Race preview: WTCR stars aim to be the best in Alsace GrandEst

It’s one untried track to another in the all-action WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup. Following its first visit to Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi earlier this month, the exciting series is set for its next mission of discovery at Circuit de l’Anneau du Rhin, venue of the inaugural WTCR Race of Alsace GrandEst from August 5-7. Located equidistant between the cities of Colmar and Mulhouse, Anneau du Rhin has a foot in the present and past with the Alsace GrandEst region of north-eastern France not only home to the 3.620-kilometre track, but also to the famous Bugatti sportscar brand.

Indeed, Caroline Bugatti, the granddaughter of Ettore Bugatti, is on the circuit’s board of directors. Ad/> The significance of Alsace GrandEst in the motoring and motorsport industries goes much further, however. As well as being home to Bugatti, a PSA manufacturing plant operates in the region and helps to provide some of the 35,000 jobs available in the automotive industry to the local population.

And when it comes to motorsport, nine-time FIA World Rally champion Sébastien Loeb, plus multiple FIA World Touring Car title winners Yann Ehrlacher and Yvan Muller were all born and raised in Alsace. Ehrlacher’s mother Cathy, Yvan’s sister, was also a successful racing driver in her own right. WTCRMedal chance for WTCR drivers at FIA Motorsport GamesYESTERDAY AT 04:02 “With Yvan we are really proud to represent Alsace and to have a race here is absolutely incredible,” said Ehrlacher, the back-to-back FIA WTCR title winner.