ETCC Becomes WTCC from 2005

17 July 2004

The FIA European Touring Car Championship will become the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2005, raising its status along with the FIA's other two car World Series - Formula 1 and WRC. The championship was approved by the FIA Motor Sport Council in Paris at the end of last month, with KSO Ltd, the series promoter.

FIA Super 2000 cars will race at ten circuits, with two championship rounds taking place at each meeting, giving a total of 20 rounds. This year’s ETCC also consists of 10 rounds – nine in Europe and one in Dubai. The inaugural WTCC will visit Argentina, Turkey and China, with four of this year’s rounds - Valencia, Hockenheim, Imola and Dubai – left to complete for the mid-season June 26th slot, still to be confirmed.

There will be a World Championship award for Drivers and Manufacturers and the FIA World Motor Sport Council also agreed the introduction of the HANS device in the championship, obligatory from January 1st, 2005.

15th July saw the signing of the contract with the Macau Guia track, for the season finale as part of the Macau Grand Prix package.

See provisional series calendar for FIA World Touring Car Championship 2005