eTouring Car World Cup (ETCR): 2021-2022
The first serious attempt at a proper EV touring car championship arrived in 2021, with the launch of PURE ETCR; or as it would be known in its second season, the eTouring Car World Cup (ETCR). Originally announced in 2018, the series took a while to launch in part due to supply problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Three brands were represented: Cupra, Hyundai and the independent Romeo Ferraris Alfa Romeo team. MG had been strongly rumoured as a fourth manufacturer, but this never materialised.
Capable of a peak output of around 670hp, paired with rear-wheel drive and a kerb weight in excess of 1500kg, the ETCR cars weren't the easiest to handle. This added to the championship's appeal; it was very apparent how hard the drivers had to work to hustle the cars, and often the racing was classic tin-top action.
By far the biggest hurdle for the series however, was its format. This changed between the two seasons, but the key fact was that, at most, there were only ever six cars on track at the same time. 12 drivers contested each round, with the field split into two groups of six. Drivers were paired up and shared a car with one of their teammates from the other group; as there were only two examples of each car actually present at each round.
Understandably, this was a hard sell for fans. A confusing format that required a powerpoint to explain adequately, and a maximum of six cars on circuit at a time, saw the championship dismissed as gimmicky. Low viewership wasn't a great sign, but seemingly out of nowhere it was announced in 2023 that the series would not be continued due to disagreements behind the scenes with the promoters.
It was a disappointing end to a championship that had genuine potential. The ETCR regulations produced interesting cars that, while in need of some refinement, certainly provided exciting racing. Each team brought some serious driving talent to the table as well, and had a more traditional format been introduced the series could well have enjoyed a bright future. But as things stand, ETCR will simply be a footnote in the adoption of electric technology in touring car racing.