Touring Car discussion - WTCC, BTCC etcTouring Cars 

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I watched an ETC race on Eurosport last night. I didn't care too much for the Seat and BMWs racing. What caught my eye were the Civic Type R sedans. I miss the Accord Euro days. My bet is on Alfa coming in with the Guilia, BMW 3series, Peugeot 508 or Ford Mondeo. Maybe Renault Laguna.
 
Liquid
Volvo
BMW
Audi

Yes please. As if the WTCC wasn't boring enough, Citroen's dominance is killing it.
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Well...could be worse. We could be in an F1 thread talking about Mercedes. At least the WTCC teams put up a fight.
 
It's definitely going to be WRC. No Chinese round, struggling to stay competitive, they've been in it for a long time, they have very little to get out of it.
 
hsv
It's definitely going to be WRC. No Chinese round, struggling to stay competitive, they've been in it for a long time, they have very little to get out of it.
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There's a Chinese round planned for the future. And the WRC field has a bigger range of manufacturers. Sure, the WTCC say that they have three voicing interest, but how many times have they said that?
 
prisonermonkeys
There's a Chinese round planned for the future. And the WRC field has a bigger range of manufacturers. Sure, the WTCC say that they have three voicing interest, but how many times have they said that?
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They want less competition - WTCC is purely a marketing exercise for affordable family cars in emerging markets. WTCC ticks all their boxes at the minute, 2 rounds in China, a visit to South America, both markets they're looking to expand rapidly in over the next few years. They're also milking the sales from Chevy-esque podium lockouts all round, so they can't really fault it.
 
hsv
They want less competition - WTCC is purely a marketing exercise for affordable family cars in emerging markets.
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So if three new manufacturers do in fact join, how is that less competition?
 
prisonermonkeys
So if three new manufacturers do in fact join, how is that less competition?
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I'm fairly sure that 3 won't join straight off the bat in 2016, and in the end we'll see two at most, but Citroen have the upper hand with their WRC knowledge, and they have a superior budget. They're already in the position they want to be in, and nobody (bar Lada's decent weekends) has managed to challenge them. In WRC, they've been through it all before and seen it all before. From a marketing and financial point of view, WRC is virtually nothing to them anymore.
 
They have all their bases coved as well, with a South American Driver, A Chinese driver and Two French drivers one with massive popularity in France(Loeb) so they got their Main markets covered.

The WRC team has had a big chunk of Budget taken out of it when they started the WTCC program that was covered in part by Qatar sponsorship/Investment.

WRC suffers from a lack of competitive Talent, if you have someone like Loeb and Ogier in your team you will win, if you don't your unlikely to.

Going by how VAG runs things I wouldn't Be surprised if VW stays in WRC for 10 years or so, if the Sport doesn't crumble, and with a Sizeable budget they are always going to have a good car and driver combination.

IMO Citroen might get value if they pull out of WRC and give a Small Factory effort in BTCC(Team up with BMR or something) which doesn't require much money to have a competitive package.
 
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This is quite good.
http://www.nswproductiontouringcars.com.au/race/bathurst-6-hour-2016-information/

In perhaps the ultimate recognition, Production Touring Cars have been invited to participate in a 6 Hour Enduro event at the Easter Festival at Bathurst in 2016.This event is viable due to the strength and competency of this category.We are still going through the regulations but they will be largely the same as our current rules under the auspices of CAMS 3 E.
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Making your car last 6 hours:We will disseminate information as we get it to assist you in preparing your car. For example, if someone discovers that a component needs to be changed to cope with 6 hours or a better refuelling solution is available, we will let you know. Our goal is to have a strong club presence and finishing rate across all classes. If we share our information, we will all benefit.TV:At the moment the event will be live streamed and broadcast on the worldwide Foxtel network.
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So this new TCR International Series seems to be taking the formula for GT3 and applying it to Touring Cars. Anyone have opinions on this?

They've taken a bunch of Single-make cars, as well as a few odd and old touring cars and thrown them in the ring against each other. Volkswagen has already introduced a Golf for teams to purchase, and Opel is now throwing their hat into the ring as well with a new car.

I'd love to see the formula take off and National Series' to be developed, especially in the USA.

EDIT: Oh, look at that.

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2014/12/20/tcr-usa-announced-runs-as-a-class-within-ustcc-for-2015/
 
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Snaeper
They've taken a bunch of Single-make cars, as well as a few odd and old touring cars and thrown them in the ring against each other.
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Nope, they've used the Leon Cup, Civic TCR, Astra TCR, Golf TCR, and the TT was given special dispensation. The Golf is only for Engstler and isn't a customer car until next year.

Snaeper
I'd love to see the formula take off and National Series' to be developed, especially in the USA.
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Currently, with every planned series, it's the most widely adopted touring car formula in the world. And there will be a US series.
 
It kind of looks like a NASCAR Whelen car in a DTM-esque dress. AKA low-tech trying to pass off as high-tech.

The racing will probably be OK, it's clearly just a spec silhouette formula with body panel differences, but I doubt it's going to take off any time soon.
 
