2020 World Touring Car Cup Explained

The 2020 World Touring Car Cup was the third season of the World Touring Car Cup and 16th overall of the series, which dates back to the 2005 World Touring Car Championship.

The drivers' championship was won by Yann Ehrlacher. The teams' championship was won by Cyan Racing Lynk & Co.

Teams and drivers

TeamCarNo.DriversClassRoundsRef.
BRC Hyundai N Lukoil Squadra CorseHyundai i30 N TCR1 Norbert Michelisz1, 3–6[1]
30 Gabriele Tarquini1, 3–6
Vuković MotorsportRenault Mégane R.S. Evo TCR7 Jack YoungR T1–2[2]
34 Aurélien ComteT3–6[3]
Hyundai N Liqui Moly Racing Team EngstlerHyundai i30 N TCR8 Luca EngstlerR1, 3–6
27 Mitchell CheahR6[4]
40 Josh Files5[5]
88 Nicky Catsburg1, 3
97 Nico GruberR4[6]
ALL-INKL.DE Münnich MotorsportHonda Civic Type R TCR (FK8)9 Attila TassiAll[7] [8]
18 Tiago MonteiroAll
ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport29 Néstor GirolamiAll
86 Esteban GuerrieriAll
Cyan Performance Lynk & CoLynk & Co 03 TCR11 Thed BjörkAll[9]
12 Santiago UrrutiaAll[10]
Cyan Racing Lynk & Co68 Yann EhrlacherAll[11]
100 Yvan MullerAll
Comtoyou RacingAudi RS 3 LMS TCR16 Gilles MagnusR TAll[12]
Audi Sport Team Comtoyou DHL17 Nathanaël BerthonTAll[13]
31 Tom CoronelTAll[14]
Zengő Motorsport Services KFTCUPRA León Competición TCR55 Bence BoldizsR TAll[15]
96 Mikel AzconaAll[16]
99nowrap Gábor Kismarty-LechnerTAll
Team MulsanneAlfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR69 Jean-Karl VernayTAll[17] [18]
Wildcard entries
Comtoyou RacingAudi RS 3 LMS TCR15 Nicolas Baert5[19]
Vexta DomynowrapCUPRA León Competición TCR22 Petr Fulín3[20]
Team MulsannenowrapAlfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR25 Luca Filippinowrap1, 3–4, 6[21]
Target CompetitionHyundai i30 N TCR28 José Manuel Sapag4, 6[22] [23]
Vuković MotorsportRenault Mégane R.S. Evo TCR33 Dylan O'Keeffe1[24]
valign=top
IconClass
REligible for FIA Rookie award
TEligible for WTCR Trophy

Summary

JAS Motorsport and Honda Racing retained their 2019 drivers – Attila Tassi, Tiago Monteiro, Néstor Girolami and Esteban Guerrieri – for the 2020 season. On 5 March it was announced that all four drivers would compete for Münnich Motorsport, which would expand from two cars last season. To meet series regulations the team was split into two entities – ALL-INKL.DE Münnich Motorsport and ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport – with driver pairings yet to be confirmed. On 2 June it was announced that Attila Tassi and Tiago Monteiro would join the ALL-INKL.DE Münnich Motorsport with Néstor Girolami and Esteban Guerrieri remaining at the ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport.[25]

Volkswagen Motorsport announced that it would cease manufacturer support for the Golf GTI TCR along with all petrol-powered motorsport programmes, though the Golf GTI TCR would still be available to private teams. This announcement came along with the shift of the brand's policy towards electric racing.[26] Sébastien Loeb Racing, which had run four Golf GTI TCR cars during the 2019 season, announced on 31 January 2020 that it would leave the series.[27]

Audi opted not to introduce a successor to the RS 3 LMS for 2020, while also ending their manufacturer support in the series, though the RS 3 LMS would still be available to private teams. Days before the announcement, W Racing Team, competing under the Audi Sport Team Leopard Racing banner, announced that it would cease participation in the series after the 2019 season to focus on their racing programmes in GT racing and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.[28] [29]

Tom Coronel remained with Comtoyou Racing, but switched from the Cupra León TCR to the Audi RS 3 LMS TCR. Nathanaël Berthon returned to the WTCR driving for Comtoyou Racing.[13]

