FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 13 – 5 May 2006
NEXT STOP: BRANDS HATCH, ENGLAND
The third race meeting of the 2006 FIA WTCC will happen at
the Brands Hatch Circuit, located in Kent, some 30 km East
of London City. Rounds 5 and 6 will be held on the 4.2-km
Grand Prix track on May 20th and 21st.
The championship is going across the Channel with the top-ten
drivers covered by only 10 points. Reigning World champion
and home boy Andy Priaulx (BMW Team UK) is the leader of the
pack after winning the second race in Magny-Cours. Former
BTCC champion Yvan Muller (SEAT Sport France) is chasing him
3 points behind.
A large number of fans are due to reach Brands Hatch for
the race weekend, as was the case in the two previous meetings
at Monza and Magny-Cours that attracted an average crowd of
56,500.
FRENCH TV STAR VISITED WTCC IN MAGNY-COURS
Cécile de Ménibus, French TV and radio star,
spent last Sunday in Magny-Cours. A special guest at the WTCC
Beru Race of France.
Cécile, who hosts the everyday morning programme on
Fun Radio and a Thursday evening TV show on TF1, played an
active role during her visit: she signed autographs, walked
on the grid, drove one lap in the Chevrolet Lacetti safety-car,
awarded trophies on the podium and, last but not least, watched
both races with enthusiasm. “I love this championship!”
she said. “It’s so exciting, with a lot of action,
overtaking and the reverse grid. You don’t get bored
watching it! I really enjoyed my day at the races.”
Who is your favourite WTCC driver? “First of all Yvan
Müller, because he is our French ambassador in the series.
It was a shame he could not fight for a win in his home event.
I like Gabriele Tarquini too. I wish good luck to them for
the rest of the season.”
HUFF-COTTON WON KARTING RACE
Last Saturday the Magny-Cours karting circuit was invaded
by a squad of WTCC drivers and journalists. 15 teams competed
in the infamous ‘the pen and the helmet’ 20 minute
race. Robert Huff of Chevrolet and Andrew Cotton, a British
freelance journalist, were the victors with Cotton making
an overtaking move in his 390 cc kart on the penultimate lap.
After the podium ceremony Huff commented: “The pressure
was on my partner but he kept calm and did the job, a piece
of cake!”
In second place was the FIA team made up of Sébastien
Bernard and Sébastien Demierre while Proteam’s
Stefano D’Aste and Cristiano Beretta, a cameraman for
Italian TV Monza Informa, were classified third.
YOKOHAMA PRESIDENT ATTENDED THE RACE OF FRANCE
Mr Takashi Sugimoto, President of the Yokohama Rubber Tire
Co. was among the many important guests who attended the WTCC
Beru Race of France in Magny-Cours. “I had planned to
come to Magny-Cours before the beginning of the season, and
I kept my promise,” said Mr Sugimoto. “I’m
very happy to be here. It’s a fantastic event, with
a large crowd.”
WTCC PROMOTIONAL DAY IN LONDON
WTCC drivers go to London town again. After last year’s
successful event in Leicester Square, an autograph session
has been organised to promote the event in Brands Hatch.
On Thursday, May 18, a number of drivers – including
home boys Robert Huff, James Thompson, Andy Priaulx and Ryan
Sharp – will meet the fans in the Alex Reade motorsport
store at 78 Regent Street.
EXTRA TEST SESSION FOR WTCC IN BRANDS HATCH
The FIA authorized a private 30-minute test session on Friday,
May 19, at 4.00 PM. The session was approved by the WTCC Bureau
in order to give the teams some more time to know the Brands
Hatch Grand Prix track which is new to the championship.
MAN OF THE WEEK: JAMES THOMPSON
James Thompson is 32 years old from Yorkshire, England.
As well as competing in the WTCC, he is also racing in selected
rounds of the British Touring Car Championship with SEAT Sport
UK. Earlier in the season he won two of the three BTCC races
on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit so we spoke to him ahead
of the WTCC’s visit to the Kent track.
Winning at Brands earlier in the season must give
you confidence for May 21st?
“For sure, any win is a confidence boost and gives
you a lift. It’s great that the WTCC is coming to Brands
because I have familiarity with the UK circuits that I am
lacking at the rest of the tracks around the world. And with
the home support I am looking forward to it.“
The WTCC will be racing on the GP circuit, what is
the difference between that and the Indy?
“It’s a lot longer and a lot more scenic. You
need a different set-up for the GP track because there are
a lot of fast corners round the back. You certainly need to
have a good car beneath you for the GP circuit.”
How is life at SEAT?
“Being part of a big team is very helpful from a technical
point of view but it can be a hindrance in the sense there
are so many great drivers in the team. I have to say life
at SEAT is fantastic. It’s a relaxed environment and
I’m really enjoying it there, I’m very happy.”
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