TCR International Series

[Thorney]

Originally Posted by GusGasfuss

Its interesting, that Campos may come with Opel Astra OPC from VLN, when Opel Motorsport Boss says "no decision" and they even don't let others buy VLN cars or parts!!!!

To be fair if Campos said 'can we use one for TCR?' thats a better deal than me saying 'can I buy bodywork for us in the UK?'

But from a commercial basis, its a once year deal for the 2 door so thats suicide.

[Go_For_Pole]

Depends who actually finances it, I would imagine Campos got some goodwill from Lotti

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Surprised to see Proteam with Ford Focus, I assumed they would race Honda Civic.

JAS have said they'll only have three cars for the start of the season, so WestCoast Racing have full season exclusivity effectively.

[Speed-King]

More interesting stuff:

TCR promoters meet in Barcelona to plan national series development
The national promoters of a number of countries planning to launch series using the TCR technical blueprint met this week in Barcelona during a two-day workshop to work out a common strategy for the future, in a meeting chaired by the TCR International Series promoter (WSC) CEO Marcello Lotti, and Motorsport Asia’s CEO David Sonenscher, the promoter of the TCR Asia Series.

Twelve countries in total were represented by the promoters and National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) of BeNeLux, China, Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, The USA and Venezuela.

Very intriguing... though I am not sure which German series organizers went. I really can't see Procar selling their new 1600Turbo customers down the river, so I don't think it's them. But if it isn't Procar would have a rival, which can't be a good thing for the overall health of the sport here.

South Africa is also kind of interesting - does that mean the Pace Innovations GTC-project is DOA?

[DS"]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Very intriguing... though I am not sure which German series organizers went. I really can't see Procar selling their new 1600Turbo customers down the river, so I don't think it's them. But if it isn't Procar would have a rival, which can't be a good thing for the overall health of the sport here.

Maybe...the ITR? Maybe they'll finally open up a second division below DTM and add something to their support package? Maybe some sort of "back to the roots", with production-based cars, primarily run by private teams. Maybe some young drivers could win a DTM test, to add some incentive for teams and drivers to partake. Then again, the ITR running a second touring car series is perhaps wishful thinking...

[FIRE]

I can imagine there's a lot of interest for this series but being at a meeting doesn't mean using TCR rules.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

South Africa is also kind of interesting - does that mean the Pace Innovations GTC-project is DOA?

Would be a shame. (Yes I know I am a fanboy of the Pace Innovations concept )

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by DS"

Maybe...the ITR? Maybe they'll finally open up a second division below DTM and add something to their support package?

Maybe some sort of "back to the roots", with production-based cars, primarily run by private teams. Maybe some young drivers could win a DTM test, to add some incentive for teams and drivers to partake.

Then again, the ITR running a second touring car series is perhaps wishful thinking...

Those are my thoughts too.

[FIRE]

I don't see ITR inviting "foreign" manufacturers.
Especially with Audi running the new TT cup.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by FIRE

I don't see ITR inviting "foreign" manufacturers.
Especially with Audi running the new TT cup.

Agreed.

There's a photo of the meeting on the TCR-website.

I might be wrong, because the resolution isn't all that good, but the second guy from the left could be Procar's Rainer Bastuck, couldn't he?

[Motorsportfreak]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Agreed.

There's a photo of the meeting on the TCR-website.

I might be wrong, because the resolution isn't all that good, but the second guy from the left could be Procar's Rainer Bastuck, couldn't he?

No, there is a big difference. Rainer have grey hair and the guy on the Picture black.

[GusGasfuss]

Originally Posted by Motorsportfreak

No, there is a big difference. Rainer have grey hair and the guy on the Picture black.

I had the same thought...also different age in my opinion.

Without counting Lotti and the asia chairman, there were 19 people. So only 1-2 from every country. I assume, that the already published countries had send 2 persons, the interested countries only 1 person maybe...
I am really curious, who was the german representative????????

[DS"]

Originally Posted by FIRE

I don't see ITR inviting "foreign" manufacturers.
Especially with Audi running the new TT cup.

Even though the cooperation with SuperGT says something different, the ITR still wants foreign manufacturers to play by their rules, not someone elses. So I still get your point.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by Motorsportfreak

No, there is a big difference. Rainer have grey hair and the guy on the Picture black.

I thought it could be due to the lighting... Rainer's hair is still a relatively dark gray and the person in the picture seems to have his kind of mustache (if you squint really hard, that is)....

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by DS"

Even though the cooperation with SuperGT says something different, the ITR still wants foreign manufacturers to play by their rules, not someone elses. So I still get your point.

To be clear: With foreign I mean not only non-German brands but also brands that don't take part in DTM, so every brand except Mercedes, BMW/Mini and VAG).

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I thought it could be due to the lighting... Rainer's hair is still a relatively dark gray and the person in the picture seems to have his kind of mustache (if you squint really hard, that is)....

Looks like *that* guy definitely wasn't Bastuck:

http://tcr-series.com/news/item/russ...he-tcr-concept

[Juntos]

There are more series embracing the concept than cars out there.

[kurski]

Marc Duez has been appointed as the Race Director for the TCR International Series.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by kurski

Marc Duez has been appointed as the Race Director for the TCR International Series.

Solid signing.

[Speed-King]

One race for the Benelux Series already in 2015, the goal is to have eventually a field of 25-30 cars.

If the intention is to have a single class series, that sounds very ambitious to me. Personally, I'd go for a multi-class format, bolstering the grid with some Clios and stuff, but maybe that's just me.

http://tcr-series.com/news/item/tcr-...5-30-car-field

[ivozet]

Any driver names so far?

[Motorsportfreak]

Originally Posted by ivozet

Any driver names so far?

Franz Engstler

[ivozet]

Originally Posted by Motorsportfreak

Franz Engstler

Thanks, the youngest one, but a star

[FIRE]

Will be strange to see him in something other than a BMW.


Couple days ago young Dutch driver Bas Schouten announced his TCR plans. The team around him, ST Motorsport, has bought a SEAT Leon which will be run by Bas Koeten Racing. For this year he plans to race in Dutch Supercar Challenge, in 2016 TCR Benelux and 2017 TCR International series.


I think on the short term the national series will have mainly SEAT's on the grid.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Originally Posted by FIRE

I think on the short term the national series will have mainly SEAT's on the grid.

I think this is a very smart move and good way to get cars for reasonable price out to everyone who wants to race. Just last year (2014) WTCC had the problem that more teams wanted to race then there were cars. Same thing was in S2000 early years, all cars went to ETCC so smaller teams in national series that were switching to S2000 couldnt get cars. On the other hand, that ment in Sweden and Danmark we got lots of smaller teams building their own cars.