FIA WTCC Newsletter # 3 - 25 January 2008
YELLOW FEVER ALERT IN BRAZIL
Because of some cases of Yellow Fever that occurred in the
last few months, the Brazilian immigration authority strongly
recommends that all visitors be vaccinated against that disease.
Therefore it is advisable that all team members and media
representatives who are going to Curitiba for the FIA WTCC
opening race meeting have the vaccination.
It should be noted that the anti-yellow fever vaccine provides
protection only ten days after the inoculation.
It is also advisable that you bring the vaccination certificate
with you, as it may be requested by the Brazilian immigration
officers.
REMEMBERING ANDERS OLOFSSON
Anders Olofsson passed away last Monday in his house at the
age of 55.
In the late 70s Anders emerged as a talented Formula 3 driver,
taking two Swedish national titles and winning seven rounds
of the FIA European F3 Championship in 1977 and 1978. Later
he became a works driver for Nissan winning the Japanese Touring
Car Championship three years running and the 1991 24 Hours
of Spa.
He spent the last part of his career in GT, driving a Ferrari
F40 to an outstanding victory on his home track at Anderstorp
in the 1995 BPR series and a Gulf/GTC McLaren to second overall
and first in class at the 1997 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Olofsson remained in motor sport over the last few years
working as team manager of his Swedish fellow countryman Carl
Rosenblad, at the Elgh Motorsport team, in the European, World
and Swedish Touring Car championships.
He will be remembered as a real gentleman and will definitely
be missed.
All the FIA WTCC personnel express their sympathy to his
family, friends and team.
CHEVROLET TESTED AT ESTORIL
The Chevrolet RML team conducted a three-day test at the
Portuguese track of Estoril from Monday to Wednesday. Alain
Menu, Nicola Larini and Rob Huff tested and evaluated several
new components for the 2008-spec Chevrolet Lacetti, which
also sports a revised livery for the coming season. Further
tests, including those of the 2008 engine, will be conducted
in the United Kingdom using the test car, while the race cars
will be shipped on February 1st to South America for the WTCC
opening event in Curitiba, Brazil on March 2nd.
Technical director Mark Way explained: "The last two
seasons we benefitted from an engine waiver (12:1 compression
ratio and increased valve lift). This season the waiver will
not be renewed, but we will get a 20kg reduction of our base
weight instead. We have been working hard in all areas of
the 2008 car to make up this difference and are confident
that with the weight reduction and our winter developments
we can continue the competitiveness seen last year."
Nicola Larini said: "We were testing brand new cars,
albeit still with the '07 engine. However they had everything
else of the '08 package installed. We have been mainly busy
validating parts, particularly the suspension, differential
and overall set-up and we had no reliability issues whatsoever,
which makes me feel quite confident for the season."
SEASON PREVIEW ON EUROSPORT
Eurosport will broadcast a 30-minute preview of the FIA World
Touring Car Championship's new season.
The preview will be first aired on February 19th at 11.00
pm on Eurosport International and will be repeated several
times on Eurosport International (February 20th at 8.30 am
and February 29th at 1.00 am), Eurosport 2 (February 21st
at 7.00 pm, February 28th at 10.00 pm, February 29th at 2.30
pm and March 1st at 12.15 pm) and Eurosport World (February
20th at 3.30 am and February 21st at 9.45 am).
All times are Central European Time.
BRAZILIAN RACES LIVE ON TV
The two opening races of the 2008 World Touring Car Championship
will be televised live from Curitiba on Sunday, March 2nd.
The first race will start at 1.15 pm local time and will
be aired on Eurosport from 5.00 to 6.00 pm Central European
Time.
The second race will start at 4.15 pm local time and will
be aired on Eurosport from 8.00 to 9.00 pm Central European
Time.
COUNTDOWN: - 37 DAYS
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