The FIA WTCC is dead, long live the new WTCC


December 7, 2017
Featured, News
Marijan Malcevic


  • WTCC and TCR are merging
  • FIA World Touring Car Championship logo
  • TCR International Series grid girls
  • WTCR FIA World Touring Car Cup logo

The FIA World Touring Car Championship and TCR International Series are merging and the new WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup is created for 2018.

A decision was made yesterday in Paris by the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), confirming all unofficial talks from previous weeks and montsh about the future of the world’s premier touring car competition.

2017 FIA WTCC

The 2017 FIA WTCC season was the last for TC1 cars

The new series will run to the TCR Technical Regulations, under a two-year licensing agreement between the FIA, WTCR promoter Eurosport Events Ltd (EEL) and WSC Ltd, the owner of the TCR concept and trademark. As part of the agreement, both the TCR International Series and WTCC will be discontinued in 2018 and 2019, while the FIA European Touring Car Cup (ETCC) will no longer run.

Only TCR cars, homologated by WSC and assigned with the FIA WTCR passport issued by the FIA will be eligible. WSC retains the rights of promoting and managing all the TCR regional and national series. Eurosport Events will provide a level of promotional resource similar to that enjoyed by the WTCC to ensure that WTCR benefits from live coverage on Eurosport and more than 50 networks around the world.

TCR International Series race

The new series is implementing TCR in its name

The WTCR will have two-day three-race concept for each racing weekend. The WTCR calendar will consist of thirty races over ten events in four continents and will be announced shortly.

A maximum of 26 entries will be accepted, with priority given to existing TCR International and WTCC teams. Two further wildcard entries will be permitted at each event. Factory teams are not allowed but manufacturers can give technical support to private teams. The WTCR will award FIA World Cup titles, for Drivers and Teams, but no Manufacturers’ title.

Marcello Lotti started the TCR International Series in 2015

Marcello Lotti started the TCR International Series in 2015

Marcello Lotti, CEO of WSC, said: “We are very proud of this agreement that fully respects the very spirit of TCR. The association with such an experienced promoter as Eurosport Events together with the FIA label on the WTCR represent the ultimate recognition for the TCR concept that we launched three years ago and hasn’t stopped growing since.”

François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, concluded: “The combination of the TCR technical regulations, the expertise and neutrality of the FIA and its stringent sporting rules and procedures, plus the promotional strength of Eurosport Events gained since 2005 will deliver a highly competitive grid, exciting racing and a fan-friendly format that can only drive success.”

Photos: fiawtcc.com/Francois Flamand, tcr-series.com,

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