US Touring car series vs Euro Touring Car
06-03-2010, 11:52 AM
#16
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If anything, Trans-Am in the US is the series that could have been similar to BTCC and other Touring Car series.
06-03-2010, 11:55 AM
#17
+popularity. WTCC & BTCC are huge in their markets, where conti and SWC are more or less an enthusiast thing. I mean, eurosport airs practice and qualifiying for WTCC live. There are a lot of people tuned in, and for good reason, as they are massively exciting to watch.
06-03-2010, 04:30 PM
#19
It's not just BTCC and WTCC.
The touring car scene in Europe has a complete ladder from Junior Touring Cars, Spec. Series and equivalents all the way up to WTCC (and some cases DTM). So there is a career to be done from perhaps when you're 15 until you retire. The further up you go, the higher budget and more skills are needed. It also can make it easier to work with sponsors who can start at a lower level and follow drivers for example or expose themselves to the right region. All this is regulated fairly similar across the countries and supported my the major manufacturers motorsport divisions.
I don't know if equivalent ladder exists in the U.S?
The touring car scene in Europe has a complete ladder from Junior Touring Cars, Spec. Series and equivalents all the way up to WTCC (and some cases DTM). So there is a career to be done from perhaps when you're 15 until you retire. The further up you go, the higher budget and more skills are needed. It also can make it easier to work with sponsors who can start at a lower level and follow drivers for example or expose themselves to the right region. All this is regulated fairly similar across the countries and supported my the major manufacturers motorsport divisions.
I don't know if equivalent ladder exists in the U.S?
06-03-2010, 04:50 PM
#20
Formula One Spin Doctor
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It's not just BTCC and WTCC.
The touring car scene in Europe has a complete ladder from Junior Touring Cars, Spec. Series and equivalents all the way up to WTCC (and some cases DTM). So there is a career to be done from perhaps when you're 15 until you retire. The further up you go, the higher budget and more skills are needed. It also can make it easier to work with sponsors who can start at a lower level and follow drivers for example or expose themselves to the right region. All this is regulated fairly similar across the countries and supported my the major manufacturers motorsport divisions.
I don't know if equivalent ladder exists in the U.S?
The touring car scene in Europe has a complete ladder from Junior Touring Cars, Spec. Series and equivalents all the way up to WTCC (and some cases DTM). So there is a career to be done from perhaps when you're 15 until you retire. The further up you go, the higher budget and more skills are needed. It also can make it easier to work with sponsors who can start at a lower level and follow drivers for example or expose themselves to the right region. All this is regulated fairly similar across the countries and supported my the major manufacturers motorsport divisions.
I don't know if equivalent ladder exists in the U.S?
06-03-2010, 04:59 PM
#21
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Magnus, that's the core of the issue, we just don't have the structure here, somewhat in open wheel but that evaporated and it is just a huge jump from club racing to a pro level. And with NASCAR being the 800 lb gorilla in the room and open wheel all but imploding over recent years club racing to Koni(Conti) to grand am to alms it's not a logical or linear progression. And without the structure the courses are hard to develop which makes it difficult to develop a fan base. In Europ your practically tripping over some fantastic local tracks that put some of the best in the states to shame. And with the NASCAR monsters vested interest in many of the tracks here it's tough. They killed an Indy street race here in phx, flat out to eliminate competition. On a positive note I do think thst road racing is gaining popularity here in the states, just needs a bit of an organizational push.
06-03-2010, 05:30 PM
#22
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Is that really the case? In the limited traveling I've done in Europe, I don't remember tripping over road courses as I traveled along. It would seem surprising that with increased development regulations, and limited open land, that there would be an abundance of tracks.
06-03-2010, 06:32 PM
#23
Magnus, that's the core of the issue, we just don't have the structure here, somewhat in open wheel but that evaporated and it is just a huge jump from club racing to a pro level. And with NASCAR being the 800 lb gorilla in the room and open wheel all but imploding over recent years club racing to Koni(Conti) to grand am to alms it's not a logical or linear progression. And without the structure the courses are hard to develop which makes it difficult to develop a fan base. In Europ your practically tripping over some fantastic local tracks that put some of the best in the states to shame. And with the NASCAR monsters vested interest in many of the tracks here it's tough. They killed an Indy street race here in phx, flat out to eliminate competition. On a positive note I do think thst road racing is gaining popularity here in the states, just needs a bit of an organizational push.
Is that really the case? In the limited traveling I've done in Europe, I don't remember tripping over road courses as I traveled along. It would seem surprising that with increased development regulations, and limited open land, that there would be an abundance of tracks.
However, it seems like some of the major investments done lately are in expansion markets like the Gulf and South East Asia. But with the economy going bust, I'm not sure how these will develop.
06-03-2010, 06:35 PM
#24
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Is that really the case? In the limited traveling I've done in Europe, I don't remember tripping over road courses as I traveled along. It would seem surprising that with increased development regulations, and limited open land, that there would be an abundance of tracks.
06-04-2010, 10:32 AM
#25
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What NASCAR could have been? You might want to check your history as to how NASCAR got started. It never even started down a path anywhere close to a Touring Car series. Besides, NASCAR is more successful than any Touring Car series in the world.
If anything, Trans-Am in the US is the series that could have been similar to BTCC and other Touring Car series.
If anything, Trans-Am in the US is the series that could have been similar to BTCC and other Touring Car series.
But I am not a historian and don't claim to be one, just a man with an opinion.