Cyan Racing committed to run four Lynk & Co 03 TCR cars for the season. On 26 March Yann Ehrlacher and Yvan Muller were confirmed as drivers for Cyan Racing Lynk & Co.[30]

Hyundai was again represented by four Hyundai i30 N TCR entries. BRC Racing Team scaled down to two cars after fielding all four entries last year, and entered under the BRC Hyundai N Lukoil Squadra Corse banner with reigning champion Norbert Michelisz and Gabriele Tarquini. Engstler Motorsport returned to the series for the first time since the 2014 season (back when it was called the World Touring Car Championship) fielding the remaining two Hyundai cars under the Engstler Hyundai N Liqui Moly Racing Team name for Luca Engstler —who made his full-season début after entering once as a wildcard entry for the 2019 season as well as being replacement for Augusto Farfus at the Macau race weekend last year— and Nicky Catsburg. With these changes, Farfus left the team.

SEAT Cupra announced on 3 April 2020 that they would not offer manufacturer support to any team in the 2020 Championship, though the new León Competición TCR would still be available to private teams.[31] On 14 May 2020, it was announced that the Cupra Leon Competición TCR would compete in the championship, with teams and drivers yet to be named.[32] On 30 May 2020, it was announced that Zengő Motorsport would return to the WTCR, running two new León Competición TCR cars, for Bence Boldizs and a yet-to-be-named driver.[15] It was announced on 28 August that he would be joined by Mikel Azcona and Gábor Kismarty-Lechner in a three-car lineup.[16]

Jean-Karl Vernay switched from W Racing Team to Team Mulsanne, which run a single Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR.[18]

Vuković Motorsport joined the grid running a single Renault Mégane R.S. TCR for Jack Young.[2] Aurélien Comte later replaced Young from the Slovakia Race onwards, thereby switching from DG Sport Compétition to Vuković Motorsport.

Calendar

A provisional calendar was released on 5 December 2019.[33]

The 2020 championship was contested over 16 races in six rounds in Europe.[34] The season was originally planned to be contested over 20 races in 10 rounds, but this changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[35]

RoundRaceRace NameCircuitDateSupporting
11Oscaro Race of Belgium The Circuit Terlamen Zolder, Heusden-Zolder12 SeptemberTCR Europe Touring Car Series
Cup & Tourenwagen Trophy
Dutch Truck Racing Championship
213 September
23DHL Race of Germany Nürburgring Nordschleife, Nürburg24 September24 Hours Nürburgring
ADAC Formula 4 Championship
425 September
35Race of Slovakia Automotodróm Slovakia Ring, Dunajská Streda District10 OctoberFIA Swift Cup Europe
Inter Cars Mazda MX-5 Cup
611 October
7
48Oscaro Race of Hungary Hungaroring, Mogyoród17 October FIA European Truck Racing Championship
918 October
10
511Race of Spain MotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz31 OctoberF4 Spanish Championship
Renault Clio Cup Spain
121 November
13
614Race of Aragón MotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz14 NovemberPure ETCR (presentation event)
1515 November
16
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
width=5px RaceRace namewidth=25% CircuitOriginal dateOriginal supportingwidth=25% Notes
align=center colspan="2" Race of Morocco Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan5 April
align=center colspan="2" Race of Portugal Circuito Internacional de Vila Real21 June
align=center colspan="2" Race of China Ningbo International Circuit6 September
align=center colspan="2" Race of Austria Salzburgring12 September
align=center colspan="2" Race of Korea Inje Speedium18 OctoberPure ETCR (demo event)
align=center colspan="2" Race of Italy Adria International Raceway15 November
align=center 2020align=center Guia Race of Macau Guia Circuit, Macau22 November2020 F3 Macau Grand PrixThe 2020 edition was instead held as part of the 2020 China TCR championship, supporting the 2020 China F4 championship Macau GP
align=center colspan="2" Race of Malaysia Sepang International Circuit, Sepang13 December

