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2015 WTCC – Season preview

03.03.15
The new FIA World Touring Car Championship season is just around the corner and here are some of the notable changes for 2015.

It’s new-generation TC1 cars only for the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2015 with TC2 machinery now reserved for the FIA European Touring Car Cup.

Citroën, Honda and LADA continue to field factory teams in the WTCC, while the Chevrolet RML Cruze is also built to the TC1 regulations for mass-production five-door cars fitted with 1.6-litre direct injection turbocharged engines and a number of aerodynamic aids.

LADA has developed an all-new car for 2015 to underline its commitment to the WTCC.

There will be more Citroëns and Hondas on the grid in 2015, as both makes increase their involvement in the championship.

The Yokohama Drivers’ and Teams’ trophies for those competing without manufacturer support has been restructured for 2015 and again enjoys the support of WTCC’s official tyre partner, Yokohama.

Five new venues feature on the 2015 WTCC calendar with the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife one of the most eagerly anticipated. Two three-lap races are scheduled on the 25-kilometre layout ahead of the track’s 24-hour race in May. It will mark the first time since 1983 that the Nordschleife has hosted an FIA championship event.

Elsewhere, Vila Real, a challenging street circuit near Porto in northern Portugal, has staged racing since 1931 and will provide a huge test when the WTCC drivers visit for the first time in July.

Twin Ring Motegi, located 145 kilometres north of Tokyo, is the new home of WTCC Race of Japan following four seasons at Suzuka, while races in Thailand and Qatar are also new to the WTCC calendar and will round out the 2015 season in November. Thailand and Qatar have never previously hosted a round of the WTCC before. Qatar will also be the setting of the WTCC’s first night race.