ROUNDS 19 & 20 TESTING REPORT AND QUOTES
Weather: overcast, with a dry track.
LARINI TOPS TEST SESSION IN MACAU
The opening test session of the final event on the WTCC calendar
revealed Nicola Larini as fastest. At the wheel of his Chevrolet
Lacetti the Italian completed a lap through the streets of
Macau in 2:34.912. The second fastest, also a Chevrolet driver,
was Alain Menu. Menu’s time was 0.119 of a second slower
than that of his team-mate.
Rickard Rydell was the best of the SEAT Sport drivers setting
the third best time overall – 2:35.360. Behind him on
the timesheet was BMW man and reigning champion Andy Priaulx
who clocked his best time of 2:35.540 on his final lap. Yvan
Muller rounded off the top five, 0.952 of a second off the
top pace.
Augusto Farfus, the championship leader was 14th fastest
and the best of the N.technology Alfa Romeo trio, his car
carrying the maximum 80kg handicap weight.
The other title claimants besides Farfus, Rydell, Muller
and Priaulx occupied the following positions at the end of
today’s session: James Thompson 7th, Jörg Müller
11th, Gabriele Tarquini 14th, Peter Terting 15th and Dirk
Müller 16th. Local drivers André Couto (SEAT León)
and Ao Chi Hong (BMW 320i) set the 12th and 24th best lap
respectively, while the third newcomer to the championship,
Jan Magnussen, was 21st fastest in his BMW UK car.
Tom Coronel, who has already claimed the Independents’
Trophy was 17th quickest overall and best independent behind
the wheel of his GR Asia SEAT León.
Two independent drivers suffered crashes. On his first flying
lap Stefano D’Aste was entering the Lisboa bend when
his front right tyre came flying off and he went straight
down the run off area, spinning and hitting the barriers.
Later in the session Diego Romanini went wide at the ‘R’
bend and strayed into the barrier badly damaging his Wiechers-Sport
BMW 320i. As a result the session was redflagged but resumed
shortly after.
The WTCC will resume tomorrow, Friday, with two free practice
sessions (8.50 and 12.30 local time) and one qualifying session
(16.25 local time).
DRIVERS’ QUOTES
Nicola LARINI – Chevrolet, fastest
“I am really happy being top in the test. I went out
there focused and concentrated because this is the last race
of the season. This is a drivers’ circuit, it doesn’t
matter which car you are driving. I am pushing to be in the
top times for the whole weekend.”
Rickard RYDELL – SEAT Sport Sverige,
3rd fastest “The test session is just the beginning
and everybody knows the key to doing well here is to get a
good qualifying position because it is so difficult to pass
in the race. The Chevrolets, BMWs and Alfas are fast on the
straights whereas we are best at the back of the track which
is where it is so difficult to pass. I really like the circuit
and am looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”
Augusto FARFUS – N.technology, 14th
fastest “I am really excited to be here. You know, today
was just a test and it’s too early to predict for the
race. I am happy with things and used the test session to
regain the feeling from last year. We are now working on the
car to be faster and get in the top five for qualifying. I
really am relaxed.”
Stefano D’ASTE – Proteam Motorsport,
DNC “What caused my wheel to come off was my brake disc
exploding. I was driving at 240 km per hour on the main straight,
so that’s why the tyre flew off so fast. Macau is a
great circuit but its nice to race alone, when you are in
a pack you are too dependent on the other drivers’ judgement.”
Diego ROMANINI – Wiechers-Sport, 25th
fastest “We lost pressure in the front left tyre which
meant I lost the car and couldn’t do anything. I went
into the wall but what was unlucky was that the barrier badly
damaged the car. We are working to repair it now.”
|
