The opening round of the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) will be broadcast live on the BBC digital services this weekend, representing a significant new deal for the Discovery-promoted championship.
The news comes after the BBC and Discovery, which owns Eurosport, recently signed a £300 million deal to sell the BBC’s programmes to a new global streaming service, representing ‘the largest content deal the BBC has ever done’.
All three races will be shown live on the BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport website and app this weekend, with race one getting underway at 16:30 BST on Saturday followed by races two and three at 16:30 to 19:00 BST on Sunday.
“This is the best possible news for me, as there is nothing better than going into your first race in a series and know that your family, friends and fans can watch what is happening via the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app,” said Andy Priaulx, three-time WTCC champion.
“This can only help raise the profile of everyone involved in the championship and well done to WTCR promoter Eurosport Events for pulling off such a coup.”
Scot Gordon Shedden, a three-time BTCC champion, remembers watching touring car racing on the BBC when it was part of the flagship ‘Grandstand’ programme.
“I remember as a kid watching Grandstand on a weekend,” said Shedden. “That’s what brought touring car racing into the public eye in the UK, it brought touring cars to life.
“The BBC is truly global and it’s great to have coverage on there. It’s iconic and it’s great to be a part of it.
“They’re going to see some of the most fantastic touring car racing in the world from the street races in Marrakech. It’s something for everybody and a global formula with plenty of recognisable names. There are three brits, we’ve all won championships and we’re all fighting proudly for Britain.”
François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, the Discovery-owned promoter of WTCR, welcomed the announcement.
“With three championship-winning British drivers on the grid, it’s really good news that fans living in the UK will get another outlet on which to watch live coverage of the season-opening races in Morocco.”
All coverage will also be shown on the online Eurosport Player service, as usual.