FIA WTCC MACAU - TEST SESSION
Weather: sunny, with a dry track.
ANDY PRIAULX POSTS FASTEST TIME
The final event of the FIA WTCC season has begun as the field
completed a 30 minute testing session. For many drivers it
was their first outing on the streets of Macau but the experience
of Andy Priaulx, Jörg Müller and Tom Coronel showed
as they posted the best times.
Jörg and Priaulx were constantly switching positions
as the fastest driver in their BMW cars. Jorg’s best
time was 2:35.368 but Priaulx went 0.876 of a second faster
on his last lap to take top spot at 2:34.492. Coronel was
among the quickest drivers for the entire session in his GR
Asia SEAT. His time of 2:35.529 was third fastest overall
and by far the best in the Independents’ category.
Local driver, André Couto completed the fourth fastest
time for Alfa Romeo. With five minutes remaining, fellow Alfa
man, Fabrizio Giovanardi set a lap in 2:36.491 but then crashed
at the Dona Maria bend. His time however, was sixth fastest
overall.
Jordi Gené headed the SEAT Sport drivers with the
fifth best time while Rickard Rydell was 8th overall. Chevrolet
were represented in the top ten with Nicola Larini’s
time of 2:36.491 placing him 7th. Michael Funke achieved the
14th quickest lap in his Hotfiel Sport Ford Focus.
The quickest of the Asian Touring Car Championship drivers
was Engstler Motorsport’s Peter Scharmach who was 19th
overall; his team-mate Paul Poon was the only one of the 31
drivers not to take part in the test, due to electronic problems.
OFFICIAL FIGURES
Drivers who have passed scrutineering: 31 Represented countries:
11 Represented Manufacturers: 7
DRIVERS’ QUOTES
Andy PRIAULX, BMW Team UK – fastest
“I have been waiting for this moment for six weeks
and that performance was all the emotions and aggressions
coming out in the first session. I’m very happy with
the balance of the car. Despite being to Macau four times,
this is the first time I have been here with my own car and
it feels great. The team and I have worked very closely together
over the last six weeks and this is a lovely way to start.”
Tom CORONEL, GR Asia – 3rd fastest
“I like Macau and am always fast here but somehow I
have never been on the podium. I know the track well and I
know I have the speed but it is a matter of having luck as
well – not only in the casino but also in the streets.
The car feels good, I don’t have any troubles. To be
honest I didn’t expect to be so fast but then I saw
my position and I was pleased.”
Fabrizio GIOVANARDI, Alfa Romeo Racing – 6th
fastest
“A wall just jumped out at me… To avoid a collision
with another car I had to choose the wall. Luckily I managed
to slow down before crashing, so the car is not badly damaged.
It’s a shame, because on the lap I crashed I was half
a second faster than my previous lap. The car is good and
I have immediately found the right feeling with the track.”
Nicola LARINI, Chevrolet – 7th fastest
“It’s not bad, even if I expected to be a couple
of places ahead. I had little time to work on the car, because
it was not easy to find a clear lap. But I’m reasonably
satisfied and I believe we still have a good margin for improvement.”
Dirk MÜLLER, BMW Team Deutschland – 9th
fastest
“At the moment things are as I expected. Andy and Jörg
are quick because they have lots of experience here. Today
is about finding a nice rhythm so I didn’t push too
much. I just wanted to do lots of laps and confidence for
qualifying tomorrow.”
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