FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 25 – 28 July 2006
DRIVERS RECEIVED BY THE MAYOR OF PUEBLA
The WTCC drivers and cars went down a storm at the autograph
session which took place at the Zócalo, Puebla’s
main square, yesterday afternoon. The queue to get close to
the drivers went all the way around the square with an estimated
2000 people in it. As well as this, there were members of
the public admiring the N.technology Alfa Romeo, SEAT Sport
León, GR Asia SEAT León and the Wiechers Sport
BMW of Oscar Hidalgo which were all on static display.
The drivers also took part in a parade through the city in
pick-up trucks accompanied by a police escort as well as receiving
the honour of being a ‘distinguished guest’ from
the Mayor of Puebla, which took place in the city hall.
The excitement of the crowd hit an all time high when the
WTCC stars were called up to the open-air stage one by one
and began throwing caps to the cheering Mexican motorsport
fans.
TESTING: FASTEST LAP FOR FARFUS
The test session that was planned to enable the field to
check their cars after the trip to Brazil has taken place
and Augusto Farfus was fastest in his Alfa Romeo. He was lying
second on the timesheet until his final lap when he posted
a 1:47.853. The next two positions were occupied by independent
drivers. Tom Coronel of GR Asia had a best time of 1:48.098
at the wheel of his SEAT León and 0.101 of a second
behind him was Proteam Motorsport man Stefano D’Aste.
Rickard Rydell was 4th overall and the best of the SEAT works
drivers followed by Salvatore Tavano; Farfus’ N.technology
team-mate. Just like Farfus, Yvan Muller and Nicola Larini
completed their best laps in the closing seconds and this
shot them up to 6th and 7th respectively.
Jörg Müller was the quickest of the BMW works drivers
with the 11th best time followed by Dirk and Priaulx in 12th
and 13th.
TOP TEN POSITIONS
pos driver Car time
1. Augusto Farfus Alfa Romeo 156 1:47.853
2. Tom Coronel SEAT León 1:48.098
3. Stefano D’Aste BMW 320i 1:48.199
4. Rickard Rydell SEAT León 1:48.305
5. Salvatore Tavano Alfa Romeo 156 1:48.393
6. Yvan Muller SEAT León 1:48.481
7. Nicola Larini Chevrolet Lacetti 1:48.778
8. James Thompson SEAT León 1:48.801
9. Luca Rangoni BMW 320si 1:48.912
10. Gianni Morbidelli Alfa Romeo 156 1:48.953
RACE DISTANCE INCREASED BY ONE LAP
The race distance for the FIA WTCC rounds 11 and 12 at Puebla-Amozoc
in Mexico has been increased by one lap. Recent checks of
the racetrack have set its actual length at 3.24 km. Each
race will be therefore be contested over 16 laps as opposed
to 15.
10-KG BONUS FOR ALFA ROMEO AND CHEVROLET
The Touring Car Bureau have issued a decision to reduce the
minimum weight of the Alfa Romeo and Chevrolet cars by 10kg
for the race meeting in Puebla. This means the new minimum
weight for the Alfa Romeo 156 and Chevrolet Lacetti cars is
1130 kg, driver included.
MEXICAN DRIVER FOR WIECHERS-SPORT
Young racing driver Oscar Hidalgo is 23 years old, was born
in Puebla and will be competing in the FIA WTCC race of Mexico
this weekend. He replaces Emmet O’Brien at the wheel
of a Wiechers Sport BMW. O’Brien has left the team which
is now talking to a number of drivers regarding a deal for
the remainder of the season.
Hidalgo’s racing career started in the Puebla Karting
Championship and for the past four years he has competed in
the Formula Renault 2000 de América series, achieving
2nd place in the championship last season. He is set to prove
a hit with the local fans and is an important asset to the
promotion of the championship.
DOUBLE VICTORY FOR ZANARDI IN ITALY
Last Sunday at Mugello, Alessandro Zanardi claimed a double
victory in rounds 7 and 8 of the Italian Superturismo Championship.
At the wheel of his BMW Team Italy-Spain BMW 320si Zanardi
set pole position in Saturday qualifying and then dominated
both races from lights to flag on Sunday. In Race 1 he crossed
the line ahead of Simone Iacone (Zerocinque Motorsport BMW
320i) and Emanuele Naspetti (GDL Racing BMW 320i); in Race
2, which was redflagged due to heavy rain, Roberto Colciago
(SEAT Sport Italia SEAT León) and Iacone finished second
and third respectively.
These results enabled Colciago to take the championship lead,
while Zanardi moved up to second, only one point behind.
CHEVROLET TRIO TO RACE IN ARGENTINA
Chevrolet WTCC drivers – Alain Menu, Nicola Larini
and Robert Huff – will take part in the 200 Km of Buenos
Aires, counting towards the Argentine TC2000 championship,
the event takes place next October.
The decision was taken after a meeting in Curitiba between
Eric Nève, Chevrolet Europe’s motorsports manager
and Jorgue Marquez, motorsport manager of GM Argentina.
The trio of WTCC drivers will share three Chevrolet Astra
cars with local drivers Matías Rossi, Christian Ledesma
and Marcelo Bugliotti.
Menu has already taken part in the 200 Km race twice, in
2004 and 2005.
|
