FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 27 – 12 July 2007
GREEN VOLVO TO JOIN AT ANDERSTORP
Volvo is the first Manufacturer to take part in an FIA WTCC
event with a bio-fuel powered car.
Volvo Car Corporation announced that they will enter their
team Polestar Racing at Anderstorp, on July 28th and 29th
to support WTCC´s green agenda. The Swedish team will
take part with one Volvo S60 Flexifuel powered by Ethanol
E85 and driven by Robert Dahlgren, currently second in the
Swedish Touring Car Championship. Derek Crabb, Director of
Motorsport at Volvo Car Corporation, explained: “This
idea arose after WTCC declared their green agenda. Since environmental
concern is a core value of Volvo, WTCC really hit our sweet-spot
by giving a green light to alternative fuels. This is the
main reason for our presence at Anderstorp - to show that
we support this initiative. Therefore, we have asked not to
race for points.” Volvo has been the first Manufacturer
to officially race alternative fuel-powered cars complying
with the FIA Super 2000 regulations. At the wheel of his Polestar-run
Volvo S60 Robert Dahlgren won the first two rounds of the
2007 STCC.
Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Motorsport Manager of Volvo
Cars Sweden added: “We took on the challenge to go with
ethanol for the 2007 season immediately and it is safe to
say that a few eyebrows were raised, since all expertise said
you would lose performance if you switched from petrol to
ethanol in the FIA Super 2000 regulations. I am very happy
we were able to prove otherwise and we hope this is just the
start as was the case when Volvo, contrary to racing expertise
of that time, pioneered catalytic converters in the BTCC in
the early nineties.”
Derek Crabb is cautious about any result predictions at Anderstorp:
“From a pure racing perspective, we know that Polestar
and Robert will be at a disadvantage using a type of a tyre
of which they have very limited experience. But this is not
the main point for us. We wish to show that there is a more
environmental friendly alternative available for WTCC today
that is competitive.”
DOUBLE LEAD FOR EXAGON RACING
The WTCC weekend in Porto was extremely successful for the
Exagon Racing directed by Luc Marchetti.
In the second race, the team’s leading driver, Pierre-Yves
Corthals, claimed his third win of the season in the Independents’
Trophy and also managed to score his first championship point.
Thanks to a second place in the first race, Corthals stretched
his leading margin to 9 and 13 points ahead of Stefano D’Aste
and Luca Rangoni. The team’s day of glory was completed
by Luís Pedro Magalhães, on his maiden WTCC
appearance. The Portuguese, whose SEAT León was sporting
the colourful livery of the humanitarian campaign “Corrida
pela Vida” (Race for the Life) that aims to raise funds
for the Portuguese League Against Cancer, finished both races
in the points (5th and 6th) helping Exagon to take the lead
of the Teams’ Trophy, four points ahead of Proteam Motorsport.
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RYDELL TALKS LIVE ON EUROSPORT
The WTCC races in Anderstorp will see Rickard Rydell
committed to the double role of driver and TV commentator.
On the occasion of his debut at the wheel of the Chevrolet
Lacetti car, the Swedish ace will perform audio commentaries
during the live feed broadcast by Eurosport for the Nordic
countries.
EUROPEAN CUP TO TAKE PLACE AT ADRIA
The third edition of the FIA European Touring Car Cup will
take place on October 27th and 28th at the Adria racetrack,
in Northern Italy.
The previous editions have taken place at Vallelunga, Italy,
in 2005 and Estoril, Portugal, in 2006.
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