Fifteen registered entries were received for the championship. Regulations imposed by last minute series promoter Bernie Ecclestone dictated that for teams to receive official points and prize money they must have paid the US$60,000 registration fee. This in fact saw a number of the top teams, most notably Tom Walkinshaw Racing who had been the team to beat in the 1984, 1985 and 1986European Touring Car Championships, refuse to pay and virtually ignore the championship.
Although numerous other entries competed in races during the season only the following were eligible to score championship points. Ironically, two outright race winning teams in the championship were not eligible for championship points. Cars competed in three engine capacity divisions:
Note: "Overall winner" in the above table refers to the overall race winner and "Winner championship" refers to the highest placed entry which had been registered for the championship.
Note: Race placings in the above table refer to the relative placings gained by registered championship entries and does not include other competitors.
Point system: 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 awarded to the top ten finishers for both outright and divisional results. Therefore, a driver could be awarded up to 40 points in a race. Points were only allocated to drivers of cars registered for the World Championship.
Point system: 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 awarded to the top ten finishers for both outright and divisional results. Therefore, an entry could be awarded up to 40 points in a race. Points were allocated only to entries which were registered for the World Championship.