FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 9 – 9 March 2007
WTCC FOR CHARITY IN CURITIBA
The FIA WTCC Race of Brazil will give its contribution to
help Brazilian people who are starving. Together KSO, the
championship promoter, HSBC, partner of the event, and the
City Hall of Curitiba, decided to offer free tickets to the
public in exchange for one kilogram of food.
Fans who wish to attend the races on Sunday may collect the
tickets bringing the foods to nine different City Hall’s
offices or to three different HSBC points: Agency Parolin,
Agency Portão and Teatro HSBC. The foods collected
will be donated by HSBC and the City Hall of Curitiba to the
charity society Instituto Pró-Cidadania de Curitiba
who will distribute them to those in need.
WTCC DRIVERS MEET FANS AND MAYOR
Official proceedings to the WTCC season of 2007 got underway
yesterday in the centre of Curitiba. A day of promotion began
with drivers parading along the Avenida Luiz Xavier before
reaching their destination - the vibrant Rua das Flores where
racing cars were exhibited. Enthusiastic Brazilian fans were
treated to two autograph sessions in the afternoon; the main
attraction being local hero and new addition to BMW Team Germany,
Augusto Farfus.
In the afternoon the Mayor of Curitiba, Mr Beto Richa, Marcello
Lotti, general manager of KSO, Mr Glen Valente, Marketing
Director of HSBC, and Mr Guilherme Pimentel director of TIM
– Regional Sul, welcomed the drivers at a cocktail reception
attended by a large representation of the press.
TIAGO MONTEIRO JOINS SEAT SPORT
SEAT Sport have reinforced their team by signing Tiago Monteiro.
The Portuguese driver will join SEAT’s four other drivers
- Gené, Jourdain, Muller and Tarquini – on the
first European event of the 2007 FIA WTCC at Zandvoort, on
May 6th. Although not racing, Monteiro will attend the championship’s
opening at Curitiba, in order for him to get to know the team
and gain knowledge of a WTCC race meeting. Monteiro’s
maiden contact with the WTCC SEAT León and SEAT Sport
was when he tested the car in Valencia recently. He demonstrated
his desire to move to the WTCC then, and all parties worked
hard to secure this deal. Monteiro – 30-years old from
Porto – raced the last two seasons in Formula One with
Jordan and Midland, finishing third in the 2005 USA GP.
"I am quite satisfied. Since the test in Valencia I
realised that the team has great experience and can compete
at the highest professional level. With their help I am sure
that I will be able to learn rapidly and to be among the best
as soon as possible. WTCC is one of the few real world championships,
and it becomes bigger and more important year by year. The
promotion and image are excellent, and the promoters are doing
a great job. I am impatient to enter the action,” said
Monteiro. 2
TOURING CAR BUREAU’S DECISION
On the eve of the opening race meeting, the Touring Car Bureau
took the decision of reducing the minimum weight of the rear-wheel-drive
cars by 15 kg for the Brazilian event in Curitiba.
These 15 kg are subtracted from the total weight of the car
– including the handicap weight described in article
79a of the Sporting Regulations.
CORONEL TO PROMOTE DUTCH WTCC ROUND
SEAT Holland and GR Asia have unveiled the colourful and
aggressive livery – with threatening shark teeth on
the radiator grill – that Tom Coronel’s SEAT León
will sport during the FIA WTCC opening meeting at Curitiba,
Brazil.
The white wording “MAY 6th ZANDVOORT” will appear
on both sides of the orange and black car. “We are proud
to give our own promotional contribution to attract Dutch
motor sport fans to Zandvoort for the first WTCC event in
Europe,” SEAT Netherlands autosport manager Ron Reinders
declared. SEAT Holland will also broadcast live Zandvoort’s
second race during their own TV racing programme.
HIS BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING
For the World Touring Car Championship’s opening rounds
at Curitiba this weekend, reigning champion Andy Priaulx will
sport, on his helmet, the wording “congratulations to
Andy and Carlee”. Priaulx was due to be best man at
the wedding of school mate Andy Richmond and Carlee Yates
in Guernsey on Saturday, before the Curitiba date was changed.
Because he cannot attend the wedding, Priaulx has provided
a speech on DVD to be played at the reception, has organised
two stag parties for his friend, and will sport congratulatory
decals on his helmet. His wife Jo will attend the wedding,
while his son Sebastian and daughter Daniella will be page
boy and bridesmaid at the ceremony.
WTCC WELCOMES ERIC GENÉ
The FIA WTCC is pleased to celebrate a new addition to its
extended family. Jordi Gené and wife Monica are parents
for the third time following the birth of baby Eric. He joins
the Gené family as younger brother to Maria and Jordi
Jnr.
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