Following the launch of the TCR World Ranking, WSC Group has announced a new platform for teams and drivers to compete at a global level – the TCR World Tour.
The announcement comes in the wake of the news that the FIA World Touring Car Cup series will conclude at the end of 2022, following five seasons of existence.
The TCR World Tour will consist of nine events which are selected from those TCR-sanctioned series worldwide, covering events in four continents.
Priority will be given to the best race tracks and most popular championships. Competitors in the TCR World Tour will be awarded 50% more points for the TCR World Rankings, announced on Friday morning, compared to those awarded in other qualifying events for the TCR World Rankings.
The top 15 drivers in the TCR World Tour classification will then qualify directly for the TCR World Ranking Final, which is designed to be a single event conclusion.
The TCR world Ranking Final will be organised in cooperation with Discovery Sports Events within four months following the end of the TCR World Tour.
The event is planned to be an annual occurrence, held over four days with a playoff format and 60 drivers taking part. The entry will consist of the top 15 drivers from the TCR World Tour along with the top 45 drivers classified in the TCR World Ranking.
The TCR World Ranking will award titles to Drivers, Teams and Manufacturers.
WSC Group President Marcello Lotti explained that the TCR World Tour is designed to fill the place of FIA WTCR as the top-level format for global touring car competition.
“We have had a fruitful cooperation with the FIA and Discovery Sports Events during the latest years and so we respect their decision,” said Lotti of the news of WTCR’s demise.
“We are now ready to continue working together to provide for the future of Touring Car competition.”
“Since the inception of the TCR concept, WSC has built a large community of competitors. On this basis we are confident that the TCR World Ranking through the TCR World Tour and the TCR World Ranking Final will give teams and drivers the opportunity to keep on competing at a global level.
“At the same time, this plan is set to strengthen the cooperation we have established with the promoters of the regional and national series.
“This cooperation will make it possible to step up the level of the events selected for the TCR World Tour in terms of visibility, media coverage and atmosphere, also giving the local drivers the opportunity to measure themselves against strong, international participation.
“It is also an opportunity for the manufacturers to establish closer relationships with their own racing customers and increase their loyalty towards the brand.
“These are the reasons why the TCR World Ranking Final is bound to become the legendary event that will crown the driver, team and manufacturer as the ultimate champions of the category.
“On top of this, the involvement of local promoters, competitors and fans in such a global plan will produce strong streams of communications and connectivity that will help the TCR’s popularity to grow even further.”
Lotti also addressed the subject on the future sustainability of touring car racing.
“In all these years WSC has showed a discerning ability of analysis of touring car competition, in synergy with the automotive marketing.
“Today, the car market is split into three segments: thermal engines, hybrid engines and electric engines.
“For this reason and with the aim of adjusting the current technical specifications of TCR cars in respect to the requests of sustainability, WSC has developed a hybrid system that will be available for all the TCR series that request it.
“We believe this is the most logical answer to the trend of the market.”