The 9th and 10th rounds of the 2010 FIA WTCC will take place at Portimão next week.
This event marks the championship’s first visit to the modern Autódromo Internacional de Algarve located in Southern Portugal, which was inaugurated in 2008.
Among the many possible layouts offered by this impressive, state-of-the art venue, the FIA WTCC cars will run on the 4.6km racetrack for two 11-lap races.
In previous seasons the WTCC Race of Portugal was hosted alternatively by the Porto street circuit (in 2007 and 2009) and the Estoril permanent track (in 2008).
Action at Portimão will begin on Friday afternoon at 14.30, when the drivers will explore the new circuit in a 30-minute test session.
Yvan Muller’s Chevrolet during the winter test at Portimão
NO CHANGES FOR THE HANDICAP WEIGHTS
The handicap weights for the WTCC Race of Portugal remain the same as for the previous event in Zolder.
The Chevrolet Cruze and the SEAT León TDI remain the heaviest cars of the field and for the third consecutive race meeting they will carry the maximum compensation weight of 40 kg.
The compensation weight was determined by the lap times set in Morocco, Italy and Belgium. According to this calculation, the León TDI emerged as the fastest car, two tenths faster than the Cruze and half-a-second faster than the BMW 320si. The German cars have again been imposed 20 extra kilos for the Portuguese event.
The Chevrolet Lacetti and Kristian Poulsen’s BMW (an old model) will have 20kg deducted from their minimum weight.
Compensation weight Portimão
+ 40 kg SEAT León TDI, Chevrolet Cruze LT
+ 20 kg BMW 320si
– 20 kg Chevrolet Lacetti, BMW 320si (old model)
Once again the BMW cars will be 20 kg lighter than the Chevrolet and SEAT cars
CURRENT SUPER 2000 CARS WITH 1.6L TURBO
Following a proposal from the Touring Car Commission, the FIA World Motor Sport Council decided to adopt a new cost-controlling technical regulations to permit the adaptation of the current Super 2000 cars to the new 1.6L turbo engine in 2011.