The new FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) will feature ten events held over four continents in 2018, with the season beginning in Morocco and concluding with the legendary Macau street circuit.
The cup, known as WTCR, was announced earlier in the month following the news that the WTCC and the TCR International Series were to be discontinued.
In their place, the WTCR Cup has emerged, being run for cars to TCR regulations and promoted by Eurosport Events.
The calendar has now been announced featuring most of the circuits which featured on the 2018 WTCC calendar, with the exception of the races at Monza, Motegi and Losail.
The season will begin in Morocco in early April at the Circuit Moulay el Hassan in Marrakech, before moving on to a string of four European events, including a WTCR race at Circuit Park Zandvoort in The Netherlands.
The Nürburgring Nordschleife retains a touring car race, having hosted three WTCC events between 2015 and 2017.
South America, China and Japan have also retained events at Termas de Río Hondo, Ningbo and Suzuka respectively.
An additional event at a new circuit to the former WTCC competitors is set to be added to the already announced nine circuits on either the 21-22 July or the 6-7 October, subject to approval.
“Publication of the provisional schedule marks another important step ahead of the inaugural FIA WTCR season in 2018,” said François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events. “The nine selected events will not only offer a great variety of circuits to drivers and teams, but will also mean that WTCR races take place in front of big crowds.
“We are in discussions with two potential locations, which Eurosport Events has not worked with before, to select one additional event for FIA WTCR schedule, and we hope to conclude these as soon as possible.”
Provisional 2018 WTCR Calendar
7 – 8 April – Circuit Moulay el Hassan, Morocco
28 – 29 April – Hungaroring, Hungary
10 – 12 May – Nürburgring Nordschleife, Germany
19 – 21 May – Circuit Park Zandvoort, The Netherlands
23 – 24 June – Circuito Internacional de Vila Real, Portugal
4 – 5 August – Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina
29 – 30 September – Ningbo International Speedpark, China
27 – 28 October – Suzuka, Japan
15 – 18 November – Circuito da Guia, Macau