In the off-season, there were a number of significant announcements.

• After a five-year run, the marketing relationship with Castrol ended and the series did not have a title sponsor.
• For the first time, the Canadian Touring Car Championship would be competing at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant.
• The championship would make their second visit to Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, but this time it was during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. Toronto would be dropped from the 2012 calendar.
• Also, the Canadian Touring Car management introduced a new class – B-Spec.
• Finally, in June, a new weekly 30-minute show called, ‘This is Canadian Touring Car’ would appear on Sportsnet One featuring series personalities.

This 2012 schedule consists of eight race weekends at six different tracks. The format at each venue includes two races – generally, thirty-minutes in length. As has become tradition, the season kicks off on the Victoria Day long weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Next on the calendar was the series’ first of two visits to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve during the Grand Prix of Canada weekend. Two weeks later, teams were at ICAR for rounds five and six. This is followed by the championship’s first visit to Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant. The second and final stop at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park was conducted during the American Le Mans Series weekend. The next two events would be held in Quebec. First up is the series only stop on the street circuit at Trois-Rivieres, followed the NASCAR weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Series champions will be crowned when teams visit Calabogie Motorsports Park on the Labour Day weekend.

In 2012, there were three classes. To help fans distinguish between the groups, the cars are fitted with different coloured windshield banners.

• B-Spec – (White Window Banner) – B-Spec became the Canadian Touring Car Championship’s entry-level category. As a result, all adjustments made to a vehicle must be within the manufacturer’s specifications. Brake pads and rotors may be changed, but they have to retain the original dimensions. The maximum wheel size is 15X7 fitted with Continental 205/50R15 tires. There was an extensive list of cars that qualified for this class – Mazda 2, Mini Cooper, Honda Fit, Chevrolet Sonic, Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris.
• Touring - (Blue Window Banner) – Vehicles competing in this class are allowed a minimal amount of performance enhancements. This group is limited to a maximum engine displacement of 2.0-liters. The suspension components are unrestricted, but vehicles have a minimum ride height of three inches. Brake pads and rotors may be changed, but they have to retain the original dimensions. The maximum wheel size is 17X8 fitted with Continental 225/45R17 tires. Manufacturers represented in this group include the Mini Cooper S, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Sentra and Acura Integra.
• Super Touring – (Orange Window Banner) - Super Touring is the series fastest class. This category allows engine modifications and aerodynamic enhancements. The maximum engine displacement for this group is 3.0-liters. The suspension components are unrestricted, but vehicles are required to have a minimum ride height of four inches. Unlike the other two classes, the brake components are not subject to any restrictions. The maximum wheel size is 17X9 fitted with Continental 225/45R17 tires. Manufacturers competing in the group include BMW, Subaru, Honda, Pontiac and Hyundai.

The first two rounds of the Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Continental Tires were held at the newly renamed Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on the Victoria Day long weekend. There were two thirty-minute races conducted Saturday and Sunday around the ten-turn 2.459-mile road course.