Following the recent announcement that the TC3 International Series will be taking to racetracks worldwide in 2015, the experienced Touring Car racing promoter Marcello Lotti will join the company for the opening season.
The highly-respected Italian is clearly excited at the prospect of being involved in the first year of the new series and gave his view of how it will look.
Q: What is the idea behind the TC3?
ML: "This new concept has come about as a direct result of the experiences faced by the different national Touring Car championships. There is a strong demand for competitive cars that can be purchased and run at reasonable costs."
Q: What sort of cars are we talking about?
ML: "There is one car that already meets all criteria I’ve mentioned: the single-make trophy SEAT León. It has already proved to be the perfect customer racing car, launching a number of young drivers to successful careers in national, regional and even world championships. A number of manufacturers have cars that are potentially eligible for TC3; to mention only a few others, there are Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, Ford Focus RS, Honda Civic Type-R, Mercedes CLA 45 AMG, Opel Astra OPC and the Volkswagen Golf GTi. All these models are, by their very nature, suitable to answer the need."
Q. What are the aims of the series?
ML: "TC3’s biggest aim will be to reinforce the Touring Car category, recreating the basis of the ‘Touring Car Pyramid’ through a worldwide racing product. The Technical Regulations have been conceived to provide close, exciting racing and these Regulations will be further leveled by a Balance of Performance system. As a result, I think manufacturers and tuners will be able to reinforce and enlarge their customer racing communities and teams and drivers will be given the opportunity to grow and gain experience within Touring Car racing."
Q: Can you go into detail about the 2015 TC3 International Series yet?
ML: "The TC3 International Series will be awarding one Drivers’ title and one Teams’ title, whilst participation will be limited to eight teams, in order to achieve a maximum of twenty-four cars. Further details will be given in due course."
