Photo: WTCC Media

TOCA could run in the 2015 Guia Race of Macau

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Teams and drivers from the British Touring Car Championship could be competing in this year’s Macau Grand Prix weekend, which would see them tackle the Chinese special administrative region’s circuit, instead of the expected TCR International Series event.

“The bosses at Macau have been in touch with TOCA. They are looking at various options, and the BTCC cars are one of those options,” said BTCC series director Alan Gow to Motorsport News.

“They asked me if teams would be interested so I got in touch with the teams and most of them said yes.”

“The reaction has been positive, but I think they will only bring a handful of cars.”

Should the teams from the BTCC compete, it will not form part of the British Touring Car Championship calendar, but would function as a standalone event. The framework for the cars competition will be as a national class TCN-1 car, with the BTCC technical blueprint, formerly known as NGTC (Next Generation Touring Car), recently ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council as the recognised top tier of national touring car.

The new-for-2015 TCR International Series, promoted by WSC Ltd., has also been linked to the event, with them expected to set it up as their season finale, taking the reins from the FIA World Touring Car Championship, which after ten years has moved its season finale to a night race at Losail, Qatar for this year.

Although WSC Ltd. have not officially confirmed their plan for their season finale, which is still listed as TBA in their calendar, the date for that finale is listed as November 22nd, which the same date as this year’s Macau Grand Prix. The event is expected to double up with the TCR Asia Series to provide the new Asian championship with a season finale as well.

Whether TCR and the event for BTCC cars would both be possible during the weekend is unclear. A number of TOCA officials assist with the running of the Macau Grand Prix weekend every year, while WSC Ltd. boss Marcello Lotti also worked with the Macau Grand Prix Committee during his nine-year tenure as General Manager of the WTCC.