ETCC goes global from 2005

Mon 5th July 2004 The European Touring Car Championship will become the FIA World Touring Car Championship from 2005. That was the news confirmed last week, shortly after the ETCC’s successful visit to Donington Park.

The FIA World Touring Car Championship will be reserved for cars complying with the FIA Super 2000 technical regulations and will award two FIA World titles: Drivers and Manufacturers.

The 2005 FIA World Touring Car Championship will consist of ten race meetings, held in as many different countries, eight in Europe, one in the Americas and one in Asia; two championship rounds will be raced at each race meeting, giving a total of 20 rounds.

With the added bonus of a ‘world title’ up for grabs, the WTCC is likely to attract the best touring car drivers in the world. Current VX Racing driver James Thompson competed in the Donington Park rounds of the ETCC for the AutoDelta Squadra Corse, and the former BTCC champion is undoubtedly amongst those who could mount a serious assault on the first ever ‘FIA World Touring Car Champion’ title.