WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti is not concerned about the departure of Chevrolet from the WTCC. The head of KSO said “This is motorsport! Manufacturers come and go.”
Chevrolet’s decision to leave the WTCC after eight years of competition, made unusually in the summer break, means the level of competition between the manufacturers next season looks unclear.
What was set to be a 2013 season with Chevrolet vs. an all new Honda team is now just an all new Honda team, with other works programmes perhaps to be announced soon, and the independent programmes not usually confirmed until after Christmas.
“This is motorsport! Manufacturers come and go,” said Lotti. “It happens to all the series every now and then, but life goes on. We now say goodbye to Chevrolet that has been a precious partner for what’s an unusually long period for a motorsport programme, but at the same time we welcome Honda’s arrival and are in negotiations with a few other car makers interested to join.”
Commercial owner Eurosport Events has added its thanks to Chevrolet for its commitment to the Championship, and wishes the outgoing US manufacturer well.
We thank Chevrolet for supporting the WTCC over the last eight years,” said Eurosport Events MD Olivier Fisch. “They joined from day 1 after they decided to make Chevrolet a global brand outside the US. They have been consistent, successful and actively used WTCC international platform to activate their network and build-up the brand profile. We very much mutually benefited from each other. We fully respect their decision and will keep on developing WTCC as an efficient promotional platform.”
