2012 World Touring Car Championship
The 2012 World Touring Car Championship season will be the ninth season of the FIA World Touring Car Championship, and the eighth since its 2005 return. It will begin with the Race of Italy at Monza on 11 March and end with the Guia Race of Macau at the Guia Circuit on 18 November, after twenty-four races.
Teams and drivers
Driver changes
- Entering/Re-Entering WTCC
- Tom Boardman will enter the series for his first full season campaign since 2009.
- Italian Superstars Series champion Alberto Cerqui will enter the series with ROAL Motorsport.
- Tom Chilton and James Nash will enter the series with Arena Motorsport.
- James Thompson will return at selected races with TMS Sport.
Calendar
| Round | Race Name | Track | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R1 | Race of Italy |  Autodromo Nazionale Monza
|
11 March |
| R2 | ||||
| 2 | R3 | Race of Spain |  Circuit Ricardo Tormo
|
1 April |
| R4 | ||||
| 3 | R5 | Race of Morocco |  Marrakech Street Circuit
|
15 April |
| R6 | ||||
| 4 | R7 | Race of Slovakia[18] |  Automotodróm Slovakia Ring
|
29 April |
| R8 | ||||
| 5 | R9 | Race of Hungary |  Hungaroring
|
6 May |
| R10 | ||||
| 6 | R11 | Race of Austria |  Salzburgring
|
20 May |
| R12 | ||||
| 7 | R13 | Race of Portugal |  Autódromo do Estoril
|
10 June |
| R14 | ||||
| 8 | R15 | Race of Brazil |  Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba
|
22 July |
| R16 | ||||
| 9 | R17 | Race of the United States |  Infineon Raceway
|
23 September |
| R18 | ||||
| 10 | R19 | Race of Japan |  Suzuka Circuit
|
21 October |
| R20 | ||||
| 11 | R21 | Race of China |  Shanghai International Circuit
|
4 November |
| R22 | ||||
| 12 | R23 | Guia Race of Macau |  Guia Circuit
|
18 November |
| R24 | ||||
Calendar changes
Numerous changes have been made to the 2012 calendar:[19]
- The Race of Austria will make its debut in 2012 at the Salzburgring.
- The Race of Argentina has been dropped from the calendar and replaced the new Race of Slovakia
- The Race of Belgium, Race of UK, Race of Germany and the Race of the Czech Republic have all been discontinued.
- The Race of Brazil will not be the opening round of the season for the first time since its debut in 2006.
- The Race of Italy will become the season opening event, with the Race of Spain being brought forward to an April date.
- The Race of China will move from the Shanghai Tianma Circuit to the Shanghai International Circuit.
- The Race of Morocco returns to the calendar after a one-year absence.
- The Race of the United States will make its debut in 2012 at the Infineon Raceway.
- The Race of Slovakia will make its debut in 2012 at the Slovakiaring.
References
- ^ Hudson, Neil (13 January 2012). "Ford backed 1.6T Global Racing Engine for WTCC and CTCC". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ Hudson, Neil (4 January 2012). "Arena complete shakedown with 1.6 turbo WTCC Focus". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ Turner, Kevin (8 February 2012). "James Nash joins the WTCC with Arena Motorsport". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ Freeman, Glenn (30 January 2012). "Bamboo to run works-spec Cruzes in the WTCC". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ a b c Meissner, Johan (7 October 2011). "Huff, Menu and Muller confirmed for Chevrolet 2012". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
- ^ a b Veltman, Rob (3 February 2012). "Rydell aiming for opening WTCC rounds with new Cruze". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- ^ Hudson, Neil (3 February 2012). "Honda planning 2013 WTCC entry". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- ^ a b Engstler, Franz. "Liebe Partner, Freunde und Sponsoren". Engstler Motorsport (in German). Engstler Motorsport GmBH. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d "Lukoil Racing confirm Tarquini and Dudukalo". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ Hudson, Neil (20 December 2011). "Proteam Racing vow to be on the grid in 2012". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ "Mehdi Bennati to stay with Proteam". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ a b c Hudson, Neil (13 January 2012). "Coronel and Cerqui for two car ROAL assault". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "STR announce plans for 2 car SEAT line-up 2012 WTCC season". specialtuningracing.co.uk. Special Tuning Racing. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- ^ Hudson, Neil (6 February 2012). "Tom Boardman confirmed at STR for WTCC". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ a b Meissner, Johan (7 February 2012). "Pepe Oriola set to continue with SUNRED". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ a b "LADA Granta стартует на этапах WTCC в Венгрии и Португалии". Championat.com (in Russian). SUP Media. 24 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ Hudson, Neil (2 February 2012). "James Thompson to race for Lada Sport". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Slovakia Ring replaces Argentina". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "World Motor Sports Council, 07/12/11". fia.com. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012.