ETCC gets FIA World status
The FIA World Motor Sport Council yesterday approved a World Touring Car Championship in 2005, and issued a 10-date/20-race fixture list. The series will replace the current ETCC and will again be promoted by KSO, the company that is a partner in the LG Super Racing Weekend package. The first WTCC since 1987 will start in Buenos Aires in early March and finish in Macau in late November. Another new fixture will be at the new F1 venue near Istanbul
The championship will be reserved for FIA Super 2000 cars and two FIA World titles will be awarded: Drivers and Manufacturers.
KSO, which took over the promotion of the ETCC in 2001, says that the creation of an FIA World Touring Car Championship is the logical consequence of the growth recorded in touring car racing since the FIA revived the ETCC (2001), and implemented new technical regulations (2002). The manufacturers expected to field factory teams are Alfa Romeo, BMW, SEAT (all engaged in 2004 ETCC programmes) and probably Ford and Peugeot. KSO reports that a sixth manufacturer is also interested now that its series has FIA World status.
KSO chairman Jacques Behar commented: "We are very grateful to the FIA for this great opportunity. The decision to upgrade the ETCC to the WTCC is the best reward for our efforts. It makes us very proud of the contribution we made towards relaunching touring car competition internationally."
March 6 Buenos Aires (RA)
April 3 Monza (I)
April 24 Magny-Cours (F)
May 8 Donington Park (GB)
May 22 Brno (CZ)
June 26 TBA (TBA)
July 31 Spa-Francorchamps (B)
September 4 Oschersleben (D)
September 25 Istanbul (TR)
November 20 Macau (CN)
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