Changes to the format of meetings in 2020

The meetings of WTCR will see their format modified in 2020, as confirmed by Eurosport Events in recent hours.

It is first of all the number of races per weekend which will go from three to two, with the second event counting three laps more than the inaugural one during the calendar meetings.

This is with the exception of the Nürburgring round, where the Nordschleife will host two three-lap races due to the length of the circuit. The confrontations will only take place on the second day of the meetings.

Qualifying will also be changed, since there will only be one session to determine the different starting grids. This will be partially reversed for Race 1 and decided by the combined result of the three parts of the single qualifying session.

These modifications are part of a framework for reducing assumed costs, and initially planned for 2021. But the state of the market seems to have precipitated the announcements from Eurosport Events, which also highlights the potential impact of the coronavirus which is mainly prevalent in Asia.

In line with the announcements concerning the sporting plan, the regulations will also be amended in terms of personnel authorized to intervene on competition weekends. Two-car teams will be limited to 12 people and three-car teams to 18 people.

Only 10 staff members per team will be allocated the armbands which will allow them to work on a car. The tire regulations will also be revised with 18 new Goodyear tires authorized per car for the first event and 12 new tires authorized thereafter.

Other work aimed at further reducing costs will be initiated for 2021.