The European Touring Car Championship, or also European Touring Car Championship, was the benchmark for touring car motorsport in the 70s and 80s.
In the 1970s, the works teams of BMW, Ford, and Alfa Romeo engaged in legendary racing battles, even enlisting numerous Formula 1 driver greats such as Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda, and Ronnie Peterson, among others.
The origins of European touring car racing date back to 1963, when the FIA, under the leadership of Willy Stenger, launched the „European Touring Car Challenge.“ At that time, vehicles competed according to FIA Group 2 regulations, allowing a wide range of models – from the small Fiat 600 and Mini to the stately Jaguar Mark 2 and Mercedes-Benz 300 SE – to race on Europe's most famous circuits.
Photos: Slickpix Archive, Marcel Hundscheid, Christoph Caspary
After several rule adjustments and a renaming to the „European Touring Car Championship“ (ETCC) in 1970, the series continued to evolve. Despite the challenges of the oil crisis and fluctuating participant numbers, the series remained a cornerstone of motorsport, captivating with its diversity and competitive spirit. The participation of GT vehicles and the return of factory teams starting in 1977 added new luster to the series.
From 1982 to 1988, the ETCC was contested for touring cars under Group N and Group A regulations.
With the „ETCC 70s Revival“, the racing series aims Fast Seventies and 1300 ETC In 2026, we will commemorate this touring car motorsport wedding together at selected events. The plan is for two 25-minute races to be held at the events, preceded by two 20-minute qualifying sessions.
This gives teams that share a vehicle between two drivers the opportunity for each driver to participate in a qualifying session and a race.
The racing series Fast Seventies and 1300 ETC represent the entire spectrum of the ETCC's golden age with their starting grids – from the small 1000 Abarth, the Mini Cooper, and Ford Escort BDA, to the BMW CSL Coupé and Porsche 911 Carrera RSR.
If you also own a race car from the ETCC era, you are most welcome to participate in the ETCC Revival!
Finished:
- April 24-26, 2026 – Spa Summer Classic
- August 28-30, 2026 – Classic GP Assen