ROUNDS 19 & 20 – MONZA, ITALY
RACE 1 REPORT
Weather: sunny, with a dry track
RACE 1: MULLER CLOSES IN ON PRIAULX
Yvan Muller was victorious in race one after leading the
field for the entire nine laps. His SEAT Sport team-mate Jordi
Gené crossed the line behind him and the podium was
completed by James Thompson of Alfa Romeo. The chequered flag
came just in time for Muller as on his in-lap he suffered
a puncture to his front left tyre. The result enabled the
Frenchman to move up to second in the Drivers’ Championship,
only four points behind Priaulx.
At the first corner an incident involving Andy Priaulx and
Roberto Colciago occurred. Colciago hit Priaulx’s BMW
320si which damaged its suspension and the reigning champion
and current championship leader was forced to retire in the
pits. Alessandro Zanardi and Sergio Hernández were
stopped in avoidance and rejoined at the back of the field.
Stefano D’Aste pitted after hitting a plastic barrier
in the same chicane. Tom Coronel and Jörg Müller
also had problems there and dropped down after clashing with
other cars. Lap 2 was the beginning of Thompson’s charge
from eighth on the grid. The Briton closed in on Chevrolet’s
Nicola Larini who was lying fourth. At the Curva Parabolica
Thompson overtook on the inside line to claim the position.
The two then proceeded to chase down third placed Gabriele
Tarquini before overtaking him at Roggia on lap 8.
Alain Menu from Chevrolet also overtook Tarquini on the same
lap. The Italian finished sixth, followed by Augusto Farfus
who was the best BMW. There was a final flurry of action between
Larini and Thompson on the last lap. They made contact and
Thompson was forced to cut through the Roggia chicane but
rejoined in the same position. While Larini and Menu finished
fourth and fifth respectively, fellow Chevrolet driver Rob
Huff passed the chequered flag eighth and claimed pole for
race two. Coronel was classified ninth after a brilliant recovery.
Luca Rangoni won the independent category and came home tenth
overall after resisting strong pressure from Pierre-Yves Corthals.
BULLET NEWS
SEAT EUROCUP TO SUPPORT WTCC IN 2008
Next year will see a new support series for the FIA WTCC.
The SEAT León EuroCup is a new championship born from
the Supercópa SEAT León and will join the WTCC
for six meetings in 2008, in Spain, France, Portugal, Germany,
UK and Italy. It was announced yesterday in a press conference
at Monza. The best classified drivers will be rewarded with
participation in the 2009 FIA WTCC season at the wheel of
SEAT León cars.
BIKE CHAMPION VISITS D’ASTE
Moto GP 250cc rider Roberto Locatelli visited his great friend
Stefano D’Aste of Wiechers-Sport in his garage today.
D’Aste and the 2000 World Champion (125cc class) were
fellow riders in the 1994 season. D’Aste showed off
his BMW 320si to Roberto who was impressed with the advanced
technical workings of the car. Later Locatelli joined D’Aste
on the starting grid.
THEY SAID, THEY SAID…
Yvan MULLER
“Today was always going to be difficult because I was
worried about the weight of my car affecting the front tyres
and brakes. It was confirmed during the race that the car
was on the limits with the brakes and one tyre blew on my
in-lap. Of course, it was a less difficult race because my
team-mate was behind me but it was still important to push.
I didn’t expect to be in championship contention at
this stage but I hoped I would be. It means I will take fewer
risks on the track but my work ethic will stay the same.”
Jordi GENÉ
“I’m happy for the fact that I came second and
Yvan won. If I can’t win the drivers’ championship
I am happy for SEAT and Yvan if he can, so I will help. Things
got more stressful in the final lap, as I saw Thompson’s
Alfa Romeo coming closer and closer but it went well in the
end. I think my tyres lasted longer than Yvan’s because
I took it easier on the first few laps.”
James THOMPSON
““I knew our car was fast and thought if I got
a good start and kept out of trouble I could work through
the pack. I am happy with the car and the result. In theory
I could be in with a chance at the title when we go to Macau
and that is giving myself and the team a bit of a sparkle
at the moment.”
Luca RANGONI
“It was a much tougher race than I expected. I had
a big problem with understeering. This result was important
for me because I have closed the gap between myself and Corthals.
I hope we can fight for the championship in Macau.
2007 FIA World Touring Car Championship
RACE CLASSIFICATION - RACE 1
POS NO CL DRIVER NAT CAR TIME LAPS GAP KPH BEST
Weather/Track: Sun 19°/Dry 22°
www.mstworld.com
Monza
Circuit Length = 5.7930 km.
Start: 12:03 End: 12:22
Printed - 12:26 Sunday, 07 October 2007
Race Director: Steward: Timekeeper:
1 12 Yvan MULLER FRA SEAT Leon TDI 18:19.438 9 169.70 2:00.940
2 9 Jordi GENE ESP SEAT Leon TDI 18:19.639 9 0.201 169.67
2:00.864
3 15 James THOMPSON GBR Alfa Romeo 156 18:20.305 9 0.867 169.57
2:01.026
4 7 Nicola LARINI ITA Chevrolet Lacetti 18:20.634 9 1.196
169.52 2:01.104
5 8 Alain MENU SUI Chevrolet Lacetti 18:21.854 9 2.416 169.33
2:01.256
6 11 Gabriele TARQUINI ITA SEAT Leon TDI 18:22.446 9 3.008
169.24 2:01.047
7 3 Augusto FARFUS BRA BMW 320si 18:23.490 9 4.052 169.08
2:01.666
8 6 Robert HUFF GBR Chevrolet Lacetti 18:24.128 9 4.690 168.98
2:01.136
9 20 Tom CORONEL NED SEAT Leon 18:29.367 9 9.929 168.18 2:01.651
10 30 I Luca RANGONI ITA BMW 320si 18:30.114 9 10.676 168.07
2:01.472
11 14 Fredrik EKBLOM SWE BMW 320si 18:34.554 9 15.116 167.40
2:01.141
12 38 Oscar NOGUES ESP SEAT Leon 18:34.950 9 15.512 167.34
2:01.814
13 4 Alessandro ZANARDI ITA BMW 320si 18:35.768 9 16.330 167.22
2:01.237
14 23 I Pierre-Yves CORTHALS BEL SEAT Leon 18:35.969 9 16.531
167.19 2:01.701
15 10 Michel JOURDAIN MEX SEAT Leon 18:37.027 9 17.589 167.03
2:01.696
16 17 I Tomas ENGSTROM SWE Honda Accord-R 18:37.375 9 17.937
166.98 2:01.652
17 2 Jorg MULLER GER BMW 320si 18:40.228 9 20.790 166.55 2:02.212
18 22 I Maurizio CERESOLI ITA SEAT Leon 18:40.563 9 21.125
166.50 2:02.257
19 5 Felix PORTEIRO ESP BMW 320si 18:40.969 9 21.531 166.44
2:01.078
20 31 I Sergio HERNANDEZ ESP BMW 320si 18:48.092 9 28.654
165.39 2:02.377
21 33 I Miguel FREITAS POR Alfa Romeo 156 18:56.562 9 37.124
164.16 2:03.626
22 26 I Stefano D'ASTE ITA BMW 320si 18:26.668 8 1 LAP 149.75
2:01.769
23 19 I Roberto COLCIAGO ITA SEAT Leon 15:14.678 7 2 LAPS
158.38 2:04.504
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