The 2022 ETCR season kicks off at Pau Ville
The 2022 ETCR eTouring Car World Cup season starts this weekend at the Pau Ville street circuit, with the all-electric series running under the FIA umbrella for the first time.
The series, born as PURE ETCR for its debut season in 2021, will again feature entries from Cupra, Hyundai and Romeo Ferraris, all of whom have sharpened their spears to provide a strong grid ready to do battle for championship honours.
“What, in 2021, were highlights, I think are going to be the norm this season,” said Cupra technical director Xavi Serra to TouringCarTimes. “The level is very high, there will be more door-to-door battles and this high-level driving will also level the competition.”
The ETCR will continue dividing the action into two pools, “Fast” and “Furious”, with an initial draw allocating the drivers into the groups. Each group will have two free practice sessions, two qualifying events and two quarter finals.
Then there will be two super finals, leading to the last super finale of each group. Each session from qualifying onwards will allocate points.
Strong line up
Cupra starts the season as defending champions, with the cars moving from Zengo Motorsport to EKS, the team owned by the drivers’ reigning champion Mattias Ekström – who again leads the Spanish manufacturer’s challenge. Long term Cupra driver Jordi Gené stays with the team, which welcomes Adrien Tambay and Tom Blomqvist to the series.
If Cupra’s line up is impressive, Romeo Ferraris – racing the self-developed Alfa Romeo Giulia ETCR – hasn’t held back, with the Italian squad re-signing Luca Filippi and also welcoming former DTM, GT and sportscars drivers Maxime Martin and Bruno Spengler. Giovanni Venturini, who is better known for racing in single seaters and GTs so far in his career, will make his touring car debut.
Hyundai Motorsport has also reinforced its challenge for 2022, retaining 2021 runner-up Jean-Karl Vernay, whose only official appointment for this season will be ETCR. The Korean manufacturer also welcomes 2019 WTCR champion Norbert Michelisz and ex-Cupra man Mikel Azcona, who has switched manufacturers for the new season.
“The Veloster is very different from the Cupra e-Racer but, together with JK, we have worked on what we both know and we think the car is better prepared for this season,” said Azcona.
Nicky Catsburg and Kevin Ceccon will alternate at the wheel of the fourth Veloster N ETCR, with the Italian taking the first turn at Pau.
“Between the three manufacturers we have a line-up of proven professionals with an impressive track record in touring car and sportscar racing who will make the FIA ETCR one of the strongest touring car series out there,” said FIA Touring Car Comission president Alan Gow.
2022 FIA ETCR eTouring Car World Cup entry list
#1 – Mattias Ekstrom – Cupra EKS – Cupra eRacer
#5 – Norbert Michelisz – Hyundai Motorsport N – Hyundai Veloster N ETCR
#7 – Bruno Spengler – Romeo Ferraris – Giulia ETCR
#10 – Tom Blomqvist – Cupra EKS – Cupra eRacer
#21 – Giovanni Venturini – Romeo Ferraris – Giulia ETCR
#25 – Luca Filippi – Romeo Ferraris – Giulia ETCR
#27 – Adrien Tambay – Cupra EKS – Cupra eRacer
#28 – Jordi Gene – Cupra EKS- Cupra eRacer
#31 – Kevin Ceccon – Hyundai Motorsport N – Hyundai Veloster N ETCR *
#36 – Maxime Martin – Romeo Ferraris – Giulia ETCR
#69 – Jean Karl Vernay – Hyundai Motorsport N – Hyundai Veloster N ETCR
#88 – Nicky Catsburg – Hyundai Motorsport N – Hyundai Veloster N ETCR *
#96 – Mikel Azcona – Hyundai Motorsport N – Hyundai Veloster N ETCR
* – Ceccon and Catsburg will share a car with the exact schedule for the two drivers to be confirmed
Revised calendar
The series has a seven-round schedule, visiting two street circuits at Pau Ville and Istanbul, and also several traditional permanent tracks.
Out of the seven races, six take place in Europe, with the season finale taking place at the Inje Speedium circuit in Korea in October.
FIA ETCR eTouring Car World Cup calendar:
6-8 May – France, Circuit de Pau Ville
20-22 May – Turkey, Istanbul City Circuit
10-12 June – Hungary, Hungaroring
17-19 June – Spain, Jarama
8-10 July – Belgium, Zolder
22-24 July – Italy, Vallelunga
7-9 October – Korea, Inje Speedium
Start at Pau Ville
The Pau Ville street circuit featured on the WTCC schedule from 2007 to 2009, and welcomes international touring car action for the first time in 13 years, with an emphasis in sustainability for the future.
“Motor racing, and the Grand Prix in particular, is part of the identity of the city of Pau,” said François Bayrou, Mayor of Pau. “By showcasing forms of low or zero-emission motorsport, like FIA ETCR, we can continue to evolve and develop our event here in a way that promotes the decarbonisation of mobility.”
The 2.760-km track is located in the heart of the town, featuring a fast area heading to and including the main straight, combined with long curves a two hairpins. The cars going into the first free practice session on Friday will set the first benchmark for an electric touring car around the French track.
ETCR Pau Ville schedule
Friday 6th of May
11:50: Pool Fast free practice
15:20: Pool Furious free practice
19:40: Pool Furious night free practice
20:15: Pool Fast night free practice
Saturday 7th of May
8:00: Pool Fast qualifying 1 – 500kW
8:25: Pool Fast qualifying 2 – 500kW
10:55: Pool Furious qualifying 1 – 500kW
11:20: Pool Furious qualifying 2 – 500kW
16:45: Pool Fast quarter final 1 – 300kW
17:01: Pool Fast quarter final 2 – 300kW
20:15: Pool Furious quarter final 1 – 300kW
20:31: Pool Furious quarter final 2 – 300kW
Sunday 8th of May
8:05: Pool Fast semi final 1 – 300kW
8:21: Pool Fast semi final 2 – 300kW
10:30: Pool Furious semi final 1 – 300kW
10:48: Pool Furious semi final 2 – 300kW
14:16: Super final Pool Fast – 300kW
18:51: Super final Pool Furious – 300kW
