Niek Oude Luttikhuis first confirmed for ETC Cup

Dutch driver Niek Oude Luttikhuis is the first driver to confirm his participation in the 2011 FIA European Touring Car Cup at the Salzburgring next month in the Super Production class.

The ETC Cup is back to a single round event for this season, after being run as a three event series for the first time in 2010. There are still three separate classes open to compete in: Super 2000, Super 1600 and Super Production.

Last year, the European Touring Car Cup was won by British driver James Thompson in a Honda Accord Euro-R run by Hartmann Honda Racing for the second consecutive year.

The Super Production class was won by Vojislav Lekic in a Honda Civic Type-R, though only two drivers competed in the ‘SP’ class in 2010.

“Last year, I wanted to race in the ETCC event at the Salzburgring already, but it didn’t materialise,” said Oude Luttikhuis.

“This year, however, I want to be on the grid no matter what. My entry has already been submitted.”

Oude Luttikhuis will compete with his own team, co-founded in 2000 with Mike Kremer called Pro East Racing.

The car he will compete in is also from 2000; A Mitsubishi Carisma 1.8GDI which competed in the Dutch Touring Car Championship in 2000, before spending two years in the British Touring Car Championship’s Production Class with teams Cranfield Automotive Management and TH Motorsport.

Oude Luttikhuis purchased the car a few years ago, and the car has been rebuilt for it’s debut in the European Touring Car Cup on July 24th in Austria.