FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 23 – 1st July 2005
NEXT STOP: BELGIUM
From the shortest racetrack to the longest one. From Puebla
Amozoc (3.0 km) on the Mexican highland, to Spa-Francorchamps
(7.0 km) in the Belgian forest of the Ardennes. After its
first overseas event, the FIA World Touring Car Championship
is heading back to Europe for rounds 11 and 12 that will take
place on Saturday 30th July. And the fight for both, the Drivers’
and the Manufacturers’ titles, is more open then ever.
Despite a disappointing Mexican weekend, that left him scoreless,
BMW’s Dirk Müller has retained his leadership in
the Drivers’ Championship.
However his competitors have managed to closed the gap on
him. Fabrizio Giovanardi – currently the man in the
best shape – is only two points behind, while Andy Priaulx,
Antonio García and Gabriele Tarquini have 5, 8 and
9 point gaps respectively. With 20 points to be awarded in
the Belgian meeting, three other drivers have theoretical
chances to aim for the lead: Rickard Rydell (14 pts behind),
James Thompson (15 pts) and Augusto Farfus (18 pts).
In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Alfa Romeo and
BMW have a joint lead at 129 points, with SEAT third, 31 points
behind.
PUEBLA: A SUCCESSFUL EVENT
The meeting in Mexico was a crucial one for the newborn
FIA WTCC, as it not only decreed the championship’s
globality, but also took place on a race track that nobody
knew and that had been extensively rebuilt.
“I am pleased that we have sorted out all organisational
and logistical issues, respecting the plans and making the
races happen without technical problems,” commented
Marcello Lotti, General Manager of KSO.
“We have to acknowledge the efforts
put up by the event promoters. Not only did they responded
effectively to all the requests in terms of organisation and
facilities, but also invested in a huge promotional campaign.
And this resulted in a sell-out on the race day and massive
attendance from the media, with more than 250 people accredited.
An excellent beginning, with an aim to do even better next
year.”
KSO Chairman Jacques Behar added: “We wish to thank
our main sponsor LG, and the car Manufacturers for their support,
which has made possible to achieve such a success on our first
event outside Europe.”
BACK TO EUROPE BY SEA AND AIR
The FIA WTCC cars and parts are already on their way back
to Europe. Most of the load was shipped back yesterday from
Veracruz, on board the Mexican cargo ship ‘Yucatan’,
that is due to dock on the 18th of July in Antwerp, where
all the teams will collect their own items.
However, six cars are flying back to Stuttgart, where they
will be delivered this weekend. These are the five damaged
in the incidents that happened in Puebla – Jörg
Müller’s BMW, Adriano De Micheli’s Honda,
Nicola Larini’s Chevrolet and the Alfa Romeo cars of
James Thompson and Gabriele Tarquini – plus Robert Huff’s
Chevrolet, that the team will use for a test in view of Spa.
ATTENDANCE ON SITE INCREASED BY
52 %
Official figures of on site attendance point out a drastic
increase compared to last year’s FIA European Touring
Car Championship.
The 71,000 spectators who attended the Mexican weekend elevated
the total number to 196,000 in five events, meaning an impressive
average of 39,200 per meeting. And an increase of 51.9 % compared
to 2004.
MAN OF THE WEEK: ROBERT HUFF
Rob Huff is Chevrolet’s youngest driver. At Puebla
he finished Race 1 in 6th position giving them their first
Driver’s points and more valuable manufacturers points.
How was Race 1? “Brilliant, but very hard work. I was
pushed all the way and had some great battles. There was always
overtaking going on and so my result was satisfying.”
And Race 2? “A disappointment. When I was chasing Coronel
I think a radiator hose burst and I slipped off on my own
water.”
How are Chevrolet progressing? “It’s amazing:
we started the season in the 20th position mark and five rounds
later we qualified ninth and through the discrepancies of
others ended up 6th on the grid. Everything is going in the
right direction.”
What do you expect from Spa? “It’s
a circuit with very long straights and this could be a problem
as we are down on power compared to the others. However, chassis
and brakes are working well and the suspension is fantastic,
so you never know.”
FIA EUROPEAN TOURING CAR CUP IN VALLELUNGA
Wedenesday in Paris, the FIA World Motor Sport Council has
ratified that the maiden edition of the FIA European Touring
Car Cup will take place at Vallelunga, Italy, on October 16th.
Competitors from at least ten different European countries
are expected to take part in the event that will award two
different FIA Cups, one for Super 2000 and one for Super Production
cars.
The FIA ETC Cup will be the first international
car racing event held on the revised Vallelunga racetrack.
The circuit, located 40 km north of Rome, is currently being
extended from 3.2 to 4.2 km, with the addition of a new section
between the Cimini 2 and Trincea bends. The works are due
to be finished by the end of August.
FLASH NEWS LACKO IS BACK: Adam Lacko, the
young Czech who impressed on his first apperances in Monza
and Magny-Cours, will re-join in Spa at the wheel of a BMW
320i run by Crawford racing on behalf of the IEP Team.
THEY SAID: QUOTE OF THE WEEK Mexican newspaper
La Afición, Monday 28th June: “Fully packed grandstands
and two spectacular races. It’s enough for the FIA to
be satisfied with the first visit paid by the World Touring
Car Championship to Mexico. Before the event there were many
speculations about what these cars might do. However none
of them were close to the fantastic show staged by the drivers
and their cars.”
COUNTDOWN: - 29 DAYS
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