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Braga to hold fifth ETC Cup

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The FIA has released details for the 2009 edition of the annual European Touring Car Cup, which will take place at the Vasco Sameiro circuit in Braga, Portugal on October 24th & 25th.

The event has been won for the past two years by DTC racer Michel Nykjaer, against a competitive field of primarily Swedish Touring Car drivers.

The 2009 ETC Cup will include categories for Super 1600 and Super Production, as well as Super 2000 – the top category in the majority of national series at present as well the WTCC. Invited countries that run to these rules include the Baltic States, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, and the UK.

The invitation regulations are unchanged from last year, with the following criteria being used for entry. A drive must either:
1. Competed in 50% of their national championship
2. Be designated by their ASN and not taken part in the WTCC with a manufacturer team
3. Belong to a country without a national championship and be designated by their ASN

The race however has historically tended to pull in the best racers from the Danish, German & Swedish championships for a year ending tête à tête – and since the race is being held a full three weeks after the BTCC finale, it may be able to attract some of the British teams as well this year.