WTCC introduces Tour De France style time trials for 2016
The FIA World Touring Car Championship organisation has introduced a Tour De France style time trial format for the 2016 season named MAC3, Manufacturers Against the Clock.
“MAC3 will drive more value to WTCC factory teams, it will enhance the spectators’ experience after Qualifying, it will increase broadcast volume, it will offer new stories to media and will introduce a true collective effort parameter into the WTCC Manufacturers’ Championship title, which is a very positive value for a brand,” said Francois Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events.
MAC3 will be held after the Q3 session in qualifying where three drivers from each manufacturer takes part.
The clock starts when the first car crosses the starting line from a standing start and stops when the final car has completed the required number of laps.
10 kilometers must be completed on all tracks except for the Nürburgring Nordschleife where one lap must be completed.
The fastest combined time of a manufacturer will score 10 points to the manufacturers’ championship, with eight points to second and all the way down to one point to sixth position.
MAC3 will be started in reverse championship order, meaning that the lowest placed team will drive the time trial first with their cars and the championship leaders last.
”Every manufacturer competing in FIA world championships will tell you that the most important title to bring home is the manufacturers’ world title. Paradoxically, the drivers’ title always gets the most media exposure. MAC3 is designed to promote the WTCC Manufacturers’ Championship title in a different way and widen its appeal so that it becomes a bit more than the addition of the two best results from the drivers in each race, and a points classification at the end of each race,” said Ribeiro.
The time trial is only open to manufacturer supported entries, meaning for example that the privately entered Chevrolet Cruze drivers will not get to take part.
“MAC3 intends to raise the value of the WTCC Manufacturers’ title, so it will be restricted to manufacturers registered with the FIA for the WTCC. Still, factory teams will have the opportunity to appoint any driver they want, official or privateer, as long as they drive for the same brand. Nothing would prevent Citroën Racing from offering that opportunity to its privateer driver Mehdi Bennani at his home race in Marrakech, for example,” said Ribeiro.
