The WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO is back on track in China next week with the first part of a double-header that could begin to shape the outcome of the inaugural title battle that has produced 11 different winners from 18 action-packed races.
Gabriele Tarquini is three points in front of fellow touring car titan Yvan Muller with Norbert Michelisz, Yann Ehrlacher and Jean-Karl Vernay close behind.
However, with 12 races over four weekends remaining, all drivers on the grid at the Ningbo International Speedpark from 28-30 September have a mathematical shot at championship glory, such is the wide-open nature of WTCR OSCARO season one.
Not one but two events: WTCR does the double in China
WTCR Race of China-Ningbo will be followed one week later by WTCR Race of China-Wuhan. Dubbed the ‘Detroit of China’, Wuhan is a major car manufacturing hub and is gearing up to host world championship motor racing for the first time. While Ningbo is a purpose-built race circuit, Wuhan offers an intriguing prospect.
A temporary street course around the city’s sports stadium complex, Rob Huff is the only WTCR OSCARO regular with experience of the layout and even that was prior to its lengthening for this year, making the weekend an exciting level playing field.
Can Ma deliver magic at home?
Ma Qing Hua, the first Chinese driver to win an FIA world championship motor race, is gearing up for his debut in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO at Ningbo.
The 30-year-old from Shanghai has been called up to drive a Honda Civic Type R TCR for Boutsen Ginion Racing in place of teenage talent Benjamin Lessennes. Ma will also be in action at WTCR Race of China-Wuhan one week later and is expected to be a contender for honours.
Scheider set for WTCR debut, Ceccon returns
Germany’s Timo Scheider, a two-time DTM champion, is set to make his first WTCR OSCARO appearance in China after being signed by ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport to drive its third Honda Civic Type R TCR for the Asian leg of the championship. Meanwhile, having impressed Team Mulsanne with WTCR OSCARO points on his debut in Slovakia in the summer, Italian promise Kevin Ceccon will continue to partner Fabrizio Giovanardi for the remainder of the season in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR by Romeo Ferraris.
New era goes from strength to strength
With a rulebook designed to promote corner-by-corner overtaking, a packed grid featuring four world champions and a host of national and international touring car title-winners, an abundance of young stars, ex-Formula One drivers and seven customer racing brands, the stage is set for a thrilling China double-header.
In an intriguing twist, WTCR – the new name for the FIA World Touring Car Championship from 2018 – gets three races per weekend, plus a second shot at the DHL Pole Position Award due to the scheduling of not one but two qualifying sessions.
There’s also the ground-breaking TAG Heuer Most Valuable Driver award, which goes to the racer scoring the most points during a weekend, plus the TAG Heuer Best Lap Trophy.
In addition to live global television coverage, Race 1 will be shown live in selected territories on Facebook and at wtcr.oscaro.com – website of the WTCR Series Presenting Partner partner and the world’s leading online retailer of original automotive spare parts.
Source: Richard Rodgers, photo FIA WTCR in Automobilsport