Rule changes

Technical changes

Sporting changes

Results

RaceRace NamePole PositionFastest lapWinning driverWinning teamRookie WinnernowrapWTCR Trophy WinnerReport
1 Race of Belgiumnowrap Néstor Girolaminowrap Néstor Girolaminowrap ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsportnowrap Gilles Magnusnowrap Tom CoronelReport
2nowrap Nathanaël Berthonnowrap Nathanaël Berthonnowrap Yann Ehrlachernowrap Cyan Racing Lynk & Conowrap Gilles Magnusnowrap Gilles Magnus
3 Race of Germany Yann Ehrlacher Esteban Guerrieri ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Gilles Magnus Tom CoronelReport
4 Néstor Girolami Yann Ehrlacher Yann Ehrlacher Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Bence Boldizs Jean-Karl Vernay
5 Race of Slovakia Nathanaël Berthon Thed Björknowrap Nathanaël Berthon Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport Gilles Magnusnowrap Nathanaël BerthonReport
6 Mikel Azcona Tom Coronel Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport Gilles Magnus Tom Coronel
7 Nathanaël Berthon Nicky Catsburg Nicky Catsburgnowrap Engstler Hyundai N Liqui Moly Racing Team Gilles Magnus Nathanaël Berthon
8 Race of Hungary Esteban Guerrieri Norbert Michelisz Esteban Guerrieri ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Luca Engstler Jean-Karl VernayReport
9 Norbert Michelisz Yann Ehrlacher Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Bence Boldizs Jean-Karl Vernay
10 Esteban Guerrieri Tiago Monteiro Esteban Guerrieri ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Gilles Magnus Jean-Karl Vernay
11 Race of Spain Norbert Michelisz Gilles Magnus Jean-Karl Vernay Team Mulsanne Gilles Magnus Jean-Karl VernayReport
12 Nathanaël Berthon Mikel Azcona Zengő Motorsport Services KFT Gilles Magnus Nathanaël Berthon
13 Gilles Magnus Thed Björk Thed Björk Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Gilles Magnus Nathanaël Berthon
14 Race of Aragón Santiago Urrutia Mikel Azcona Esteban Guerrieri ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Gilles MagnusReport
15 Yvan Muller Yvan Muller Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Jean-Karl Vernay
16 Santiago Urrutia Santiago Urrutia Santiago Urrutia Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Jean-Karl Vernay

Championship standings

Scoring system
Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th  11th  12th  13th  14th  15th 
Qualifying 1 & 354321colspan=10
Race252016131110987654321
Scoring system for WTCR Trophy
Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  FL 
Qualifying 11colspan=5
Race1085311

Drivers' championship

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center"
valign=middlevalign=middleDriverBEL
GER
SVK
HUN
ESP
ARA
valign=middle  
1 Yann Ehrlacher7112312971123181161265622234
2 Yvan Muller8425271481342972147414195
3 Jean-Karl Vernay57963314493513Ret6582235194
4 Esteban GuerrieriRet131543711711131091Ret18188
5 Gilles Magnus103437Ret7423515101432851349172
6 Santiago Urrutia634Ret101515874Ret232391NC11169
7 Mikel Azcona1611Ret484562Ret4545175335168
8 Nathanaël Berthon9141121211Ret21121111124444NC83148
9 Thed Björk22Ret424191615101212Ret71211764142
10 Néstor Girolami156111518†DNS3Ret341011Ret2RetDNS137
11 Tom Coronel456585616411171319†Ret8121515117
12 Attila Tassi320Ret3311RetDNS558621713Ret10810100
13 Norbert Michelisz118DNPDNP10610221510611516165793
14 Gabriele Tarquini1515DNPDNP25RetRetNC187545315Ret1379
15 Tiago MonteiroRet198913917†1449231412Ret20†101179
16 Luca Engstler1210DNPDNPNC1098Ret1689Ret13111459
17 Nicky Catsburg149DNPDNP17251353
18 Bence Boldizs1717101321†13NC166179DNS1517Ret1635
19 Aurélien Comte1612121719†19RetNCRet14121717
20align=left nowrap Gábor Kismarty-Lechner191811142017161916211817†13Ret141917
21 Josh Files1614109
22 Mitchell Cheah181320†4
23 Nico Gruber1814203
24 Jack Young20†21†RetDNS0
align=center colspan=33Wildcard entries ineligible for points
Luca Filippi181612RetRet131315Ret912
Petr Fulín181114
Nicolas Baert151611
Dylan O'Keeffe1312
José Manuel Sapag20151819RetDNS
valign=middlevalign=middleDriverBEL
GER
SVK
HUN
ESP
ARA
valign=middle  
† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.

