The World Touring Car Cup deserved better than to bow out under a safety car at its Jeddah finale on Sunday, but that’s the hand that was dealt to a series that just couldn’t catch a break in 2022. A growing accumulation of bad luck, thorny problems without obvious answers and manufacturer apathy led to the WTCR’s demise, as French-based promoter Discovery Sports Events pulled the plug early on its deal with the FIA after five years running to the TCR rulebook, from what grew out of its old World Touring Car Championship.
As a certain other World Cup rumbled on over the border in Qatar, the first international tin-top races to be held in Saudi Arabia were marked by a mix of emotions: joy for deserving new champion Mikel Azcona, whose title was confirmed in the middle of qualifying on Saturday; frustration for hero to zero race one winner Nathanael Berthon, his stranded Audi the cause of the anti-climactic race-two safety car following the Frenchman’s collision with the returning Rob Huff; and sadness that a decent, highly competitive series has ended.
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