Yokohama will provide a prize-fund of €165,000 for the fourth annual FIA European Touring Car Cup (ETCC), which will take place at the Salzburgring, Austria, on 18 and 19 October 2008.
Fifteen nationalities will take part in the meeting, with manufacturers represented by 10 different marques, all equipped with Yokohama ADVANs. The drivers will compete for four different titles during two back-to-back 50 km races: the FIA Drivers’ ETCC Super 2000, FIA Drivers’ ETCC Super Production, FIA Drivers’ ETCC Super 1600 and the FIA Touring Car Nations Cup.
Yokohama will present the Yokohama Super 2000 Trophy, with a total prize-fund of €125,000 awarded to the top 12 drivers. The Japanese tyre company will also present the Yokohama Super 1600 and Yokohama Super Production Trophies, where a further €40,000 will be awarded to the drivers at the front of their class.
The ETCC attracts drivers from the different national touring car championships that adopt FIA technical regulations. Amongst the 33 drivers who have entered the ETCC is Franz Engstler; the 47-year-old is currently fourth in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) Yokohama Independents’ Trophy standings.
“Yokohama ADVANs are extremely robust and although the Salzburgring is fairly fast with some winding sections, the tyres will be more than comfortable on the track,” said Yokohama Technical Consultant Ian Beveridge. “The ADVANs have been tested to the extremes, particularly due to their use in the WTCC, so we are confident that they will easily deliver their usual performance at the Austrian circuit.”
The ETCC, which has been running since 2005, has already seen Denmark’s Michael Nykjær (2007), Great Britain’s Ryan Sharp (2006) and Sweden’s Richard Göransson (2005) secure the ETCC Super 2000 Drivers’ Classification titles.
Eurosport’s ETCC coverage begins on Sunday 19 October with Race 1 shown live on Eurosport International at 12:00 (CET) followed by Race 2 at 18:40 (CET).
Salzburgring track factsLength of circuit 4.225 kmRace distance 50.700 km (12 x 4.225 km)S2000 lap recordsQualifying – 16 September 2006 1:30.063/170.08 kph, Stefan Kissling (Opel Astra GTC)Race – 17 September 2006 1:30.990/168.35 kph, Stefan Kissling (Opel Astra GTC)
