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WTCC picks Nurburgring Nordschleife race format

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Antoine Cremer
The World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) will do two three-lap races, next year on the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife.

The initial plan to stage a one-hour race on the 26-kilometre loop was scrapped because WTCC promoter Francois Ribeiro feared the field would spread to much.

So a two-race format, with no repair time between back-to-back contests, was adopted.

"Qualifying will decide the grid for race one," Ribeiro is quoted saying by Autosport.

Nurburgring Nordschleife
The Nordschleife is a thrilling but challenging place to stage a race because it is so long it can almost be considered a rally stage (Photo: FIA WTCC)

"It will be a reversed-grid for race two, either reversing the top-10 from race one or from Q2, this has to be discussed at the next Touring Car Commission meeting on October 30.

"But it will be a super-quick starting procedure, no VIPs on the grid, five minutes and then we'll race again."

Furthermore, Ribeiro expects to see Nordschleife experts join the field.

"Some teams will try to find the best solution," he said. "It's good, as that will likely bring a bit more 'Germany' onto the WTCC grid."

Antoine Cremer
Antoine Cremer
Automotive expert