Eurosport Events, in partnership with the FIA and WSC, the TCR rights holder, have agreed to a three-year contract extension for the FIA World Touring Car Cup, taking it through the 2023, 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The FIA World Touring Car Cup, or WTCR as it is known in short, began in 2018 following the demise of the World Touring Car Championship and the cessation of the TCR International Series.
The licence agreement from WSC Group, the global TCR rights holder, permits the series to run to TCR technical regulations.
The agreement between Eurosport Events and the FIA to continue to promote the series has been extended at the same time as an extension to the agreement with WSC to continue to use TCR technical regulations.
Eurosport Events has committed a continued investment into the series, which remains unaffected by the global COVID-19 pandemic situation.
Whilst Eurosport Events is also promoting the new electric touring car series PURE ETCR, it remains committed to developing the sustainability of WTCR, and from 2021 onwards the series will use a sustainable fuel consisting of 15% renewable components, supplied by P1 Racing Fuels. The intention is to use 100% sustainable fuel by 2023.
“We’ve worked non-stop to keep high the level of WTCR through a very constructive cooperation with the FIA and a quality global promotion,” said François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events.
“By securing a contract extension, even during this unprecedented period we are all living through, we’ve cemented this commitment and provided much needed stability to all our stakeholders.
“We believe in high level combustion customer racing and will do everything possible to make WTCR an even more environmentally sustainable competition over the next five years.
“With Eurosport Events promoting new electric touring car activities from this season it’s only right to enforce the message that this is not a case of one chapter closing and others opening, but of all our activities receiving a significant level of investment for the long term.”
Alan Gow, President of the FIA Touring Car Commission, is pleased that Eurosport will continue to promote World Touring Cars, a partnership with the FIA which dates back to 2005, and back to 2000 if the partnership in European Touring Cars is considered.
“In Eurosport Events we have a partner that’s fully committed to delivering the best possible WTCR,” said Gow. “We are delighted to be extending this extremely successful alliance that began in 2005 and shows no sign of slowing down, only speeding up.
“With Eurosport Events and the FIA’s Sporting Department, the WTCR is in very good hands now and for the future.”
Marcello Lotti, President of WSC Group, welcomed the announcement, which will take the series into its eighth season by 2025.
“Having a strong series at the top of the TCR pyramid is essential to the ongoing and unprecedented success of the TCR category around the world,” added Lotti.
“We are very pleased there will be a WTCR for at least another three years after this as we continue our partnership with Eurosport Events and the FIA.”