FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 46
A LONGER BREAK BETWEEN WTCC RACES
The two races held at each event of the 2007 FIA WTCC will
no longer be back to back. During the next season, whenever
possible, the first race will start at 12.00 (noon) and the
second at 15.30 local time. However parc fermé rules
have not been changed and the parc fermé will still
end 25 minutes before the time of the formation lap for Race
2. Meaning that the teams will only be allowed to work on
the cars for 15 minutes, until the green light at the pit
exit turns to red.
“We have decided to stretch the gap between the two
races because we wish to give the spectators on site a more
varied show,” explained KSO president Jacque Behar.
“We’ll have the first WTCC race at the end of
the morning and the second one at the beginning of the afternoon.
These will be the highlights of our events, but the interest
of the crowd will be kept alive in-between by the new Formula
Master.”
FIRST TEST FOR FARFUS IN A BMW
Augusto Farfus had his first test in a BMW 320si WTCC car
last week at the Spanish track of Jerez de la Frontera.
The Brazilian youngster started his new job as a driver for
BMW Team Germany, testing together with his new team-mate
Jörg Müller and with BMW Team UK’s double
World Champion Andy Priaulx. Although official times were
not released, unofficial timing reported Farfus’ fastest
lap at 1:58.1, only 4 and 2 tenths of a second from Priaulx’s
and Müller’s respectively. Nicola Larini also took
part in the test in his Chevrolet Lacetti, setting an impressive
second fastest time at 1:57.8, only one tenth off Priaulx’s.
PORTEIRO JOINS BMW TEAM ITALY-SPAIN
The 23 year old Spaniard Félix Porteiro signed for
BMW Team Italy-Spain to compete in the 2007 FIA WTCC alongside
Alessandro Zanardi. Last October Porteiro had joined the team
for the FIA European Touring Car Cup at Estoril, making a
positive impression. After being fastest in testing and practice,
the Spaniard qualified third, only 0.086 seconds off his team-mate
Zanardi’s pole position. Although rainy conditions on
the race day made life difficult for all BMW drivers, Porteiro
managed to finish third in the first race behind the GR Asia
SEATs of Sharp and O’Brien. In the second race Félix
retired after a clash with another car.
Porteiro, who was successful in karting and the World Series
by Renault (5th in 2005) and raced the 2006 GP2 championship,
said: “This switch from formula to saloon cars is a
big boost for my motivation. Everything will be new to me
and I will do my best to get over the apprenticeship period
and break into the top positions as soon as possible.”
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