[WTCC] 2016 WTCC news & rumours

[Bramzel]

Wasn't Nordauto the factory team?

[Mark0994]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

Wasn't Nordauto the factory team?

I was only 7 years old at that time so i don;t know
Wikipedia: N.Technology (originally named Nordauto Squadra Corse or Team Nordauto)

[BSchneiderFan]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

Wasn't Nordauto the factory team?

It certainly was for a while, but towards the end they ran the 156s as a private squad, if I recall correctly. Don't know when they switched.

Sorry, that's not very helpful.

[Tarzaan]

Originally Posted by GM10

Farfus drove in Euroseries 3000 before ETCC

I think Zengőwill take one of the young guns which drove in TCR last year.

I think if they want a decent hungarian driver they should choose Kiss Norbert (2 times FIA truck champion, Michelisz Norbi's main rival from hungarian SEAT cup) or maybe Kispál Tamás (GP3 race winner and AutoGP runner-up). The TCR/Seat cup youngsters...imho they are not in the same level as Norbi was 6 years ago.

But the major problem is to find about 1 million Euro in about 1 month for a relatively unknown driver.

[GM10]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

Wasn't Nordauto the factory team?

In 2001, Alfa Corse merged with Nordauto. They ran together until 2005 when, at the end of the season, Alfa abandoned WTCC as works team. Subsequently, N.Technology ran the 156s between 2006 and 2007 before switching to Hondas.

Nordauto ran solo from 1994 (when Alfa Corse left the Italian championship joining BTCC) to 2000. But the team was really close to Alfa Corse, at least starting from 1996 because in 1995 Alfa Corse returned in the Italian championship and Nordauto was considered like a semi-official team (as for Euroteam in 1994, for example).

[GM10]

Originally Posted by Tarzaan

I think if they want a decent hungarian driver they should choose Kiss Norbert (2 times FIA truck champion, Michelisz Norbi's main rival from hungarian SEAT cup) or maybe Kispál Tamás (GP3 race winner and AutoGP runner-up). The TCR/Seat cup youngsters...imho they are not in the same level as Norbi was 6 years ago.

But the major problem is to find about 1 million Euro in about 1 month for a relatively unknown driver.

And, as I know, Pál Kiss' principal problem, for example, is lack of money...

But personally I didn't dislike Nagy in Red Bull-Ring's TCR, third in qualifying not bad

[Cinghio44]

The best choice would be Tamás Pál Kiss...great talented driver but with no budget unfortunately!

I like also Ferenc Ficza!

[Rubio]

I would like to see Fisza or Kiss. Both really impressed me in ETCC, especially Kiss

[Mark0994]

What about Norbert Nagy?
He has one 3rd place (in 4 races) in 2014 ETCC TC2 Class and then on final on Pergusa he scored two wins in Leon Supercopa.

[Loran]

Originally Posted by Rubio

Very close to happen, but no official announcement as yet. According to Nezvankin from Lada it should happen before the end of January.

Well, Tavano raced only 1-2 races in 2005 (we can count Pechito as well in this case).As for Farfus it is a question whether you regard Alfa Romeo as a works team or not in 2006-2007. Officially they competed in the manufacturers championship.

Alfa Romeo in 2005 undertook to pass three full seasons in WTCC. As well as all producers at that time. However after a season 2005, the decision on an exit from the championship was made. However in this case Alfa Romeo had to pay WTCC a large penalty. Therefore the plant continued financial support of N.Technology. But in 2006 and 2007 paid completely only one car. In 2006 for Augusto Farfus, in 2007 for James Thompson. Other racers had own sponsors. Thus Alfa Romeo kept presence at WTCC. Having minimized expenses. Also didn't pay a penalty for an early exit.

But Lada could avoid visibility of the presence in 2010. Also didn't pay a penalty for an early exit. Speculation speaks that Lada promised to return in two-three years therefore there was no penalty. The promise of Lada was kept))

[markf8691]

Originally Posted by Loran

Alfa Romeo in 2005 undertook to pass three full seasons in WTCC. As well as all producers at that time. However after a season 2005, the decision on an exit from the championship was made. However in this case Alfa Romeo had to pay WTCC a large penalty. Therefore the plant continued financial support of N.Technology. But in 2006 and 2007 paid completely only one car. In 2006 for Augusto Farfus, in 2007 for James Thompson. Other racers had own sponsors. Thus Alfa Romeo kept presence at WTCC. Having minimized expenses. Also didn't pay a penalty for an early exit.