Teams' championship

TeamBEL
GER
SVK
HUN
ESP
ARA
1 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co687112312971123181161265622429
1008425271481342972147414
2 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport29156111518†DNS3Ret341011Ret2RetDNS325
86Ret131543711711131091Ret18
3 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co1122Ret424191615101212Ret71211764311
12634Ret101515874Ret232391NC11
4 Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport179141121211Ret21121111124444NC83265
31456585616411171319†Ret8121515
5 Zengő Motorsport Services KFT551717101321†13NC166179DNS1517Ret16185
961611Ret484562Ret4545175335
99191811142017161916211817†13Ret1419
6 ALL-INKL.DE Münnich Motorsport9320Ret3311RetDNS558621713Ret10810179
18Ret198913917†1449231412Ret20†1011
7 BRC Hyundai N Lukoil Squadra Corse1118DNPDNP106102215106115161657172
301515DNPDNP25RetRetNC187545315Ret13
8 Engstler Hyundai N Liqui Moly Racing Team81210DNPDNPNC1098Ret1689Ret131114128
27181320†
40161410
88149DNPDNP172513
97181420
Single Car & Wildcard entries ineligible to score points
Team Mulsanne25181612RetRet131315Ret912
6957963314493513Ret6582235
Comtoyou Racing15151611
16103437Ret7423515101432851349
Vexta Domy22181114
Vuković Motorsport720†21†RetDNS
331312
341612121719†19RetNCRet141217
Target Competition2820151819RetDNS
valign=middlevalign=middleTeamvalign=middleBEL
GER
SVK
HUN
ESP
ARA
valign=middle  

† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.

Rookies' championship

DriverBEL
GER
SVK
HUN
ESP
ARA
1 Gilles Magnus101417Ret171231151014318513149410
2 Luca Engstler12210DNPDNPNC310982Ret16829Ret1331114243
3 Bence Boldizs17417101321†213NC16161793DNS15172Ret16236
4 Nico Gruber183142045
5 Mitchell Cheah1841320†31
6 Jack Young20†321†RetDNS211
DriverBEL
GER
SVK
HUN
ESP
ARA

WTCR Trophy

Eligible for drivers racing without manufacturer support.[41]

DriverBEL
GER
SVK
HUN
ESP
ARA
1 Jean-Karl Vernay5796314491351Ret68123121
2 Gilles Magnus10147Ret7231510143185349101
3 Nathanaël Berthon914121211Ret212111112444NC894
4 Tom Coronel4658161611171319†Ret812151580
5 Bence Boldizs1717101321†13NC166179DNS1517Ret1628
6 Aurélien Comte1612121719†19RetNCRet14121713
7 Gábor Kismarty-Lechner1918111420171619162118†17†13Ret14198
8 Jack Young20†21†RetDNS0
DriverBEL
GER
SVK
HUN
ESP
ARA

