TCR World and life

3 SPOTLIGHT The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on all motorsport activities, forcing promoters to postpone or cancel events or even entire championships. The ETCR was no an exception, as it has been hit during the final phase of the technical development and beginning of the test. The lockdown forced the manufacturers and the engineering companies that had embraced the concept to stop working on the eve of the beginning of the track activity. As a result, WSC Group, the entity behind the concept and the technical regulations, has worked to reschedule the plans for the testing, while Eurosport Events, promoter of the PURE ETCR series, has focused on a new Europe-centred calendar as the best way of showcasing this ground-breaking new series. “This has been a totally unexpected situation that forced us to get ourselves sorted out, just like the rest of the world,” WSC president Marcello Lotti explained. “The lockdown meant that the workshops were closed, the flow of components from the suppliers dried up and the work on the cars was stopped.” Another issue was the integration of the mandatory ETCR kits onto the racing cars. “Williams Advanced Engineering was ready to proceed with the in-house integration of the ETCR kits that would be carried out through three phases: mechanical activities and electrical activities and track test. To speed up the process, WAE has built a lab-car that would be used to replicate and resolve any issues that may possibly occur during the integration onto the racing cars. The presence of each car manufacturer’s staff is needed for the assembling phase, but the quarantine restrictions imposed by the British Government has prevented technicians ETCR successfullywork to recover the delays caused by COVID-19 and mechanics from travelling to the UK. Altogether this has resulted in a delay of several months. Our plan was to begin the dynamic testing programme in May, now this has been rescheduled in September,” said Lotti. As for the plan for promotional activities, Eurosport Events has secured a new schedule, partnering with a mixture of forward-thinking and internationally established events to create a showcase for the most powerful touring cars ever seen on a global scale. PURE ETCR’s promotional season will start at the Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix on 9 October, where the covers will come off the cars during a spectacular event as part of the city’s ‘European Capital of Culture’ ceremony. Denmark’s capital targets carbon-neutral status by 2025, making it a perfect place for PURE ETCR, which aims to change perceptions of electric vehicles and showcase their potential as sporty, fast and fun ways of getting around. Not only will each of the competing manufacturers be represented, but the concept for the centrepiece of the PURE ETCR paddock – the Energy Station – will also be unveiled. The series will then move on to Goodwood (October 15/18) where the new ‘Speed Week’ event will use a one- off format in which innovation will meet tradition on one of the most celebrated historic circuits in the world. This will be the PURE ETCR’s cars and drivers’ first public taste of a permanent racetrack and will be broadcast live online to fans across the world. Motorland Aragón will give fans their first opportunity to see the cars in anger on a modern circuit as part of the WTCR weekend on 31 October-1 November. Finally, Adria International Raceway will host a spectacular ‘dress rehearsal’ for the 2021 season on 14/15 November with the on-track ‘battle’ format, starting gate, Energy Station and Hot Zone all in use. With Adria also hosting the WTCR season decider and full TV production facilities in place, the scene is set for a thrilling event that will leave fans on the edge of their seats in anticipation of a first full PURE ETCR season in 2021.