Photo: WTCR

Eurosport Events agrees three-year WTCR extension

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Eurosport Events has confirmed that a new three-year extension has been agreed with the FIA that will see the World Touring Car Cup continue until at least the end of 2025.

The series was first run back in 2018 as a replacement for the World Touring Car Championship, utilising the TCR technical regulations created by WSC.

The licence to make use of those rules has also been extended to cover the same three-year period, with the agreements coming into place at the end of 2022.

Making the announcement now before the 2021 season has even started will provide ‘stability and commitment’ for competing teams, drivers and stakeholders as the series continues to work to overcome the impact of COVID-19 and to ensure that the series emerges stronger from the pandemic.

“We’ve worked non-stop to keep high the level of WTCR through a very constructive cooperation with the FIA and a quality global promotion,” François Ribeiro, head of Eurosport Events, said.

“By securing a contract extension, even during this unprecedented period we are all living through, we’ve cemented this commitment and provided much needed stability to all our stakeholders. We believe in high level combustion customer racing and will do everything possible to make WTCR an even more environmentally sustainable competition over the next five years. 

“With Eurosport Events promoting new electric touring car activities from this season it’s only right to enforce the message that this is not a case of one chapter closing and others opening, but of all our activities receiving a significant level of investment for the long term.”

President of the FIA Touring Car Commission Alan Gow also welcomed the news.

“In Eurosport Events we have a partner that’s fully committed to delivering the best possible WTCR,” he said. “We are delighted to be extending this extremely successful alliance that began in 2005 and shows no sign of slowing down, only speeding up.

“With Eurosport Events and the FIA’s Sporting Department, the WTCR is in very good hands now and for the future.”

The new season will kick off at the Nürburgring Nordschleife on the weekend of 3-5 June.