Video: Three years of TCR International Series in figures

After three years of service, the TCR International Series championship crossed the finish line of its existence in October 2017 at the Dubai circuit. Touring car competition will leave his place in the WTCR next year, the World Touring Car Cup, after an agreement between the FIA, WSC and Eurosport Events (promoter of the ex-WTCC).

The TCR International Series will be suspended in 2018 and 2019, but unlike the bankruptcies of various series in the past, this is not the consequence of a lack of interest on the part of the paddocks. Indeed, on average 21 cars were entered in the ten rounds organized in 2017, with a peak of 26 competitors in Monza (Italy). The Temple of Speed ​​was also the scene of the closest race of the year: only 17 hundredths of a second separated the winner Stefano Comini (Audi) from his runner-up Roberto Colciago (Honda) after a breathtaking battle.

By voluntarily adopting a policy of cost control, the TCR has allowed many brands to run with the same weapons. Where the WTCC opened the door to official teams (Honda and Volvo in 2017), the TCR has never accepted a factory team. This contributed to the variety of the championship, with up to nine different models brought together on the starting grid this season, and a certain dose of change of scenery. A Subaru WRX STI competed well against a Alfa Romeo Juliet or an Opel Astra.

The TCR International Series was certainly not the school of fans, but this championship stood out for its open battles for world crowns. Between 2015 and 2017, 23 drivers lifted a winner's trophy. In the medal table, Stefano Comini (titled in the first two exercises) has collected 12 successes, and is ahead of Pepe Oriola (8 victories) and the veteran Gianni Morbidelli (6).

The platforms have gradually attracted the big names in touring cars. This season, two Hyundai i30 N took part in two meetings with Gabriele tarquini (2009 WTCC champion) and Alain Menu (British Touring Car Championship champion and WTCC presenter). English Rob huff (titled in 2012 in the WTCC) lent a hand to the jack-of-all-trades Jean-Karl Vernay in the quest for the Drivers' ranking in 2017. Conversely, the average age was rejuvenated by the emergence of new talents. The Hungarian Attila Tassi (18 ) turned out to be Jean-Karl Vernay's most serious threat.

Finally, the other particularity of the TCR International Series was its eclectic calendar. Alongside trips on seven circuits of Formula 1 (Singapore, Bahrain, Shanghai, etc.), previously unknown tracks like Zhejiang (China) or Rustavi (Georgia) hosted their first international event. The TCR formula will be exported to other countries in 2018, with the creation of series in central america, Australia, South Korea and Great Britain.