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hyundai confirm Michelisz, Tarquini, Catsburg and Engstler. 16 March 2020. TouringCarTimes. TouringCarTimes. 16 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Vuković Motorsport brings Renault to 2020 grid. 4 September 2020. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 4 September 2020.
  3. Web site: Aurélien Comte replaces Jack Young in Slovakia at Vuković Motorsport. 7 October 2020. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 7 October 2020.
  4. Web site: Mitchell Cheah replaces Nicky Catsburg for Aragón finale. 10 November 2020. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 10 November 2020.
  5. Web site: Josh Files replaces Nicky Catsburg who has tested positive for COVID-19. 29 October 2020. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 29 October 2020.
  6. Web site: Nico Gruber replaces Nicky Catsburg for Hungaroring. 13 October 2020. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 13 October 2020.
  7. Web site: Honda re-sign Guerrieri, Girolami, Monteiro and Tassi. 10 January 2020. TouringCarTimes. TouringCarTimes. 10 January 2020.
  8. Web site: Münnich Motorsport reveal 2020 driver pairings. 2 June 2020. TouringCarTimes. TouringCarTimes. 2 June 2020.
  9. Web site: Cyan Racing confirm Thed Björk but Andy Priaulx stands down. 15 June 2020. TouringCarTimes. 15 June 2020.
  10. Web site: Santiago Urrutia completes Lynk & Co Cyan Racing line-up. 28 July 2020. TouringCarTimes. 28 July 2020.
  11. Web site: Yvan Muller, Yann Ehrlacher confirmed with Lynk & Co Cyan Racing. 26 March 2020. TouringCarTimes. 28 March 2020.
  12. Web site: Gilles Magnus joins WTCR grid with Comtoyou Racing. 7 July 2020. TouringCarTimes. TouringCarTimes. 7 July 2020.
  13. Web site: Nathanaël Berthon secures WTCR return with Comtoyou. 5 June 2020. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 5 June 2020.
  14. Web site: Showman the number: Coronel goes for 500 in WTCR 2020. 3 March 2020. Eurosport. Eurosport. 3 March 2020.
  15. Web site: Zengő Motorsport confirm WTCR return with two-car programme. 30 May 2020. TouringCarTimes. TouringCarTimes. 30 May 2020.
  16. Web site: 2020-08-28. Zengő adds Mikel Azcona in expanded three-car line-up. 2020-08-28. TouringCarTimes. en-US.
  17. Web site: Team Mulsanne confirm two-car WTCR return for 2020 season. 20 August 2020. TouringCarTimes. TouringCarTimes. 20 August 2020.
  18. Web site: Jean-Karl Vernay lands Team Mulsanne WTCR seat. 26 August 2020. TouringCarTimes. TouringCarTimes. 26 August 2020.
  19. Web site: Nicolas Baert joins MotorLand Aragón grid as wild card. 27 October 2020. TouringCarTimes. TouringCarTimes. 27 October 2020.
  20. Web site: 2020-10-01. Petr Fulín joins Slovakiaring grid as wild card. 2020-10-01. TouringCarTimes. en-US.
  21. Web site: Luca Filippi to make WTCR debut at Zolder. 9 September 2020. TouringCarTimes. TouringCarTimes. 9 September 2020.
  22. Web site: 2020-09-29. José Manuel Sapag joins Target Competition for TCR Europe and WTCR outings. 2020-09-29. TouringCarTimes. en-US.
  23. Web site: 2020-10-13. José Manuel Sapag confirmed for wild card entry in Hungary and Italy. 2020-10-13. TouringCarTimes. en-US.
  24. Web site: Dylan O'Keeffe joins WTCR grid for Zolder season opener. 6 September 2020. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 6 September 2020.
  25. Web site: Münnich Motorsport confirm expansion to four cars. 2020-03-05. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 2020-03-05.
  26. Web site: Volkswagen cancels TCR programme to focus on electrification. 2019-11-22. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 2019-12-13.
  27. Web site: Sébastien Loeb Racing confirm WTCR exit. 2020-01-31. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 2020-01-31.
  28. Web site: Audi confirm WTCR exit for 2020. 2019-12-11. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 2019-12-13.
  29. Web site: WRT to end World Touring Car Cup, TCR Europe programmes. 2019-12-09. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 2019-12-13.
  30. Web site: Lynk & Co Cyan Racing confirm continued four-car programme. 13 March 2020. TouringCarTimes. 13 March 2020.
  31. Web site: Cupra rule out WTCR involvement for 2020 season. 3 April 2020. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 3 April 2020.
  32. Web site: Cupra confirm new León Competición TCR for 2020 WTCR grid. 14 May 2020. TouringCarTimes. 14 May 2020.
  33. Web site: Aragón, Inje-Speedium confirmed on 2020 WTCR calendar. 2019-12-05. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 2019-12-05.
  34. Web site: Adria joins six-event revised WTCR calendar in Europe only. 28 May 2020. touringcartimes.com. Touring Car Times. 28 May 2020.
  35. Web site: Marrakech season opener dropped with Salzburgring as replacement. 2020-02-05. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 2020-05-29.
  36. Web site: Weight rule change and rookie category introduced for 2020. 2019-12-05. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 2019-12-05.
  37. Web site: Goodyear named new WTCR tyre supplier. 2019-12-20. TouringCarTimes. en-US. 2019-12-20.
  38. Web site: WTCR announce fewer races and cost cutting measures. 2020-02-18. TouringCarTimes. 2020-02-20.
  39. Web site: 8 June 2020. Single car, full season entries invited for 2020 World Touring Car Cup. 8 June 2020. TouringCarTimes.
  40. Web site: 2020-06-22. New WTCR Trophy introduced for 2020 season. 2020-11-15. TouringCarTimes. en-US.
  41. Web site: Rodgers. Richard. WTCR TROPHY. 2020-09-22. FIA WTCR World Touring Car Cup. en-US. 2020-09-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20200926115854/https://www.fiawtcr.com/wtcr-trophy/. dead.