WTCC reveals 2017 calendar and a couple of changes

The FIA World Motor Sport Council confirmed the World Touring Cars Championship calendar for 2017. The WTCC also will introduce a couple of changes in the competition from the next season.

In 2017 the WTCC season will have 10 rounds, one less than in 2016. The races at Circuit Paul Ricard, Slovakiaring, and Moscow Raceway are dropped from the schedule and replaced with the rounds at Monza and Macau.

FIA World Touring Car Championship 2017 provisional calendar

WTCC Race of Morocco (Marrakech): 7-9 April 2017
WTCC Race of Italy (Monza): 28-30 April 2017
WTCC Race of Hungary (Hungaroring): 12-14 May 2017
WTCC Race of Germany (Nürburgring Nordschleife): 25-27 May 2017
WTCC Race of Portugal (Vila Real): 23-25 June 2017
WTCC Race of Argentina (Termas de Río Hondo): 4-6 August 2017
WTCC Race of China (Shanghai International Circuit): 13-15 October 2017
WTCC Race of Japan (Twin Ring Motegi): 27-29 October 2017
WTCC Race of Macau (Circuit de Guia): 17-19 November 2017
WTCC Race of Qatar (Losail International Circuit): 30 November-1 December 2017

WTCC introduces the second tier

One of the new things in the 2017 WTCC season will be the introduction of the WTCC-2. The cars built under TCN2 technical regulations will provide an accessible starting point for drivers and teams aiming to reach touring car racing’s top echelon, albeit in a high-profile and competitive environment. However, the second tier competition, with drastically slower cars, hardly can be a substitute for the lack of major manufacturers and teams.

More changes to come

Another change is that the weekend-closing Main Race will be two laps longer than the Opening Race, while the points structure will be changed as follows: 1=30 points2=233=194=165=136=107=78=49=210=1. In the WTCC MAC3 competition, introduced in 2016,  eight points will  be awarded to the second-placed team, while the winning line-up gets 12 points, two more than in 2016.

The WTCC’s sporting regulations for 2017 will include the allowance for FIA World Rallycross-style ‘joker’ laps to be introduced with an aim to spice up the action in the street races, but this change is subject to the approval of the FIA’s Safety and Circuit Commissions.

Finally, the WTCC events will be held over two days in 2017 in order to reduce costs.

Photo: fiawtcc.com