WTCC boss targeting all new regulations for 2014

WTCC series’ promoter Marcello Lotti says the plan is to fully switch to all new regulations in 2014, as long as the current and incoming manufacturers can commit to putting at least 16 cars on the grid next year, with a final decision set to be taken at a meeting in mid-June.

Currently there are two manufacturers committed for next season, with Honda and Lada already on the grid as new entries to the Championship this year, whilst a number of manufacturers are linked with a potential entry next season, most notable Citroën, who have been making noises about entering the Championship since last September.

Renault, Subaru and Kia have all also been rumoured to be interested in competing next year, and at the Salzburgring SEAT debuted their Leon Cup Racer car in the paddock which has been built to the spirit of the 2014 regulations, but the Spanish manufacturer is still yet to commit to the Championship next year, either with a manufacturer programme or a customer support programme as they’ve maintained the past two seasons.

Despite talk in the paddock that the new regulations will or should probably be delayed to 2015, Lotti says that he “doesn’t see that situation” occurring, and that the plan is still to introduce the new rules in 2014, with one of the options set to see the currently competing cars built by Chevrolet, BMW, Lada, Ford, Honda and SEAT outlawed next season.

“At the moment (the new regulations are) decided for 2014. For sure, in the next two and three weeks we’re trying to get to a conclusion,” Lotti said to TouringCarTimes.

“We’ve fixed a meeting in the middle of June where we’ll decide if we have only new rules or if we have a transition year with new regulations and old regulations combined.”

With a switch to all new rules almost certain to reduce the size of the grid for next season, the series’ boss is confident that if enough manufacturer commit and are able to enter up to four cars each, an acceptable grid size can be reached for the start of the season, and a transition year would be avoided.

“From my personal point of view, I think the minimum starting number to have a grid is 16…I know there are some manufacturers who may not be ready at the beginning, but you could finish the season with 18 or 19 cars, for the first year of a new regulation that’s good.”

Should a switch to all new rules come in, Lotti’s expectation is the current generation of cars and engines would naturally filter down to the FIA European Touring Car Cup.

“I think this is a decision we have to take. At the moment our plan is that if we go with the new car in WTCC then the old cars which are (FIA Super 2000) Appendix J 2011 will be in the ETCC.”