Iaphet Elli The ninth
meeting of the 2014 FIA World Touring Car Championship
will take place
at Beijing’s Goldenport Motor Park, China on October 5.
The FIA World
Motor Sport Council has ratified Eurosport Events’ request to replace the WTCC
Race of USA by a new event in China (*), due to logistics issue caused
by the cancellation of the vessel that was scheduled to leave Oakland’s
harbour on September 17, transporting cars and parts to Shanghai. The next
vessel, leaving on September 21, would not arrive at Shanghai until
October 9, not allowing enough time for teams to prepare for the event
on October 12.
WTCC logistic
partner and Eurosport Events could not find a suitable sea freight
solution.
François
Ribeiro, director of operations Eurosport Events: “We had to face a logistic
challenge and after consulting WTCC stake holders, we went through
all possible scenarios, including date change or air freight, but we came to the
conclusion that keeping Sonoma on schedule was not viable.Chinese Touring Car
Championship promoter, our partner in China, has quickly reacted to change its
CTCC schedule and put together an alternative event at Beijing, the week before
Shanghai. This will not only allow WTCC to race in the two main provinces of
China, and keep raising WTCC profile in the most important car market in the
world, but will also simplify logistics and save budget for the
teams.”
Xia Qing, CTCC
promoter commented: “CTCC and WTCC are matching well together to run join7
events. Beijing Goldenport is different from Shanghai International Circuit. It
will offer Chinese motorsport fans compact and intense touring car races. It
will also be interesting to see former CTCC driver, Ma Qing Hua, competing on
his home soil with the top WTCC drivers. His first WTCC victory at Moscow has
created significant amount of interest in China.”
Steve Page,
Sonoma Raceway President and General Manager commented: “We are sorry to
miss the terrific on-track action that the WTCC has brought to Sonoma the last
two years, but wish the best everyone involved with the series as they pursue
this new schedule.”
(*) subject
to the ASN’s approval