@hsv you use of the word "just" implies you've already determined it to be a lesser format? Dutch supercars, and I suspect STCC also operates similar cars, from what I've seen, the racing is fine... whatever it's trying to pass itself of as (High tech or low tech). I could be wrong, I've not followed the ex-proper-STCC this year like I used to. I think a new born, or emerging series benefits from somewhat more accessible technology, and I don't think it's to the detraction of the spectator.
 
MatskiMonk
@hsv you use of the word "just" implies you've already determined it to be a lesser format? Dutch supercars, and I suspect STCC also operates similar cars, from what I've seen, the racing is fine... whatever it's trying to pass itself of as (High tech or low tech). I could be wrong, I've not followed the ex-proper-STCC this year like I used to. I think a new born, or emerging series benefits from somewhat more accessible technology, and I don't think it's to the detraction of the spectator.
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I am going to be extremely controversial here and say... technically current BTCC could be a spec series (with supplied engines, NGTC chassis already in existence... and spec racing generally tends to be amongst the closest... let's see those BTCC support series one more time...
 
I'm rather saying it's a good option, since there's no equalisation trouble or excessive build/development costs for teams - hence why the racing should be OK. STCC is silhouettes with common technical parts, each team builds their own car, and there is a development war to some extent.

The problem is it's a small start-up series which probably won't attract that many teams or drivers in the first place. Using something like TCR or NGTC would provide a more sustainable platform, if maybe harder to set up in the first place. There's nothing to suggest it won't provide the goods for a championship, but the question over whether it's actually going to be popular enough all-round will most probably confine it to being a very small-scale and largely unknown category.
 
hsv
I'm rather saying it's a good option, since there's no equalisation trouble or excessive build/development costs for teams - hence why the racing should be OK. STCC is silhouettes with common technical parts, each team builds their own car, and there is a development war to some extent.

The problem is it's a small start-up series which probably won't attract that many teams or drivers in the first place. Using something like TCR or NGTC would provide a more sustainable platform, if maybe harder to set up in the first place. There's nothing to suggest it won't provide the goods for a championship, but the question over whether it's actually going to be popular enough all-round will most probably confine it to being a very small-scale and largely unknown category.
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I am more worried about that massive motorsports haven with tons of tracks that is Costa Rica tbh...
 
Furinkazen
I am going to be extremely controversial here and say... technically current BTCC could be a spec series (with supplied engines, NGTC chassis already in existence... and spec racing generally tends to be amongst the closest... let's see those BTCC support series one more time...
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Well, the more I see BTCC cars being bolted together the more I'd agree. My personal ideal is away from a spec series, BUT I can't deny in many cases I like the way it works. For me it really is a complex equation, a series is much more than the formula it adheres to, even just the tracks can make it, or break it. BTCC is riding high at the moment (you saw me say as much to Mr Gow.!), but it won't last forever.
 
MatskiMonk
Well, the more I see BTCC cars being bolted together the more I'd agree. My personal ideal is away from a spec series, BUT I can't deny in many cases I like the way it works. For me it really is a complex equation, a series is much more than the formula it adheres to, even just the tracks can make it, or break it. BTCC is riding high at the moment (you saw me say as much to Mr Gow.!), but it won't last forever.
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NGTC I see lasting 5 more years then TCR taking over, if not integrated into the series. Even though I think TCR cars look silly.
 
A decent comparison would be DTC from a regulations standpoint- that actually manages to attract a decent grid because Denmark is a country with a good racing history and has a good pool of drivers - but it's still largely ignored.
MatskiMonk
BTCC is riding high at the moment (you saw me say as much to Mr Gow.!), but it won't last forever.
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This is why I think BTC-T is one of the most under-appreciated set of regulations ever. From how low Class 2's demise took BTCC, being able to set the championship back on track, attract more teams, and then gradually integrate into S2000, was one heck of a good job.
Furinkazen
NGTC I see lasting 5 more years then TCR taking over, if not integrated into the series. Even though I think TCR cars look silly.
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I think they could work largely on-par with each other. Manufacturers could come in with their own NGTC or TCR car, and struggling teams could purchase a TCR car and get customer support. I'd say if NGTC is kept under control well, it has up to 10 good years left - nothing kills a set of regulations quicker than excessive development. If TCR wants to emulate GT3 though, we could end up with a BTCC filled with full-on manufacturer expense wars... and then we'll need our BTC-T moment again. ;)
 
Furinkazen
NGTC I see lasting 5 more years then TCR taking over, if not integrated into the series. Even though I think TCR cars look silly.
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If im not mistaken, Mr Gow said TCR would never be used into the BTCC.

I'm not a real fan of TCR or NGTC for that matter. If the NGTC cars had NA engines, I think I'd give the BTCC more attention. The Turbo engines in my opinion have wrecked the feeling of the championship and the boost thing really grinds my teeth.
 
SVPSkins
If im not mistaken, Mr Gow said TCR would never be used into the BTCC.

I'm not a real fan of TCR or NGTC for that matter. If the NGTC cars had NA engines, I think I'd give the BTCC more attention. The Turbo engines in my opinion have wrecked the feeling of the championship and the boost thing really grinds my teeth.
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This season I believe they are leaving the boost alone.
 
Peugeot just has revealed its replacement for the RCZ Racing Cup

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Jetez un coup d'œil au Tweet de @peugeotsport :

The 308 Racing Cup

 
Round 1 of TCR Asia is about to start:

 
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