Photo: WTCC Media

WTCC organisers delighted with Nürburgring success

The organisers of the WTCC are delighted with the achievement with the first event at the Nürburging Nordschliefe, tackling the challenge of broadcasting from the 25km race, using skills from the FIA ERC team as well as the local Wige media team that broadcast the Nürburgring 24 hours.

Reigning champion José María López won the first race, which saw drama on the opening lap and then a race long battle between Nordschleife experts Sabine Schmitz and Jaap van Lagen for the final points position, while race two saw an epic last lap battle, with López snatching second from the two Hondas just before the final corner.

“I have been saying over the winter that bringing the WTCC on this circuit could potentially produce the most stunning touring car programme that has ever been produced over the last 30 years. Certainly it is the best touring car programme we’ve produced as far as the WTCC is concerned,” said WTCC General Manager Francois Ribeiro to TouringCarTimes.

“Some of the shots were absolutely brilliant, the Flugplatz zoom in, the way one of the helicopters was swooping in super low to get the speed. The co-production we’ve had between Eurosport Events and Wige has worked really well, and that makes me very confident that this event will become mega in the coming years for the WTCC.”

The last lap battle between López, team-mate Ma and the two Hondas brought to life the final lap, with the chase helicopter following López’s Citroën C-Elysée along the Döttinger Höhe straight as he grabbed second, weaving in-between the two factory Honda Civics.

“It could have been a procession, but this is very important, because at the end of the day, you can spend millions in TV production, but if the racing is boring, your TV programme is boring. What’s important here is that we’ve massively invested in TV production, and we have been helped by the super quality of racing, which makes a perfect programme.”