FIA WTCC Newsletter # 4 - 1 February 2008
HONDA READY TO TEST IN VALENCIA
N.Technology will take part in the 2008 FIA World Touring
Car Championship with a Honda Accord Euro R, designed and
built by JAS Motorsport and driven by James Thompson who classified
third in the 2007 FIA WTCC. The team will start their test
programme next week in Valencia.
"It's an exciting project," said N.Technology chief
Mauro Sipsz. "I have always had a lot of respect for
JAS as competitors and I'm now looking forward to working
together on this programme."
JAS Motorsport, Honda's official partner for customer support
in competition, will be responsible for the design and building
of the car as well as its continued development. N.Technology
will run the racing programme.
"Finally we have the chance to be in the FIA WTCC with
a winning car and a winning driver," added Alessandro
Mariani, JAS Managing Director. "This programme is a
great opportunity for JAS to show how good our car is."
James Thompson commented: "I have always said how good
the N.Technology team is. The whole outfit works very well
together; it feels like a family. I was offered other drives
for next year but what I wanted most was to stay, which I
am with a three year contract. I'm lucky to have also worked
with JAS and Honda in the past, so knowing what we achieved
this year, who knows what we can do next season with a partnership
like this one!"
So far the best result achieved by a Honda car in the FIA
WTCC was third position in the 2006 Race of Mexico, at Puebla,
claimed by Ryan Sharp in a JAS Motorsport Accord Euro R.
CORONEL IN A SUNRED-RUN SEAT
For the fourth consecutive year Dutch driver Tom Coronel
will be racing a SEAT in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
With the backing of the Dutch SEAT importer, Pon Car, Coronel
will drive a León run by the Spanish team SUNRED. The
team has close links to SEAT Sport and are based nearby SEAT's
factory in Martorell.
"I am delighted that, thanks to the Dutch SEAT organisation,
I am able to race again in the WTCC this year," said
Tom Coronel. "For me, this is the best championship around
and this year I have the best package I have ever had."
After three successful seasons with the GR Asia team, with
which Coronel claimed the 2006 Independents' Trophy title,
he has now switched to SUNRED and he is optimistic about his
chances for the coming season: "First of all because
I will be taking part in the official FIA test sessions this
season, which wasn't the case in the previous years. Then
I see extra opportunities because recent changes in the technical
regulations enhance the competitiveness of the petrol-powered
León car. SEAT will also continue to develop the petrol
engine, so it looks quite promising!"
TIELEMANS JOINS WIECHERS-SPORT
The 23-year old Dutchman Olivier Tielemans will drive a BMW
320si car for the Germany-based Wiechers-Sport team in the
2008 FIA World Touring Car Championship.
Team owner Dieter Wiechers, commented: "We have chosen
Olivier because of his personality and his talent. We can
see that he is a potential winner."
Wiechers-Sport twice claimed the FIA WTCC Independents' Trophy
with Marc Hennerici in 2005 and Stefano D'Aste in 2007. During
the winter break they stripped and rebuilt the ex-D'Aste car.
Tielemans will drive it in Curitiba and Puebla before switching
to a brand new BMW from Valencia onwards.
In a few days the team will conduct a test session and immediately
afterwards the car will be sent to Antwerp, from where it
will be shipped to Brazil.
Tielemans, who raced for the Alfa Romeo N.technology team
last year, said: "I'm looking forward to the next season.
I learned a lot last year from my ex team-mate James Thompson
and now I will try to benefit from that experience."
|
