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The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has launched a global online survey, inviting motorsport enthusiasts to share their views on the future direction of international touring car racing, as reported by respected motorsport outlet Racer.
Motorsport's world governing body has begun shaping the new technical regulations for its premier international touring car category. The FIA aims to strike the right balance between accessible budgets and close relevance to road cars, all while preserving the core DNA of the discipline: demanding machinery to drive and fiercely competitive on-track action.
"The FIA is seeking the perspective of touring car fans at a time when we are laying the foundations for the next generation of touring cars," said Alan Gow, President of the FIA Touring Car Commission and Chief Executive of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). "Fan input will ensure that future cars remain relevant and appealing. The ultimate goal is to maintain—and even enhance—the close, dynamic racing on track while exercising strict financial control over costs."
Survey respondents have the opportunity to outline what makes touring car competition so unique, as well as which race formats deliver the highest levels of excitement and drama. This approach ensures the sport's roadmap is guided by the very people who have fueled its popularity over the years.
"The future of touring car racing should not be decided solely by officials, manufacturers, and teams, but also by the fans in the grandstands and watching at home," said Marek Nawarecki, FIA Senior Circuit Sport Director. "As the governing body, we want to hear directly from the fans. This survey offers them a unique opportunity to help shape the future of this exciting racing category."
A turbulent 21st century for touring car racing
International touring car racing has weathered a turbulent journey since the demise of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) at the end of 2017. The world championship originally ran for a single season in 1987 before shifting to a European format. Following the Touring Car World Cup in 1993, 1994, and 1995, the global series officially returned in 2005. It enjoyed a 13-season run before spiraling costs and dwindling manufacturer involvement brought about its end.
In 2018, the championship was rebranded as the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR), adopting the cost-effective TCR regulations used in numerous regional and national championships worldwide. However, WTCR folded at the end of 2022, making way for the TCR World Tour, which subsequently struggled for widespread television exposure and saw its popularity decline.
Among national series, the BTCC has remained a standout success story, having implemented its Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) regulations in 2011. Built around turbocharged engines and common components, NGTC succeeded the Super 2000 and BTC-T eras that followed the prohibitively expensive, yet legendary, Super Touring era of the late 1990s. While the BTCC enjoyed capacity 32-car grids in the mid-2010s, rising budgets have gradually trimmed field sizes, with 23 cars—almost entirely run by independent outfits—lining up this season.
The Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC), formed in 2011 via a merger of the Swedish and Danish championships, has experienced similar turbulence. Initial plans to introduce NGTC were disrupted by a breakaway series, the TTA Racing Elite League, which ran V6 silhouette prototypes. The STCC later adopted TCR regulations before a recent push toward an all-electric format fell flat. From next season, the series will adopt GT4 machinery, following a path similar to Germany's DTM, which abandoned its bespoke, high-cost silhouette cars in favor of customer GT3 regulations.
The FIA's global fan survey remains open until October 25. Fans can take part and cast their votes here.
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