A long-term agreement has been signed between the FIA and Eurosport Events outlining the pair’s commitment to promoting the newly established FIA eTouring Car World Cup discipline at a professional level.
The PURE ETCR season opener is set to take place in June 2021 and will consist of five races – four in Europe and another in Asia. As the discipline evolves into the FIA eTouring Car World Cup for 2022, the duo hopes the discipline will be viewed as a leading international electric touring car series, with drivers and manufacturers set to be awarded world titles.
Having promoted the FIA World Touring Car Championship from 2005 to 2017 and then its successor, the WTCR FIA World Touring Car Cup, since 2018, Eurosport Events has recently had the contract extended until the end of 2025. The company has continued to push the visibility of touring car racing by delivering engaging on- and off-track content, making it an ideal partner to introduce the new discipline of racing to a wider audience.
“We are thrilled to receive confirmation from the FIA that the series will become the FIA eTouring Car World Cup from 2022,” commented François Ribeiro, head of Eurosport Events. “The automotive industry is rapidly moving toward electrification and we are working incredibly hard in partnership with WSC to build the world’s first all-electric touring car series with racing and innovation at its heart, and offer car manufacturers a platform to showcase their electric production vehicles in intense, authentic, on-track battles that touring car fans love. The FIA’s recognition emphasizes the key role the governing body is performing in the push toward greater levels of electromobility. The sporting expertise of the FIA, together with Eurosport Events’ know-how in promoting international motorsport properties, will make this future FIA eTouring Car World Cup a strong platform to allow car makers to promote their technology and products.”
Alan Gow, FIA touring car commission president, concluded, “It is a great pleasure to see the FIA family of touring car competitions further broadened with the addition of the FIA eTouring Car World Cup. It’s the ideal scenario for FIA-sanctioned touring cars to have the traditional combustion-engined WTCR co-exist with a new all-electric competition discipline utilizing an innovative format. This is an important step for all parties involved and I’m looking ahead with great excitement to see this new competition take shape.”
