The FIA European Touring Car Cup will change format from next year, switching from a one-off event at the end of the season to a four-event series.
The new format has been approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, as well as the 2010 calendar.
2010 FIA European Touring Car Cup – calendar
28 March Portugal
6 June Germany
11 July Austria
17 October Italy
Thanks to James Thompson victory in the Super 2000 Cup, but also to the points collected by Harry Vaulkhard in the Bamboo Engineering Chevrolet, Great Britain was awarded the Nations’ Cup.
Thompson (3rd and 1st) and Vaulkhard (5th and 6th) together collected 23 points over the two races in Braga; Germany and Hungary were classified second (with 16 points) and third (14 points) respectively.
James THOMPSON: After qualifying eighth I had few hopes to win today. Being sixth on the grid with a SEAT turbodiesel far ahead was not encouraging. I thought that I could maybe finish in the top three of the first race and then try everything in the second. And it worked, although a lot of credit for this goes to my engineer who led me towards the right tyre choice.
James Thompson completed a fantastic recovery in the second race, claiming victory and the Super 2000 cup.
After finishing third in Race 1, Thompson saw his chances nearly jeopardised by a first lap pile up at the start. He managed to rejoin, but only in eighth position, while the reigning S2000 champion Michel Nykjćr had to retire.
Norbert Michelisz claimed a serious stake on the 2009 FIA European Touring Car Cup by obtaining a lights to flag victory in Braga’s first race. The young Hungarian gave a convincing proof of maturity, managing to handle his SEAT León TDI car fitted with rain tyres on a track that was drying up quickly and also resisting the pressure from experienced BMW man Franz Engstler.
Norbert MICHELISZ (SEAT León TDI) – Pole position in Super 2000
“These were not easy conditions to drive the turbo diesel car. Before the qualifying I was hoping for a dry track, but it’s ok, I managed to claim pole position and I’m very happy. Honestly I did not expect such a result, because you have to be used to this car before being able to take the most out of it - especially in the wet."
