FIA expresses ‘disappointment’ at Discovery decision

The FIA has expressed disappointment at the decision by Discovery Sports Events to step down as promoter of ETCR ahead of the 2023 season.

The decision taken last week calls into question the immediate future of the all electric series, although both Cupra and Romeo Ferraris – two of the three car builders involved – have expressed confidence that it can continue.

As things stand, no promoter is in place to run a championship in 2023 in what should have been the second year of the eTouring Car World Cup with FIA World status – with the 2021 campaign having run under the PURE ETCR banner.

That means the real possibility of there being no FIA supported touring car series for the first time since 2000, with the European Touring Car Championship, World Touring Car Championship, Touring Car World Cup and ETCR all running under the FIA banner.

“The FIA is disappointed by the decision of Discovery Sports Events to step down as the promoter of FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup in 2023,” a brief statement issued by the governing body to TouringCarTimes read.

“More information will be made available in due course.”

The statement from the FIA comes on the back of Hyundai also making public comment on the situation for the first time, admitting to TouringCarTimes that talks were ‘ongoing’ with series stakeholders over what happens next.

“We took note of last weekend’s announcement from Discovery Sports Events, that they will not promote the ETCR – FIA eTouring Car World Cup for this season,” a spokesperson for Hyundai Motorsport revealed.

“We are now in talks with WSC and other stakeholders involved in the series to discuss next steps and will reveal our plan once aligned.”