FIA WTCC newsletter 19
WTCC LAUNCHED AT BIOPARC VALENCIA
The WTCC Race of Spain was officially launched this afternoon
at Bioparc Valencia, the city's modern and spectacular zoological
park that was inaugurated last year. The park spreads over
a surface of 100,000 square metres and is inspired by the
concept of zoo-immersion that casts the visitors straight
into the wild animals' habitat.
Three WTCC cars - Félix Porteiro's BMW, Jordi Gené's
SEAT and Robert Huff's Chevrolet - where exhibited near the
area dedicated to the savannah wildlife, while a number of
drivers (including the Spaniards: Porteiro, Gené, Sergio
Hernández and SEAT's rookie José Manuel Pérez-Aicart)
attended the press conference that was held in the Bioparc's
cinema.
Marcello Lotti, General Manager of KSO, was among the speakers:
"Like the other FIA championships the WTCC is very keen
to promote initiatives which aim to reduce the environmental
impact of motoring. Therefore I believe that this presentation
in the Valencia Bioparc proves that wildlife and motorsport
can coexist when we all work together for the future."
Bioparc's director Koen Brouwer echoed: "We always welcome
everything is done to preserve the environment. Therefore
we were very happy to host the WTCC and we congratulate the
FIA for their Make Cars Green campaign."
JOHN CLELAND JOINS EUROSPORT
Former Touring Car legend John Cleland will join Eurosport
as WTCC commentator from the event in Valencia.
For eleven years - from 1989 to 1999 - Cleland was a leading
player in the British Touring Car Championship; he always
raced for Vauxhall, winning 32 races and clinching the championship
crown twice, in 1989 and 1995.
A 56-year old Scotsman, Cleland replaces his late countryman
David Leslie who perished recently in a plane crash.
Alongside Martin Haven, Cleland will commentate the whole
WTCC season for British Eurosport, in the role of a very special
expert as he not only knows very well the business, but has
also raced against some of the current WTCC drivers like Alain
Menu, James Thompson (who was his team-mate at Vauxhall) and
Gabriele Tarquini.
DOUBLE RACING FOR PÉREZ-AICART
This will be an intensive racing weekend for José Manuel
Pérez-Aicart, the young Spanish driver who makes his
first WTCC appearance, a reward for having won the 2007 SEAT
León Supercópa.
Besides taking part in the WTCC at the wheel of a SUNRED SEAT
León, the Spaniard will also compete in the GT Open
series driving a SR21 car run by the same team.
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