*Iconic Nürburgring Nordschleife up first on tweaked WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup roster
*Short delay to upcoming WTCR title chase helps in delivery of planned eight-event schedule
*WTCR Race of Hungary gets summer slot, Italy added to calendar in place of Slovakia
The Nürburgring Nordschleife’s 64 heart-stopping twists and turns will ensure a more spectacular start to an WTCR-FIA World Touring Car Cup season than ever before following a handful of calendar adjustments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
WTCR Race of Hungary moves from mid-May to the height of summer with the Hungaroring hosting the action from August 21-22. The new date has been proposed in the hope that as many of the thousands of enthusiastic local fans as possible can attend the event, a highlight of the national sporting year. It will be the first summer event at the Hungaroring since the series debuted in Hungary. WTCR weekend usually was organized in spring, except for the autumn race last year.
‘We are committed to organise all major international events in front of crowds this year, and since we felt an open door event seemed uncertain in May, we started liaising with the international promoter’ Zsolt Gyulay, CEO of Hungaroring Sport Plc. ‘They were open to change as well, so we decided jointly to move it to 21-22 August, that seems a more optimal date.’
After missing out on a WTCR date in 2020 when delays were encountered in the readying of the upgraded Adria International Raceway, Italy is set for its WTCR calendar bow from July 31-August 1 in place of Slovakia, a founding WTCR nation.
Xavier Gavory, WTCR Director, said: ‘While the COVID-19 vaccination rollout continues to provide hope for all and vital protection to those most at risk, such as the elderly and the incredible frontline workers helping to fight this pandemic, it’s a complex process that takes time to fully implement. Combined with travel restrictions and other national constraints, and given the WTCR schedule for 2021 is restricted to eight events, delaying the season start to June is the most sensible step to take in order to safeguard the calendar and the WTCR stakeholders and, at the same time, respect the communities and countries hosting WTCR events. We thank the FIA and all our partners and promoters for supporting and accommodating these small but unavoidable changes to the calendar ahead of what promises to be another action packed and memorable WTCR season when the new FIA WTCR Female Title and redefined FIA WTCR Junior Title are being launched.’
The changes have been approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
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, Vila Real: June 26-27
Rounds 5 and 6: WTCR Race of Spain, MotorLand Aragón: July 10-11
Rounds 7 and 8: WTCR Race of Italy, Adria International Raceway: July 31-August 1
Rounds 9 and 10: WTCR Race of Hungary, Hungaroring: August 21-22
Rounds 11 and 12: WTCR Race of South Korea, Inje Speedium: October 16-17
Rounds 13 and 14: WTCR Race of China, Venue TBC: November 6-7
Rounds 15 and 16: WTCR Race of Macau, Circuito da Guia: November 19-21
There are two races at each venue.
