ROUNDS 3 & 4 – ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS
TESTING AND PRACTICE REPORT
Weather: sunny and windy, with a dry track.
MENU FASTEST IN TESTING
Ahead of the second meeting of the 2007 WTCC season in Zandvoort,
the field had the chance to suss out the circuit. A thirty
minute private testing session saw Alain Menu emerge on top
with a time of 1:47.424 behind the wheel of his Chevrolet
Lacetti.
Menu was over a second faster than his closest rival, Andy
Priaulx in his BMW 320si. Tiago Monteiro made it three marques
in the top three times for he and his SEAT León were
third fastest. BMW man Augusto Farfus was fourth followed
by SEAT Sport’s Gabriele Tarquini.
James Thompson was the quickest of the Alfa Romeo N.technology
team with a time of 1:49.297 placing him 14th. Thompson’s
team-mate Olivier Tielemans ended his session prematurely
after he strayed into the gravel at turn 7 after 13 minutes
of the session had passed. The other Dutchman in the event,
Tom Coronel, clocked the 8th fastest time.
Roberto Colciago returned after his accident in Curitiba
and jumped straight back in as the fastest independent driver
and 6th overall in his SEAT Sport Italia car.
MONTEIRO ON TOP IN PRACTICE
Tiago Monteiro, in his first official participation of a WTCC
event topped the timesheet for SEAT Sport in the first free
practice at Zandvoort. The Portuguese driver clocked a time
of 1:48.972 and only completed 6 laps after losing his bumper.
Independent driver Roberto Colciago was on great pace as second
fastest overall while Augusto Farfus’ 1:49.412 was third
best in his BMW Team Germany car.
SEAT’s Michel Jourdain ended is run in the gravel at
turn 7 only ten minutes into the session.
Nicola Larini headed the Chevrolet crew as fourth fastest
overall while teammates Menu and Huff were 9th and 10th respectively.
James Thompson was again the best behind the Alfa Romeo wheel.
With a time of 1:49.781 he was placed an excellent 6th overall.
His team-mate Tielemans struggled again to find the pace with
the 22nd best time. Local man Tom Coronel just missed out
of the top ten, he was 11th fastest in his GR Asia Seat León.
BULLET NEWS COLCIAGO CLEARED BY THE DOCTOR
On his return to the championship after the big crash he had
in Brazil, SEAT Sport Italia driver Roberto Colciago was visited
by the FIA Doctor, Mr Jean- Jacques Isserman, before the start
of the test session. Following the medical checks the Doctor
cleared the driver allowing him to take part in the meeting.
THE PROBLEMS WITH YELLOW
Three drivers, Gabriele Tarquini, Tiago Monteiro and Viktor
Shapovalov were summoned to the Race Director following the
test session. They had all improved their times under yellow
flag conditions. However, after hearing their explanations,
no further action was taken.
THEY SAID, THEY SAID…
Tiago MONTEIRO “I think it’s
good I’ve started on a positive note. I got used to
the track quickly and the car had good balance. However, the
experienced drivers always keep something special for qualifying
so I know it won’t be easy.”
Augusto FARFUS “It’s great to
be the best BMW driver but the front wheel cars seem to be
strong here. Having said that, we are heading in the right
direction to being competitive.”
Tom CORONEL “I feel alright about
things. The car is good and in the practice I was using old
tyres. I know where the time is and I expect to qualify around
7th tomorrow.”
Alain MENU “A good start, but it’s
only Friday…”
Andy PRIAULX “I’m happy with
the test but the Chevrolets are dangerously quick, where did
that extra second come from?”
James THOMPSON “I’m happy to
be towards the top of the timesheet and it is a reward to
the team for all the effort they have put in between the races.”
Roberto COLCIAGO “At least I finished
a test session this time! I was impressed with Menu’s
time and just hope we can stay near the top.”
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