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FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 27 – 28th July
2005
JÖRG MÜLLER TOPS TESTING, ZANARDI ROLLS
With his last lap of 2:34.055, Jörg Müller emerged
as the fastest in the extra testing session authorized by
the FIA to ensure there were no problems with the cars following
the long journey back to Europe from Mexico.
Priaulx also had his best time on the final lap, he was
5th fastest while fellow BMW driver, Dirk Müller took
third spot. The three BMW 320i drivers were divided by the
Alfa Romeo cars of Farfus and Tarquini in 2nd and 4th spots
respectively. Farfus had a spell at the top but finished with
a best time just 0.387 seconds behind Jörg.. Gené
was the quickest of the SEAT cars with the sixth fastest lap
and Larini (13th) headed the Chevrolet team.
Ayari and his Peugeot had their first taste of the FIA WTCC,
cautiously completing seven laps, while Michael Funke did
not take part in the session, his Ford Focus stopped by an
engine problem. D’Aste was 11th fastest overall with
a lap in 2:36.632 making him the quickest driver in the Independents’
Trophy.
The session was scheduled to be 30 minutes long, however
after Zanardi rolled his car at Pouhon, red flags were issued
and five minutes were lost. The Italian driver, who was uninjured,
exited the car unaided: “I went too wide and the car
skid sideways; hit the tyre barrier and rolled. It is very
badly damaged, and we are not sure it is repairable.”
TOURING CAR BUREAU’S LATEST DECISIONS
The Touring Car Bureau has modified the minimum weight of
the front-wheel drive cars, previously it had been reduced
by 20 kg from the third event of the season in Silverstone.
For the meeting in Spa, the front-wheel drive cars will only
benefit from a reduction of 10 kg on their minimum weight
of 1140 kg, driver included. However, the Bureau has also
granted an extra 10 kg reduction to the Ford Focus and the
Chevrolet Lacetti cars, confirming what had already been decided
in the eve of the latest meeting in Puebla; meaning they have
a total minimum weight reduction of 20 kg.
PEUGEOT TEAM AIMING FOR A TOP-TEN RESULT
Jean-Michael Pialot, Team Coordinator of Peugeot Sport Denmark
is confident the Peugeot 407 driven by Soheil Ayari can make
an impact on the FIA WTCC field at Spa this weekend.
Despite rain hindering the test session in Magny-Cours earlier
this month, Pialot believes they have a good enough car and
the racing knowledge to be among the top ten. He commented,
“I think we should be competing with the works teams
as we have had great backing from Peugeot in Denmark, however,
the FIA WTCC is notoriously competitive so it is going to
be a learning experience for us here at Spa.”
FIA WTCC DRIVERS JOINED FIA GT COLLEAGUES IN SPA
FIA World Touring Car Championship drivers took part in
the traditional parade organised in the town centre of Spa
by the promoter of the 24 Hours of Francorchamps, together
with their fellow FIA GT colleagues. Five touring cars, representing
Alfa Romeo, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford and SEAT, where exhibited
alongside the grand touring cars in the garden in front of
the Casino square, where the drivers met the public in a crowded
autograph session.
MAN OF THE WEEK: MARC HENNERICI
23 year old Marc Hennerici of Wiechers-Sport has led the
Independents Trophy from the start of the season at the wheel
of his BMW 320i car. But with Tom Coronel closing the gap,
how does Marc feel about the next half of the season?
What do you expect from Spa? “I come from near the
Nürburgring and the make up of the Spa track is similar
so in a way it is my home race. It’s my dream to win
there.” You know the tracks of Spa and Oschersleben,
how much of an advantage will that be?
“I didn’t know the five tracks
we have raced on and yet I am leading. Therefore because now
we go to places I know and therefore I expect a lot from those
two events.” Now Tom Coronel is challenging
you for the Championship, how confident are you of victory?
“I’m very optimistic. However, Tom is a tough
competitor. My aim is to win the Independent Trophy and all
the team are working hard to make it happen.”
FLASH NEWS
MÄKELA: Valle Mäkelä is back
at the wheel of the second GR Asia SEAT Toledo car, after
he had been replaced by Carlos Mastretta in Imola and Puebla.
Last weekend the young Finn managed to win a race of the national
Legends series in Seinäjoki.
THEY SAID: QUOTE OF THE WEEK Paul Ridgway,
Team Manager GR Asia: “I have a race of my own this
weekend – a race against time. As soon as the pit lane
closes for the start of the second race, I have to catch a
private plane home because my daughter is getting married
in Shropshire. I am giving her away so being late isn’t
an option. I just hope it is not ‘mission impossible.”
OFFICIAL FIGURES
Drivers who have passed scrutineering: 27 Represented countries:
11 Represented Manufacturers: 7
FIA WTCC TIMETABLE – SPA, 29th and
30th July
Friday 09.00 – 09.30 Free practice Saturday 08.35 –
08.50 Warm-up 11.30 – 12.00 Free practice 12.10 Race
1 15.30 – 16.00 Qualifying 13.20 Race 2
TV COVERAGE FROM SPA (Central European Time)
Friday, 29th: FIA WTCC Magazine – repeat EUROSPORT,
08.30/09.00 Qualifying – highlights EUROSPORT, 22.00/22.15
Saturday, 30th: Warm up – LIVE EUROSPORT, 08.30/09.00
Races 1 & 2 – LIVE EUROSPORT, 11.50/14.00 Races
1 & 2 – LIVE RTL TVI, 11.50/14.00 Races 1 &
2 – LIVE SPORTITALIA, 11.50/14.00
Thursday, 4th: FIA WTCC Magazine EUROSPORT, 19.00/19.30
Friday, 5th: FIA WTCC Magazine – repeat EUROSPORT,
09.00/09.30
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