The FIA World Touring Car Cup will feature different eligibility criteria for its WTCR Trophy ranking for independent drivers in the forthcoming season.
The classification, introduced for 2020, is defined as a commercial award, and as such is not administered by the FIA, but rather by promoter Discovery Sports Events.
The award is designed to reward those drivers who compete in the series without the backing of a manufacturer’s customer racing department.
As such, the eligibility of drivers will be decided by Discovery Sports Events and its decision will be final.
In 2021, three drivers contested the full season of WTCR trophy events, with Comtoyou Racing’s Gilles Magnus emerging as the champion.
Only five drivers were eligible last year, reducing to three for the final four events after Andreas and Jessica Bäckman withdrew from the series.
Whilst wildcard entries were not eligible previously, for 2022 they will be able to score points in the overall Trophy ranking. The award, which was previously closed to former World Touring Car Champions, is now open to all independent drivers irrespective of former titles.
In an effort to boost the profile of the award, for 2022 it will be split into two halves of the season. WTCR Trophy Europe will cover the first six events, whilst details of an additional WTCR Trophy to cover the season-closing events will be announced later.
The events covered by the latter trophy have not been defined, but the final four events will take place in Russia, South Korea, China and Macau.
Magnus won last year’s title, and the 22-year-old Belgian has now been awarded with factory Audi Sport backing for 2022.
2021 Trophy winner Jean-Karl Vernay has also gone on to once again secure factory backing, being signed by Hyundai ahead of the 2021 season.
“The WTCR Trophy is a great initiative to have a series within a series,” said Magnus. “Because the level is really high with the big guys it’s almost impossible to compete against them in your first year.
“So it’s good to have this series for the young drivers and it proves you can become a professional if you do well in the WTCR Trophy. I did everything I could to win the WTCR Trophy.
“My goal ever since I started my career was to be with a brand like Audi Sport, it’s such a famous name and it makes this reward ten times better.
“I cannot put my emotions into words, but it’s just great and this adventure is only just starting.”
The WTCR season gets underway at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic on 9 – 10 April 2022.