makes a mockery of that. In fact I think I posted that in the equivilent thread last year.

I agree, but I think that still makes drivers such as Colciago & Giovanardi, ex-WTCC stars now racing in national categories still overly advantaged.

(Unless it's interpreted that Colciago drove in a 'works' Seat at Monza)

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Means from the BTCC, Giovanardi, Neal, Chilton, Collard etc. are allowed in my interpretation...the reference is to the championships not the cars the drivers compete in.

Since Honda didn't back the JAS entry, Giovanardi also gets away with the fact he actually drove in a WTCC event.

Gio was entered as a factory driver in the Curitiba event. In the entry list he's not marked as an independent driver:

24 Ryan Sharp * (GBR) JAS Motorsport Honda Accord Euro R
25 Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA) JAS Motorsport Honda Accord Euro R

* drivers eligible for the Yokohama Independents' Trophy

[FIRE]

Colciago is marked as independent:

58 Roberto Colciago * (ITA) SEAT Sport Italia SEAT Toledo Cupra/León

Full entry list

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Would a race in central Europe instead of Portugal not be more logical? In example Assen (Holland), Salzburgring (Austria) or Sachenring (Germany).

It's a circuit none of the eligable series race at, which means no one has an unfair advantage.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Gio was entered as a factory driver in the Curitiba event. In the entry list he's not marked as an independent driver:

Can of worms. He's only not allowed to be an independant entry because he was too experienced (like Colciago last year).

But that didn't make him a 'manufacturer' entrant.

[FIRE]

That's true. Assen is used in the German Procar, don't know about Sachsenring and Salzburgring.

The WTCC independents have an advantage because of the tyres.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Can of worms. He's only not allowed to be an independant entry because he was too experienced (like Colciago last year).

But that didn't make him a 'manufacturer' entrant.

Ok you win (I agree with you)


I hope we see the Audi, Volvo and Mercedes from STCC in this event. Also the Procar Chevy would be great.

[Alfa Fan]

My list was purely speculative as to who was eligble and even remotlly likely to appear.

[newoutsider]

Slightly off thread I know but the debate about Colciago hastens this question:

How on earth does Tom Coronel qulify as an indepenedent? OK its run by GR Asia, but it is to all intent and purposes a works car funded by Seat Netherlands.....

[Valker]

I guess that 70% rule doesn't actually mean anything as long as the grid ain't full (Engstler and Coronel raced last year...).

[E46]

Originally Posted by Valker

I guess that 70% rule doesn't actually mean anything as long as the grid ain't full (Engstler and Coronel raced last year...).

Exactly. I guess they will be openminded if the grid isn´t large.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by E46

Exactly. I guess they will be openminded if the grid isn´t large.

This is the second event. I'd imagine the FIA have enough feedback from the competitors last year to have a fair idea who would be back this year and what didn't work last year.

I'd imagine not many of the teams were too impressed with a WTCC race winner able to enter this event, despite how much we all love him - so I'd imagine these rules are in place because of that kind of 'feedback'.

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by FIRE

That's true. Assen is used in the German Procar, don't know about Sachsenring and Salzburgring.

Think though, october and weather? I don't think the chance on good weather is too big in Germany or Holland, while Portugal will most likely offer pretty good conditions. So from that point of view (and the experience-advantage idea) it makes complete sense.