Instructions for use of the Pure ETCR, the future electric touring championship

Ad for the first time in fall 2018, l’Electric TCR (ETCR) s’était depuis fait discret. Cupra et Hyundai avaient bien annoncé le développement de machines électriques, mais les détails concernant le championnat se faisaient attendre. 

This February 19 in Paris, Eurosport Events, in charge of the organization and promotion of the championship and WSC Group, creator of the ETCR product via Marcello Lotti, held a conference to finally unveil the instructions for this series.

This is also renamed Pure ETCR. The reference to the ecological side of electric technology is obviously present, but also the aspect of authentic competition, door to door, as only the TCR knows how to bring it. 

Goodyear has been named sole championship manufacturer, just like in the WTCR. In Pure ETCR, only one type of rubber will be developed. 

An innovative format 

Don't call it a "race" anymore, but a battle ". The peloton will be divided into several groups, distributed by draws. Three phases of battles are planned, over very short distances: three rounds for Battles 1 and 2, a qualifying round for Battle 3.

Contrary to rallycross, there will be no pilots eliminated at the end of these battles. Three finals will complete the event, with the most efficient competitors brought together in Final A, the runners-up in Final B, and the least rapid in Final C. 

The finals will take place over a duration of 20 minutes. The objective is to avoid economy management as can be the case in Formula E, in other words: go all out from start to finish!

The all-out attack

Electricity doesn't have to be daunting. To ensure a constant spectacle, the events will take place on short circuits, with the idea of ​​ensuring a departure from Bataille every quarter of an hour. The cars will be recharged at a special station with a hydrogen device. 

Batteries, supplied by Williams Advanced Technologies, are capable of going from 10% to 90% autonomy in one hour. Vehicles should not drag each other. A push to pass will occasionally increase the power to the equivalent of 680 horsepower and 500 kW in constant duration.

Calendar 

In 2020, several events will make the discipline known to the general public. The first appearance will take place during the Goodwood Festival of Speed (Great Britain, July 9-12), with a dynamic demonstration in the hill climb.  

The World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) rounds at Salzburgring (Austria, July 25-26) and Inje (South Korea, October 17-18) will serve as traditional circuit demos, with two trips to the Grand Prix of Historic Copenhagen (Denmark, August 1-2), at the 24 Hours of Daytona (Florida, January 30-31, 2021) and in China.

After this trial run, it’s time to the “real” opening, planned for 2021. Eight meetings will take place, half of which will be in Europe, with two or three meetings alongside the WTCR. Each manufacturer will not be able to enter more than three cars. A Drivers and Manufacturers title will be awarded in this FIA International badged series. In 2022, the calendar should increase to 10 events. 

To date, four companies are in the Pure ETCR ranks. Cupra and Hyundai are at a relatively advanced stage in the creation of their electric car, while the Italian preparer Romeo Ferraris working on a Giulia special (without the help ofAlfa Romeo). Recently, the Chinese of LSR (responsible for the MG TCR) have announced their intention to come to Pure ETCR.