BMW boss keen on "Champions League" format for Class 1
BMW motorsport boss Jens Marquardt says he isn't sold on the idea of the WTCC switching to Class 1, instead preferring a "Champions League" type format among the series running under those regulations.
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
The Class 1 regulations, which will expand on current DTM and Super GT regulations to provide a joint platform for the two categories, are to arrive in 2019 - and the WTCC is also evaluating a switch to the ruleset.
Asked by Motorsport.com what he thought of the possibility of the WTCC taking on the same regulations, Marquardt said he would prefer to see something akin to European football's Champions League, a competition featuring lead teams from national championships.
"We've always said that the Class 1 ruleset is extremely good. I think we should go for a Champions League kind of format to top it all," he said.
"It would be nice if we were able to do something in America, too. But this is difficult. We're working closely together with our Japanese colleagues to try and get the rulesets even more together for 2019. We have postponed the new engine until then. This is a possibility. But a World Championship?"
BMW has been a key player in the early years of the new-era WTCC, the Bavarian marque winning three manufacturers' titles and three drivers' titles with Andy Priaulx between 2005 and 2007.
Marquardt, however, says he does not think an FIA-sanctioned World Championship for touring cars will be the best fit for manufacturer involvement in the future.
He explained: "At the moment, the DTM can still be improved - but it's a great basic platform for Germany and Europe, which works very well. In Japan, we have Super GT, which is working very well. In the USA, we have IMSA, which is working very well. For all those markets it's important to have races there. Then you can use the events to generate something.
"At the moment I see F1 as a world championship that works fine still. WEC is developing. But a world championship for touring cars... WTCC has had problems for years. I'm not so sure this is a good idea for the future.
"I'm more of a fan of the Champions League idea. Also, it's better to go international but with local outfits in local championships. For example, we go to Australia and race in the Australian championship with an Australian team. Then the market can use this.
"I don't have to have one team and a car, with which I travel the whole world. Because some markets require more than one race in their region and a world championship doesn't give you that."
Additional reporting by Stefan Ehlen
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