The Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, owner of the Ningbo Circuit in China, has announced that it is suspending its cooperation with Eurosport Events regarding the promotion of the Chinese FIA World Touring Car Cup races.
The announcement comes after Cyan Racing, the team running the Lynk & Co cars in WTCR, expressed its displeasure once again at the latest Balance of Performance [BoP] measures in the series.
Ningo International Speedpark is owned by the Chinese manufacturer Lynk & Co’s parent company, and thus the ‘home race’ for the brand was hugely important, with the company also promoting the event.
“It has been made quite clear that there is no point in us being involved in promoting the FIA WTCR races in China commercially as a result of the current sporting conditions of the series,” said Victor Yang, Vice President of the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
“We have no confidence left in the TCR / WTCR organisations and we are suspending the co-operation and support to Eurosport Events and the local Ningbo race host Mitime Group regarding the Chinese WTCR round at the Ningbo circuit.
“This race is a key event for us to connect the racing programmes of the Lynk & Co 03 and the performance road car versions of it.
“But when the racing cars are not on a level playing field, there is no point in us investing commercially in the WTCR race weekend only to subject our customers, fans and brand to agony on our largest home market.”
Yesterday Cyan Racing boss Christian Dahl criticised the current BoP levels, which see the Lynk & Co 03 running the lowest power level, and crucially being lower than its biggest rival to-date at Hyundai, where the new Elantra N is permitted to run at 100% power.
The car also has the highest ride height and the most BoP weight, with the Elantra currently carrying no BoP weight at all.
A statemrnt from the company highlighted the following BoP-related points:
“The all new for 2021 Hyundai Elantra TCR has received 100% power and 0kg ballast weight
“The Honda, which has been re-homologated for 2021 with a wide array of new parts, remains on 100% power and has also received a weight ballast reduction of 20kg
“For comparison, when the Lynk & Co 03 TCR was introduced in 2019, it received the lowest 97.5% power and the most weight, which still remains in effect for 2021.”
No comment has yet been made from WTCR promoter Eurosport Events regarding the future of the WTCR races in China.