But Lada could avoid visibility of the presence in 2010. Also didn't pay a penalty for an early exit. Speculation speaks that Lada promised to return in two-three years therefore there was no penalty. The promise of Lada was kept))

Do you know if Honda or JAS offered any support to N Technology in 2008 whenever they ran the accord for James Thompson?

[Loran]

Do you know if Honda or JAS offered any support to N.Technology in 2008 whenever they ran the accord for James Thompson?

JAS Motorsport precisely worked together with N.Technology. During the season there even there was a conflict between engineers of JAS on the one hand, and Marco Calavolo and James Thompson on the other hand. JAS weren't pleasant experiments of Calavolo with settings of the car. I heard from Italians that they after that made to themselves the promise not to work with Calavolo and Thompson any more. There was speculation that JAS didn't want further participation of N.Technology in this project.

Honda gave small money for development and operation of the car. It was the test season and the decision on it was passed negative.

[Frosty11]

Any news on any Chevrolet drivers in WTCC this year?

[Finesse]

Yes, does anybody have a clu about all the chevy's.....

[FIRE]

Tom Coronel wants to return in WTCC. Probably Munich's team or ROAL again.

[Racing Harz]

Zengő will be back with a young, talented Hungarian Driver.
http://www.touringcartimes.com/2016/...the-2016-wtcc/

[Rubio]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

Zengő will be back with a young, talented Hungarian Driver.
http://www.touringcartimes.com/2016/...the-2016-wtcc/

Going to be difficult without backing from MOL

[peetleouf]

If Zengo keep his car, Nika has another Civic, official team 3 others. Have they built a new car or redeem the one that belong to proteam ?

[Bramzel]

JAS always had 3 Civics, 2 racecars and 1 testcar.

[BSchneiderFan]

Out of interest, how much would it cost say JAS to build a new Civic?

[helmat]

based on this article http://www.fiawtcc.com/who-goes-wher...-wtcc-in-2016/ we have 9 "done deals" (2xCitroen, 3xHonda, 2xVolvo, 2xSLR) and "more news soon":
- 3 Lada (I'd guess Catsburg, Tarquini, Valente)
- 1 Münnich (rumor is there maybe 2, D'Aste and Münnich himself?)
- 2 Campos (no idea on drivers)
- 1 more SLR car (most likely Chilton)
- 1 Nika (I still have my doubts, driver?)
- 2 ROAL (Coronel and ?)
- 1 Zengo (young hungarian talent)

that would make 20 in total, doesn't sound too bad

[iceman-1987]

Originally Posted by helmat

based on this article http://www.fiawtcc.com/who-goes-wher...-wtcc-in-2016/ we have 9 "done deals" (2xCitroen, 3xHonda, 2xVolvo, 2xSLR) and "more news soon":
- 3 Lada (I'd guess Catsburg, Tarquini, Valente)
- 1 Münnich (rumor is there maybe 2, D'Aste and Münnich himself?)
- 2 Campos (no idea on drivers)
- 1 more SLR car (most likely Chilton)
- 1 Nika (I still have my doubts, driver?)
- 2 ROAL (Coronel and ?)
- 1 Zengo (young hungarian talent)

that would make 20 in total, doesn't sound too bad

In 2014 when has been made the new championship based on tc1 cars there were 16 cars! Now after 2 years there are maybe 4 more cars! Imho it doesn't seem such a great result...

[BSchneiderFan]

20 is a respectable grid, but you'd have hoped it would have grown a bit more by now. I know WTCC is expensive but the BTCC is fully subscribed at 32 cars.

[Bramzel]

BTCC costs a fraction of WTCC though. So does TCR.

Are you paying attention Mr. Ribeiro?

[GM10]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

20 is a respectable grid, but you'd have hoped it would have grown a bit more by now. I know WTCC is expensive but the BTCC is fully subscribed at 32 cars.

A world championship with 20 cars is a bit ridiculous. In 2006/2007 there were about 20 cars counting only works team, for a total of 25-26 adding indipendents entries.

Now, Bamboo already aimed for TCR instead of WTCC and I think also Campos will do so. Ribeiro definitively killed the category, thank you so much François.