FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 09 – 7 April 2006
FIA WTCC: FROM MONZA TO MAGNY-COURS
The 2006 FIA WTCC’s season opening in Monza resulted
in a successful event, with 35 cars on the grid and a crowd
of 45,000 (+12.5% compared to 2005).
Both races were spectacular and all the four registered Manufacturers
had reasons to rejoice. BMW and Alfa Romeo claimed one victory
apiece, with Andy Priaulx in Race 1 and Augusto Farfus in
Race 2. Chevrolet obtained their first podium result, with
Alain Menu, third in the second race. SEAT took a provisional
lead in both the Drivers’ (with Yvan Muller) and Manufacturers’
Championships.
The second meeting will be held at the French track of Magny-Cours,
on April 29/ 30.
65 EXTRA KILOS FOR YVAN MULLER
Most of the drivers have already lost the automatic 20-kg
ballast they carried in Monza and got back to the minimum
weight fixed by the technical regulations. On the other hand,
eight men will have extra weight onboard their cars, with
championship leader Yvan Muller already on + 65 kg..
Driver - handicap for results in the previous meeting
-handicap for the championship points - total handicap
Yvan Muller 20 kg + 40 kg 5 kg 65 kg
Augusto Farfus 20 kg + 30 kg 5 kg 55 kg
Andy Priaulx 20 kg + 20 kg 5 kg 45 kg
Gabriele Tarquini 20 kg + 10 kg 30 kg
Alain Menu 20 kg + 0 kg 20 kg
James Thompson 20 kg + 0 kg 20 kg
Dirk Müller 20 kg – 10 kg 10 kg
Alessandro Balzan 20 kg – 10 kg 10 kg
MAN OF THE WEEK:
ALAIN MENU
After his 3rd place finish in Race 2 at Monza, Alain Menu
is sitting 5th in the drivers’ championship. Chevrolet
scored 12 points, marking their presence in the series from
the outset. We spoke to the Swiss man about his great start
to the season.
How did it feel to be on the podium?
“Great! Considering I lost my 3rd place in Macau at
the end of last year, it felt twice as nice to be up there
in Monza and it was so unexpected. The crowd were on the track
which was fantastic. Yvan Muller and I looked at each other
and said it looks like F1.”
There were a lot of crashes ahead of you in Race
2, was 3rd position luck?
“No, we have definitely made an improvement from last
year. Yes, it helped me that these things happened but at
the same time I was consciously waiting back because the first
meeting of the season is always eventful. At the end of the
day the car was competitive.”
You head to Magny-Cours with ballast, how will you
prepare for this?
“It is worth remembering my team-mates Nicola Larini
and Robert Huff have no ballast. Hopefully they can get in
the top 10 in qualifying and if I am behind them I will help
them. I really don’t know how the ballast is going to
affect me, I’m sure it won’t help though!”
A PROMISING DEBUT FOR NEW HONDA ACCORD
The first event of the 2006 FIA WTCC also marked the debut
of the JAS Motorsport’s new Honda Accord Euro R, which
was homologated a few days earlier. The new car features a
brand new aerodynamic kit as well as a new engine compared
to the 2005 version, and both evolutions proved to be effective.
Both Pierre-Yves Corthals and Ryan Sharp reported to be happy
with the performance of the car, although for various reasons
final results were below their expectations.
"It was a pity that a gearbox problem stopped me on
the last lap of Race 1,” commented the Belgian driver.
"But I am happy as I was able to keep the same pace of
Menu and Balzan who eventually finished 3rd and 4th in the
second race. Meaning that I am already in the position to
fight for the top ten. I’m confident for the next races."
On his first outing in a Touring Car competition, Sharp spent
most of the weekend getting used to the car rather than trying
to set good lap times. However he drove his car to the end
of both races in 18th and 14th respectively. In Race 2 he
also set an impressive best lap, only 0.386 seconds from the
race winner Farfus’. "My confidence is growing,"
said the young Scotsman. "I was very apprehensive during
the weekend aiming not to make mistakes. Monza was definitely
a good start and I look forward for better results already
in Magny-Cours.”
THE ITALIAN SUPERTURISMO BACK ON TRACK
The competitors of the Italian Superturismo Championship will
again join their fellow FIA WTCC drivers in Magny-Cours.
Race victories in Monza went to Alessandro Zanardi in Race
1 and Alessandro Balzan in Race 2. The latter, who also managed
to win twice in the FIA WTCC Independents’ Trophy and
claimed an outstanding 4th overall in the second race, leads
the championship with 18 points, followed by Simone Iacone
(14) and Zanardi (12).
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