FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 34 – 16th September 2005
DECISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF APPEAL
The FIA International Court of Appeal met in Paris yesterday
to examine the appeals introduced by the Automobile Club d’Italia/Commissione
Sportiva Automobilistica Italiana on behalf of Alfa Romeo
Racing Team against the decisions made by the Stewards on
July 30, during the FIA World Touring Car Championship 12th
round in Spa. Concerning the penalty of 3 seconds imposed
on Stefano D’Aste; having heard the explanations of
both parties and having examined the various documents and
other evidence, the Court decided that the appeal was not
admissible. Concerning the incident involving the cars of
Gabriele Tarquini, Dirk Müller and Antonio García;
having heard the explanations of both parties and having examined
the various documents and other evidence, the Court upheld
the decision of the Panel of the Stewards.
NEW WTCC BMW 3 SERIES LAUNCHED IN FRANKFURT
BMW presented the motorsport version of the new BMW 3 Series
in Frankfurt, at the 61st International Motor Show (IAA).
From 2006, the car will be competing in the FIA WTCC and in
many other national Touring Car championships around the world.
The 275 bhp racing car was developed by BMW Motorsport. It
is the racing version of the special model BMW 320si, which
will be on offer from BMW dealers as a limited edition from
December 2005, driven by a powerful 2-litre four-cylinder
in-line engine. The car complies with the Super 2000 regulations
and is 45mm longer and 36mm wider than its predecessor the
current 310i E46.
MAN OF THE WEEK: ERKUT KIZILIRMAK
Erkut Kizilirmak will be racing with the FIA WTCC in Istanbul
this weekend. The 36 year old who lives in Turkey’s
capital city is currently leading in the Turkish Touring car
Championship after 3 consecutive wins. We spoke to him about
his forthcoming drive with Team GR Asia.
What are your impressions of the FIA WTCC? “It is the
highest level for any touring car driver and it is a dream
come true for me to be a part of it. It is excellent for me
that I am participating because it is a good chance to really
get a feel for the championship and make some plans for the
future. I hope to be competing in the entire 2007/2008 seasons.”
Have you done any testing in the SEAT Toledo? “Not
yet but this does not worry me. The Opel Astra I am racing
in the Turkish championship has similar specs so it shouldn’t
be too much of a change. Also, if I call myself a racing driver
I should be able to use my skills and adapt within a few laps.”
What do you expect from the weekend? “You can’t
hide that fact that the other competitors out there have done
far more than me this year. They have completed around 2000
km competitively, compared to my 150km. However, I am going
to try my best and identify what I need to go away and work
on. Then hopefully I will be back in the FIA WTCC in the future.”
CHEVROLET HOST LIVE INTERNET PRESS CONFERENCE
Chevrolet will host a live internet press conference from
the FIA WTCC event in Istanbul. The team’s three drivers,
Alain Menu, Nicola Larini and Rob Huff, will answer questions
from the worldwide media, as well as from racing fans.
Media can log in at http://webconference.chevroleteurope.com,
while fans can log in at http://www.chevroleteurope.com/wtcc/.
Access is free and no password is required. The internet press
conferences will take place on Friday 16th, Saturday 17th
and Sunday 18th at 5.30 pm CET (6.30 pm local time). Questions
for the drivers can be sent via email using the link at the
bottom of the web page, while live footage of the press conference
can be seen at the top of the screen.
FLASH NEWS
PEUGEOT: In spite of the plan to compete
in the final five meetings of the current season, Peugeot
Sport Denmark team have announced their decision to stop the
FIA WTCC programme for this year, after their 407 car proved
to be uncompetitive on its first appearances at Spa and Oschersleben.
Peugeot Sport Denmark and Peugeot Sport will now work together
to further develop the car, in order to be ready for the 2006
season.
ZANARDI: Two weeks after his maiden FIA
WTCC victory at Oschersleben, Alessandro Zanardi made a clean
sweep at Varano, in the seventh meeting of the Italian Superturismo
Championship. The BMW Team Italy-Spain’s ace won both
races and claimed the Italian title.
THEY SAID: QUOTE OF THE WEEK
BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen at the launch of the
new WTCC BMW 320is: “The new model continues the tradition
of BMW’s presence in Touring Car competitions. I am
sure that it will write further chapters of BMW's successful
history.”
FIA WTCC TIMETABLE – ISTANBUL, 17th
and 18th September Saturday 09.00 – 09.30 Free practice
Sunday 10.35 – 10.50 Warm-up 12.00 – 12.30 Free
practice 16.15 Race 1 15.15 – 15.45 Qualifying 17.20
Race 2
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