FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 02 – 17 February 2006
INTENSIVE TESTING IN VIEW OF THE NEW SEASON
The FIA World Touring Car Championship teams are committed
to intensive testing programmes in view of the new season
that will start at Monza on April 1 and 2.
More testing will be done in the forthcoming days:
21/22 February at Brands Hatch: Chevrolet
22/23 February at Monza: BMW Team Germany and BMW Team Italy-Spain
27/28 February at Albacete: SEAT Sport and Chevrolet
ALFA ROMEO AND BMW AT VALLELUNGA
Vallelunga hosted Alfa Romeo and BMW teams for a three-day
test. Alfa Romeo Racing, BMW Team Germany and BMW Team Italy-Spain
covered a great deal of laps around the circuit located near
to Rome.
The Alfa Romeo team ran a single 156 car. Brazilian youngster
Augusto Farfus – who had claimed his first WTCC victory
in Macau on last November – took the wheel in the first
two days and was then replaced by Gianni Morbidelli on the
third one. The former F1 Italian driver is currently negotiating
with Alfa Romeo to join the team in the 2006
FIA WTCC campaign.
BMW Team Germany and BMW Team Italy-Spain tested two brand
new 320is E90 machines each. Dirk and Jörg Müller
were driving the German team’s cars, with the former
focusing on suspension and aerodynamics whereas the latter
was charged to test the 4-cylinder engine’s latest step.
“It looks like the new car has a lot of potential.
It is more precise compared to last year’s model. It
is quite an interesting challenge for us, because we are developing
the WTCC version from scratch, whereas the S2000 E46 car was
developed starting from the Super Production version,”
said Jörg.
BMW Team Italy-Spain lined-up Alessandro Zanardi in their
first car and alternated two young Spaniards – Marcel
Costa and Ander Vilariño – in the second one.
During the next days the team will choose Zanardi’s
new team-mate from the two of them.
SEAT SPORT AT BARCELONA
SEAT Sport team tested for two days at the Circuit de Catalunya
in Montmelò. Three SEAT León cars were driven
by Peter Terting, James Thompson and Rickard Rydell on the
first day, while Jordi Gené, Yvan Müller and Gabriele
Tarquini took over on day 2. The team spent both days working
on engine, suspension and aerodynamics, also giving the three
new drivers (Thompson, Muller and Tarquini) the chance to
complete as many laps as possible and get familiar with the
car and the team.
Jordi Gené said: “Most of the work focused on
the tyres, which are probably the greatest change from last
year. Therefore we have been working hard on suspension and
shock absorbers.”
Gabriele Tarquini was pleased with the two-days: “This
has been my first real test, for both the track and the laps
I put in. I like the car because it responds to the changes.
It is very good in the slow bends, although we have to improve
in the fast ones.”
LARINI SHAKES RACING CAR DOWN
Chevrolet WTCC driver Nicola Larini shook his new Lacetti
car down at Millbrook test track in England.
“It was a positive test as not a single problem spoiled
it. Since we started the engine everything ran smoothly. I
am very pleased that the driving seat has been moved to the
left side of the car, while last year it was on the right.
It’s not only because my natural driving position is
on the left, but also because we have a better view from inside
the cockpit,” the Italian driver said, adding.
“We have also done some aerodynamic tests, and I’m
looking forward to drive the car again next week in Brands
Hatch and a few days later at Albacete where we will have
an important benchmark in the SEAT Sport team.”
MORE HONOURS FOR ANDY PRIAULX
2005 FIA World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx was awarded
with the BARC Gold Star Award. BARC President, the Earl of
March, presented the award, a solid gold medallion in recognition
of Andy’s 2005 FIA World Touring Car Championship title.
“The past couple of years have been fantastic for me
both on and off the track. It was great to win the back to
back championships and receiving such awards makes it extra
special. I am very proud and can only thank all the members
of the BARC for this particular honour,” said Andy.
Also, for the second successive year Priaulx was named the
Total Oil CI Sports Personality of the Year. This award is
voted for by fans from all the Channel Islands so is even
more prestigious.
Andy, who is proud of coming from the Channel Islands, said:
“It’s great to win this as it was not just Guernsey
residents who voted. There are an awful lot of talented sportsmen
and women from the islands and when I see what they have achieved
I feel it is a shame that there is just one winner. However,
it really is an honour to be recognised by all the Channel
Islands.”
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