FIA WTCC NEWSLETTER # 41 – 19 October 2007
TITLE CONTENDERS ON MAXIMUM BALLAST
All the six drivers who are still in contention to secure
the world champion’s crown will be carrying the maximum
60kg ballast on board their cars at Macau: Andy Priaulx, Yvan
Muller, Augusto Farfus, James Thompson, Jörg Müller
and Nicola Larini.
Gabriele Tarquini and Robert Huff, currently placed eighth
and nine in the championship classification, will have the
same handicap weight, while Alain Menu and Jordi Gené
will be only 5 kilos lighter.
A total of 19 drivers will receive handicap weight, including
newcomers Duncan Huisman, Franz Engstler, Andrey Romanov and
Ao Chi Hong.
60 kg A. Priaulx, Y. Muller, A. Farfus, J. Thompson, J. Müller,
N. Larini, G. Tarquini,
R. Huff
55 kg A. Menu, J. Gené
15 kg T. Monteiro and F. Porteiro
10 kg T. Coronel, A. Zanardi, D. Huisman, F. Engstler, A.
Romanov, Ao Chi Hong
5 kg L. Rangoni
ENGSTLER AND ROMANOV TO MACAU
Germany-based Engstler Motorsport team have entered
two BMW cars in the FIA WTCC finale at Macau. Team principal
Franz Engstler and Andrey Romanov from Russia will be at the
wheel of the two BMW 320i E46 machines that they drove to
first and second positions in this year’s ADAC Procar
German Championship. Engstler, 43-years old from Kempten,
is an extremely experienced Touring Car driver. During his
career he claimed two German national titles, the first of
them in the 2000 German Touring Car Challenge. He also won
two Asian Touring Car Championships in 2005 and 2006. All
at the wheel of BMW cars.
Romanov, 28-years old from Moscow, started racing only in
2003. After building experience in the Russian Lada and Honda
Civic cups he switched last year to the national Touring Car
Championship and claimed pole position for the Super Production
class in the 2006 FIA European Touring Car Cup at Estoril.
AO CHI HONG JOINS FOR HOME RACE
Macanese driver Ao Chi Hong will join again the FIA WTCC field
for his home race at the wheel of an Ao’s Racing Team
BMW 320i.
A regular competitor and a podium finisher in the Asian Touring
Car Championship, the 47-year old was due to take part in
the 2005 FIA WTCC Guia Race, but a crash at Fishermen’s
bend during Friday’s qualifying sidelined him for the
weekend. He came back in 2006 and finally took the start of
the first race that he managed to finish in 19th position.
He did not finish the second race. 2
THE FIA WTCC AT SPORTEL-MONACO
WTCC results and plans were presented Tuesday at Sportel-Monaco.
Jacques Behar, president of Eurosport Events and KSO, stated:
“The WTCC is only three years old and the youngest of
the FIA World Championships, but is also one of the most dynamic.
We are very happy with its consistent increase in terms of
media coverage, audiences and popularity.”
Besides providing exciting races, the FIA WTCC has a role
to play with the general public. “We wish to support
social and humanitarian initiatives in the countries we visit
and make the public aware of the environmental problems,”
Behar added. “The WTCC is the ideal launch pad for these
actions and we aim to make it a pattern of competition able
to deliver top-level sporting show as well as social responsibility.”
THE LARINI FAMILY GROWS
Yesterday Nicola Larini became father for the third time.
His wife Laura gave birth to Davide, a lovely little boy of
3.6 kg. Best wishes to the new born-child and congratulations
to his proud parents from the whole WTCC family.
THE FIA ETCC NEXT WEEK AT ADRIA
The third edition of the FIA European Touring Car Cup, reserved
for Super 2000 and Super Production cars, will take place
next week (October 28th) at Adria, Italy. 41 drivers from
ten different countries and at the wheel of cars built from
12 manufacturers have entered in the event.
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