FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 19 – 18 May 2007
WTCC RACE OF SPAIN LAUNCHED YESTERDAY
The WTCC Race of Spain was officially launched yesterday
in a press conference at Valencia’s Museo de las Ciencias.
Two WTCC cars, a SEAT León and a BMW 320si, were exhibited
on the esplanade in front of the museum, while WTCC Spanish
drivers attended: Jordi Gené, Félix Porteiro,
María De Villota and Sergio Hernández. “Since
2004, when we came here with the European Touring Car Championship,
this is our fourth visit to Valencia. This has become a traditional
FIA WTCC round, and one of the most appreciated. I have to
say that Valencia is a city of great events!” said Marcello
Lotti, general manager of KSO.
Eduardo Nogués, chairman of the Circuit declared:
“We are proud to host the FIA WTCC again. This is the
second most important car racing event in Spain, the most
important for us and it’s also a family event, because
the spectators enjoy spectacular races and have also the opportunity
to meet the drivers in the paddock.” The press conference
was closed by a brief speech delivered by Niurka Montalvo,
Secretary for Sports of the Comunidad Valenciana and a gold
medalist for Spain in the 1999 World Athletics Championships
at Seville, where she won the long jump: “Our Community
is very much focused on sports in general and especially motor
sports. The circuit is our pride and the visiting card that
grants Valencia worldwide tv exposure. Thus I’m especially
pleased to welcome a top level international event like the
FIA WTCC.”
ANTHONY BELTOISE LIVE ON TF1 FROM PAU
The French meeting of the FIA World Touring Car Championship
at Pau will benefit from special TV coverage on French premiere
terrestrial channel TF1, within the motorsport programme Automoto
that will televise live the first race on Sunday, June 3rd,
at 10.00 am. As usual Eurosport will also televise live both
races, with the second one starting at 3.30 pm.
In order to give French viewers the best possible inside
look at an FIA WTCC race, SEAT Sport will enter an extra SEAT
León for French driver Anthony Beltoise, backed by
Eurosport and SEAT France. The car driven by Beltoise, who
is test driver for Automoto, will be equipped with onboard
cameras and will be permantly linked via radio to journalist
Thomas Senecal at the studio.
GR ASIA: THIRD CAR FOR CERESOLI
Maurizio Ceresoli returns to the FIA World Touring Car Championship
and to the GR Asia team. The 23-year old Italian driver, who
was classified 5th in last year’s Independents’
Trophy, will join the championship, this weekend at Valencia.
Ceresoli will drive GR Asia’s third SEAT León
car, alongside Tom Coronel and Emmet O’Brien. 2
THE WEEKEND’S TRACK ACTIVITIES IN VALENCIA
As Valencia is not a new venue for the FIA WTCC competitors
no extra test sessions have been scheduled.
Therefore track activities will follow the usual WTCC pattern:
two 30-minute practice sessions and one 30-minute qualifying
on Saturday.
On Sunday drivers will take part in one 15-minute warm up
session and two 13-lap races. The first race has been anticipated
to 10.20 in order to permit live broadcast on the Spanish
premiere terrestrial channel Tele Cinco.
Saturday, May 19th
08.30/09.00 Free Practice 1
11.30/12.00 Free Practice 2
15.00/15.30 Qualifying
Sunday, May 20th
08.00/08.15 Warm up
10.20 Race 1
15.35 Race 2
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