FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 30 – 1 September 2006
TESTING – FASTEST TIME FOR GENÉ
The test session got underway at Brno with grey clouds threatening
rain. Jordi Gené posted the best time of 2:12.547 behind
the wheel of his SEAT León with a few minutes remaining.
The next two best times were set by BMW drivers. Jörg
Müller was 0.229 of a second slower than Gené
and Andy Priaulx 0.088 of a second more adrift. Alain Menu
completed the fastest lap out of the Chevrolet team. His time
of 2:12.897 placed him fourth on the timesheet while Robert
Huff was not far behind as 7th fastest. Nicola Larini was
unable to complete a single lap before his car was towed away
after engine problems forced an early finish.
From the N.technology Alfa Romeo squad it was Augusto Farfus
who was quickest. His time of 2:13.995 was only 13th fastest
overall. His team-mates Salvatore Tavano and Gianni Morbidelli
who, along with Farfus himself, have a lot of ballast, were
15th and 19th.
Ten minutes into the session there was a red flag because
Vincent Radermecker’s Chevrolet broke down. The cause
is thought to be either engine or transmission problems. Both
the JAS Motorsport Honda cars were also unable to finish the
session. Ryan Sharp had to stop on the grass before turn 5
with fuel pressure problems and Pierre-Yves Corthals came
to a halt seconds later after his engine cut out. Philip Geipel
suffered similar fate in his Toyota Corolla T-sport after
clutch problems only allowed him to complete 4 laps.
TOP TEN POSITIONS
pos Driver car time
1. Jordi Gené SEAT León 2:12.547
2. Jörg Müller BMW 320si 2:12.776
3. Andy Priaulx BMW 320si 2:12.864
4. Alain Menu Chevrolet Lacetti 2:12.897
5. Gabriele Tarquini SEAT León 2:12.979
6. Alessandro Zanardi BMW 320si 2:13.142
7. Robert Huff Chevrolet Lacetti 2:13.273
8. Rickard Rydell SEAT León 2:13.345
9. Dirk Müller BMW 320si 2:13.508
10. Yvan Muller SEAT León 2:13.601
WTCC DRIVERS STAGE IN AUTOGRAPH SESSION
The people of Brno were properly introduced to the FIA WTCC
yesterday when an autograph session took place at the city’s
Olympia shopping mall. Rob Huff, Jörg Müller, Peter
Terting, Diego Romanini and Ryan Sharp were the drivers who
took part in the promotional activities signing posters and
the fans’ own memorabilia. On static display was a Chevrolet
Lacetti as well as the exhibition of motorsport photos from
renowned Czech photographer Martin Straka. The activities
were rounded up when Jörg Müller signed the photo
of himself on the podium after his victory in Oschersleben.
CZECH DRIVER TO RACE FOR WIECHERS-SPORT
Jan Vonka is the latest driver to be named as a competitor
for rounds 13 and 14 of the WTCC that take place in Brno this
weekend. He will be at the wheel of a Wiechers-Sport BMW 320i.
Vonka is in fact from the Czech Republic, he was born in
Slaný 43 years ago and now resides in Modrice. “It’s
a little bit different racing at home,” Vonka said,
“I hope the people don’t expect too much of me
however because it is my first time in the WTCC.” Vonka
owns his own team which competes in the FIA GT Championship.
In 2004 and 2005 he finished 9th and 6th overall in the drivers’
championship in a Porsche 996 GT3. He is one of the few drivers
who have experience of the Brno track and his hopes of the
weekend? “To finish!”
As usual, a 20kg weight handicap will be issued as Vonka
is a newcomer to the championship.
RADERMECKER: “A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US”
Among the new-comers to the WTCC this weekend is Vincent
Radermecker from Swiss based team Maurer Motorsport. Born
in Liège, Belgium, the 39 year old has a wealth of
experience at the wheel of a touring car. In the past ten
years Radermecker has competed in British, French and Belgian
championships. His most recent championship win came last
year in the Belgian Touring Car Series and he currently leads
the ADAC Procar Series.
“It is a good feeling to be in one of the three world
championships in car racing.” Radermecker stated. “I
have taken an interest in the series for many years and it’s
a great opportunity for me and the team to be here. It is
good for us that not everyone has knowledge and experience
of the track because it makes it more of an equal start.”
Both Radermecker and his team-mate Rainer Bastuck will be
racing at the wheel of Chevrolet Lacetti cars.
GEIPEL EXCITED ABOUT HIS MAIDEN WTTC APPEARANCE
Philip Geipel is a new face in the paddock and his Toyota
Corolla T-Sport a new car in the WTCC line-up. At just 19
years old Geipel is the youngest driver to compete in this
tough championship but the challenge does not intimidate him.
“I am experiencing a lot of emotions,” commented
the German, “but I am not scared, excited is a better
description.”
The young man who enjoys clubbing and won the Junior Trophy
of the 2005 German Toyota Yaris Cup went on to say, “This
is the first time for me here and I want to show what I and
the car are capable of, as well as learning a great deal.
I have watched every race on television and have a good idea
of how hard each of the drivers push!”
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