The calendar for the current FIA World Touring Car Cup season has been amended to only feature events in Europe, with the Asian leg of the season called off for a second successive season.
Quarantine restrictions in South Korea, China and Macau have made the Asian leg of the season unviable, with teams, drivers and officials having faced the prospect of a minimum 14-day quarantine period in each country, which would have resulted in more than two months away from home.
The WTCR relies on sea freight for shipping cars and equipment to Asia. In order to make plans, Eurosport Events would have needed to know of any potential changes to the restrictions before the end of August, and such a change was not likely to transpire before then.
It means that promoter Eurosport Events has turned to its contingency circuits, which will see races held at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic, Circuit Pau-Arnos in France and Sochi Autodrom in Russia.
The revised date for the race in Italy at Adria Raceway has also been announced, with the event set to take place on 6 – 7 November as the penultimate round of the season.
Most has not featured a World Touring Car round since before, although Eurosport held events at the circuit in 2017 with the FIA European Touring Car Cup finale.
Circuit Pau-Arnos will be an entirely new circuit for World Touring Cars, subject to the revised venue receiving an FIA Grade 3 homologation certificate – the same condition as applicable to the race at Adria. The event will also be staged with PURE ETCR, which has also had to amend its calendar for the first season of the all-electric touring car series.
Sochi Autodrom will also be a brand new circuit, marking the return of World Touring Cars to Russia since 2016.
“Replacing the Asia events on the 2021 calendar was not an easy decision and certainly not something we wanted to do, but it was the only option on the table in order to protect our stakeholders and give us the best possible chance of delivering the planned 16 races and prolonging what is already proving to be another epic title fight,” said François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events.
“We explored every possibility to keep the Asia events but had to accept delaying our return to Asia for another season was the only course of action open to us, as we simply couldn’t risk sending freight halfway round the world with no guarantee that it will be possible to go ahead with the events in Asia.
“Although they are disappointed, the promoters of those events fully appreciate and support the decision as do our global broadcasters and we thank them all for their understanding and ongoing cooperation.
“We’ve wasted no time starting contract discussions with each event as it’s our absolute priority to return to Asia in 2022. We must also acknowledge the assistance of the FIA and all event promoters and ASNs involved.”
Alan Gow, President of the FIA Touring Car Commission, highlighted the varied nature of the new circuits being added to the calendar.
“In these unprecedented times, calendar changes are something we are prepared for,” said Gow. “Given the fluid nature of the pandemic, it was essential to safeguard the calendar as quickly as possible.
“Eurosport Events has therefore put in place a strong schedule of events to complete the season, while also giving three countries and their ASNs the opportunity to host the WTCR for the first time.
“The calendar additions are venues new to world-level touring car racing, with each having its own unique characteristics.
“This provides the drivers and their teams with a fresh challenge and gives the fans something extra to look forward to. We are set for a fascinating second part of the season.”
Updated WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup 2021 calendar
Rounds 1 and 2: WTCR Race of Germany, Nürburgring Nordschleife: June 3-5
Rounds 3 and 4: WTCR Race of Portugal, Circuito do Estoril: June 26-27
Rounds 5 and 6: WTCR Race of Spain, MotorLand Aragón: July 10-11
Rounds 7 and 8: WTCR Race of Hungary, Hungaroring: August 21-22
Rounds 9 and 10: WTCR Race of Czech Republic, Autodrom Most: October 9-10
Rounds 11 and 12: WTCR Race of France, Circuit Pau-Arnos: October 16-17
Rounds 13 and 14: WTCR Race of Italy, Adria International Raceway: November 6-7
Rounds 15 and 16: WTCR Race of Russia, Sochi Autodrom: November 27-28