The Slovakiaring has been formally confirmed as hosting the sixth round of the 2018 FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR), taking over from Argentina, after the decision was ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council today.
The event at Termas de Río Hondo in Argentina had to be cancelled “in response to the country’s challenging economic climate” and has been replaced by a race in Slovakia three weeks earlier.
It marks the return of FIA World Touring Cars to the Slovakiaring for the first time in two years, after the circuit was dropped from the 2017 and 2018 schedules.
WTCR will join the bill of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship (ETCR) after Eurosport Events reached an agreement with the Slovakia Ring Agency and ETRA Promotion Gmbh, the prmoter of the FIA ETRC.
“We offer a warm welcome to our friends and colleagues at the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup,” said ETRA Director, Rolf Werner. “A great opportunity to have a common event with two FIA championships was very appealing to everyone and I am sure it will be very well received by competitors, fans and media alike.”
Fellow ETRA Director, Georg Fuchs added: “Our event was the right fit at a late stage for the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup and it is obvious we share the same progressive outlook to make a dynamic and enjoyable event.”
Eurosport Events will maintain a close relationship with the promoters in Argentina with a view to bringing the championship back to the country in the future.