FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) 2007
Races 1 & 2 - 10/11 March 2007 - Preview
World Touring Car Championship 2007 starts this weekend
in Curitiba.
This weekend Brazil's "Autódromo Internacional
de Curitiba "provides the setting for rounds 1 and 2
of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). Once again
the drivers of the BMW national teams will be joining the
line-up in the BMW 320si WTCC - the car that helped Andy Priaulx
(GBR) of BMW Team UK to victory in the driver's championship
last year as well as earning BMW the manufacturers' title.
This year 32-year-old Priaulx is aiming to leave the final
in Macau with a title hat-trick - but his team-mates won't
be making life easy for him as he tries for a repeat performance
of 2005 and 2006. Jörg Müller (GER) and Augusto
Farfus (BRA), both representing BMW Team Germany, came second
and third overall last year and are strong contenders for
victories in the new season. The same goes for Alessandro
Zanardi (ITA) of BMW Team Italy Spain, who will be looking
to climb further up the rankings, while his new team-mate,
rookie Félix Porteiro (ESP(, is keen to perform as
strongly as his BMW colleagues.
BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen:
"This is the first time the World Touring Car Championship
season is starting overseas. We are getting really excited
about the start of the season, because after all, we have
both the manufacturers' and the drivers' titles to defend
this year. So we have a real challenge ahead of us. Last year
the BMW 320si WTCC was the best basic car in the world championship,
and in 2007 we want to make sure it stays that way. The cars
in the World Touring Car Championship are not only very similar
to the series product, they are derived from it. BMW's long
series of victories proves our competence, and our customers
appreciate that."
Andy Priaulx (BMW Team UK):
"I am really pleased that the new season is finally about
to begin. On the flight back home from Macau after I won last
year's title, my thoughts were already turning to 2007. It
doesn't make any difference whether you have already won two
world championships or not - race drivers always want to win.
That's not just true of me, it's the same for all of the drivers
in the series. So it is going to be another thrilling season,
and I am confident that the BMW Team UK will provide the best
possible car for me so I make it to the top."
Jörg Müller (BMW Team Germany):
"I finished the season 2006 with a victory in Macau and
I am convinced that we have a strong enough package to be
up at the front right from the word "go" this year.
I am aiming to make it difficult for Andy Priaulx to win his
third title. But I am also going to do everything in my power
to achieve another victory for BMW in the manufacturers' championship.
I am more motivated than ever. The race calendar is very varied
and I am especially looking forward to the street circuits.
But first of all I need to get off to a good start in Curitiba."
Augusto Farfus (BMW Team Germany):
"Of course, the fact that I am starting my first season
with the BMW family in my home town of all places is really
special, so I am really looking forward to it. Curitiba is
a fairly fast circuit, which basically suits my driving style
very well. I wasn't on pole there for nothing in 2006. The
S bend in the middle section of the track presents a particular
challenge, but I am optimistic that we will make a good go
of it as we start the season."
Alessandro Zanardi (BMW Team Italy-Spain):
"In a way my two races in Curitiba in 2006 were indicative
of how the whole season went: I was fast all weekend, but
in the qualifying I made a mistake, so when it came to race
I was right at the back of the starting grid. But I still
made it onto the podium in the second race. For 2007 I have
decided I am going to make more out of my opportunities and
I am going to take advantage of all the chances I can get.
Last year we didn't know what to expect from Curitiba, but
this year the very fact that the race is the start of the
season makes it something really special."
Félix Porteiro (BMW Team Italy-Spain):
"I can hardly wait to compete in my first WTCC race at
last! In 2006 when I was driving in the European Touring Car
Cup in Estoril I got a taste of what it feels like to be duelling
door on door against strong competitors. This is my first
world championship season, so the first thing I have to do
is to get to know my BMW 320si WTCC inside and out. If the
opportunity arises for me to get up on the podium, I would
like to be there to take it."
History and background:
Last year the first half of the WTCC season ended dramatically
in Curitiba after a series of accidents meant the second race
had to be red-flagged. Luckily for BMW, Andy Priaulx was able
to celebrate his fourth victory of the season while Alessandro
Zanardi joined an impressive chase for third. The 40-year-old
also achieved the fastest lap in front of 34,000 spectators.
After 2006, this year sees the "Autódromo Internacional
de Curitiba" making its second appearance on the WTCC
calendar, taking over from Monza as the venue for the opening
race of the season. The Brazilian event is the only world
championship stop in South America.
The city of Curitiba has 1.6 million inhabitants and is the
capital of the Brazilian federal state of Paraná. Located
some 340 km from São Paulo, it was founded in 1693
by Portuguese settlers and is now the most advanced of all
Brazil's major cities.
The two WTCC races cover 14 laps each, although a change
in the starting procedure means that the first race of the
day will have a "rolling start" scheduled for 12.20
local time on Sunday (16.20 hrs CET). Race two (starting at
15.20 hrs local time, 19.20 hrs CET) continues to have a standing
start. Eurosport will be providing live coverage of the events.
All drivers will be starting the Curitiba race with a basic
weight handicap of 10 kg.
Facts and figures:
Circuit / Date
Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba / 11 March 2007
Lap / total distance
3.695 km/51.73 km (14 laps)
Winner 2006
Race 1: Jordi Gené (SEAT)
Race 2: Andy Priaulx (BMW)
Pole position 2006
Augusto Farfus (Alfa Romeo, 1:24.761 minutes)
Fastest laps 2006
Race 1: Jordi Gené (SEAT, 1:25.604 minutes)
Race 2: Alessandro Zanardi (BMW, 1:26.069 minutes)
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