Important change in WTCC from 2016

The World Touring Car Championship promoter Eurosport Events announced Tour de France-style team time trials at every round, starting from next season.

At its last meeting, FIA Touring Car Comission approved the new format and will now follow the usual procedure for inclusion in the WTCC sporting regulation for 2016.

A new format, called Manufacturers against clock (MAC3) will go on in next way: The WTCC’s registered car makes will nominate three drivers to take part in MAC3, which will take place straight after the completion of Qualifying. They will score points towards their WTCC Manufacturers’ Championship totals and benefit in many aspects.

These are the facts about how it will look like:

1. The clock starts when the first of three cars from a manufacturer’s ‘team’ crosses the starting line from a standing start, and stops as soon as the last car has completed the required number of laps
2. At the Nurburgring, this will be one lap. For all other circuits a minimum distance of 10 kilometers must be covered
3. The fastest team of three will win MAC3 at each event and score 10 points towards the WTCC Manufacturers’ Championship. The second best manufacturer will earn eight points and so on until all points are allocated (on a scale of 10-8-6-3-2-1)
4. All cars can be refueled and fitted with a new set of tires between the finish of Qualifying and the start of MAC3
5. Manufacturer teams will contest MAC3 in reverse championship order to heighten the drama and create an even bigger buzz

“MAC3 will drive more value to WTCC factory teams, it will enhance the spectators’ experience after Qualifying, it will increase broadcast volume, it will offer new stories to media and will introduce a true collective effort parameter into the WTCC Manufacturers’ Championship title, which is a very positive value for a brand. It will require teams to line up three good and consistent drivers who will have to drive together and help each other, straight after they’ve given a very individual effort in Qualifying. It will be interesting to follow the dynamic within each factory team,” said Francois Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events and explained:

“MAC3 will be restricted to manufacturers registered with the FIA for the WTCC. Still, factory teams will have the opportunity to appoint any driver they want, official or privateer, as long as they drive for the same brand. Nothing would prevent Citroen Racing from offering that opportunity to its privateer driver Mehdi Bennani at his home race in Marrakech, for example.”