BMW drivers Petr Fulín dominated his home race meeting at Brno Automotodrom today, winning both races in his Krenek Motorsport BMW 320si and clinching the European title in the Super 2000 class.
Fulín and his team-mate and fellow Czech countryman Michal Matějovský were in a league of their own, but while Matějovský spoiled his chances with two mistakes – not stopping at the weighing bridge in qualifying, that cost him a grid penalty, and then spinning out in the first race – Fulín kept his head cool and rejected the attempts of his only rival, the 19-year old Mat’o Homola.
His victories also gave the Nations’ Cup to Czech Republic.
After struggling in qualifying and in the first race, Mario Dablander claimed another victory in Race 2 – the third of the season for him – that was crucial to secure the Single-Make Trophy crown while his rivals were fighting for positions behind him. If Dablander was celebrating his title, Hungarian youngster Ferenc Ficza emerged as the event’s winner thanks to a couple of second places.
With the Super 1600 title already awarded to him for the second consecutive year, Kevin Krammes fought in both races with Gilles Bruckner and eventually had to bow to his rival who scored a double victory. His first in ETCC.
In the Ladies’ Trophy, Ulrike Krafft won the Czech event by finishing twice third in the Super 1600 class; however, this was not enough to close the gap in the standings and the title went to Rikli Motorsport’s Andrina Gugger.

RACE 1 – FULÍN WINS RACE AND TITLE
On his home racetrack Petr Fulín claimed a dominant lights-to-flag victory and secured the Super 2000 European Touring Car Cup title. In the Single-Make Trophy, Aurélien Comte managed to steal victory from Ferenc Ficza at the last corner to boost his titles hopes; before the final race Mario Dablander is still leading the classifications but his margin was reduced to three points ahead of Comte and five ahead of Jordi Oriola.
Gilles Bruckner scored his maiden victory in Super 1600, beating the class champion Kevin Krammes in a close battle that lasted the whole race.

RACE 2 – DABLANDER GRABS SMT CROWN
Petr Fulín and Gilles Bruckner encored their Race 1 victories, while Mario Dablander won the Single-Make Trophy and grabbed the category’s title.
Dablander took the lead at the start but then had to leave the way to the faster Super 2000 cars of Fulín, Mat’o Homola and Dušan Borković. However, he was able to defenf the fourth position overall that gave him victory in the class and the title as well, while Ferenc Ficza stole second place from Andreas Pfister on the last lap.
In the Super 1600 Gilles Bruckner overtook the class champion Kevin Krammes also on the last lap. Ulrike Krafft finished third and won the Ladies’ Trophy for the Czech event, but lost the title to Andrina Gugger.

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The other champions are Krammes, Karamyshev and Poulsen

For the third time this season, Fernando Monje and his SEAT León TDi took back-to-back victories. Today at Imola the 19-year old Spaniard claimed his fifth and sixth wins out of the series’ eight races to be crowned champion in the Super 2000 class.

Since the 2012 ETCC kicked off in Monza, Monje had proved he was in a class of his own and only a couple of technical failures occurred during the season’s second race meeting at the Slovakia Ring, prevented him from securing the title even before the final event. Monje was the third SEAT driver to clinch the S2000 title after Ryan Sharp in 2006 and Michel Nykjær in 2007; his repeated victories also meant that the Nation’s Cup was awarded to Spain and collected by SEAT Sport’s Director Jaime Puig.
His SUNRED Engineering team-mate Igor Skuz was classified second in both races today, but it was Switzerland’s Peter Rikli (Honda Civic) who finished as the runner-up in the series, beating Peter Fulín (BMW 320si) by one mere point.

In the Super 1600 class, local racer Paolo Necchi tried his best, claiming pole position and two race wins. However, this was not enough to steal the title from Germany’s Kevin Krammes who eventually topped the standings by seven points only. The Imola races also highlighted the progress of the Maurer Motorsport Chevrolet Aveo; with two second places the 20-year old Argentine Wilson Borgnino managed to climb to fourth in the points despite missing the first event at Monza and remaining scoreless in Slovakia. The little Chevrolet has definitely the potential to stop the invincibility of the Ford Fiesta in the class.

Although the Super Production title had been awarded even before Imola to Nikolay Karamyshev, the Russian driver recovered from an engine failure that had sidelined his Honda Civic in yesterday’s qualifying and added two more victories to his tally.

The title fight for the Single-Make Trophy went to the wire. In both races at Imola, Norway’s Stian Paulsen managed to keep his rival Andreas Pfister at bay and eventually edged him by only six points in the final classification.

Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola
www.fiaetcc.com – http://www.autodromoimola.it

Fabrizio Giovanardi has crowned with another FIA European title his comeback to international touring car racing.
Ten years after winning the European Touring Car Championship twice for Alfa Romeo (in 2001 and 2002) e having added two British Touring Car Championship titles in the meantime, the Italian driver proved that at the age of 45 he is still a winner. At the wheel of a Honda Accord car he won the Super 2000 cup at the Austrian Salzburgring, beating Pepe Oriola (28 years junior!) by one mere point and giving the Danish Hartmann Motorsport their third consecutive title after those won in 2009 and 2010 by James Thompson.
The 17-year old Spaniard Oriola was equally impressive, and showed that his first year in the WTCC is bringing him to maturity very quickly. Just like a veteran he fought with Giovanardi with no awes, and even managed to win the second race, clinching the last international victory for the glorious SEAT León TDi.
Tomas Engström confirmed his consistency and finished third, his fourth podium result in the Euro Cup. Michel Nykjær had less luck, as his hopes to win a third European title were swept away by unexpected engine problems that plagued his Chevrolet Cruze in the qualifying and the races.
The Super Production title went to Serbian racer Aleksandar Tosic, at the wheel of the very same Honda Civic car driven by his fellow countryman Vojislav Lekic to become champion in 2010.
Thomas Mühlenz scored a double victory and clinched the S1600 crown; an historical success as it was achieved at the wheel an LPG-powered Ford Fiesta.

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On a rainy day James Thompson, Carsten Seifert and Vojislav Lekic were sacred winners of the 2010 FIA European Touring Car Cups.
WTCC regular Michel Nykjær was today’s hero as he won both races at the wheel of a SUNRED SEAT León TDI. The Dane claimed his first victory overtaking Thompson at the start and then encored in Race 2 beating Tomas Engström in an exciting fight.
Nykjær only joined the series at the second race meeting in Austria and since then he won all the four races, but Thompson’s consistency was the winning card and gave Honda and Hartmann Racing the second consecutive FIA Super 2000 cup.
Just like Thompson, Seifert confirmed himself as the Super 1600 champion. At the wheel of his NK Racing Ford Fiesta the German managed to win both races in Italy, cutting short the hopes of fellow countryman Jens Löhnig.
Serbian rookie Lekic and his AK Djelmas Sport Honda Civic clinched the Super Production Cup with two victories in Franciacorta. Lekic had a clear round during the season as he won all the four races he took part in.
The Nations‘ Cup was awarded to Denmark, thanks to Nykjær’s victories.

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The 2010 FIA European Touring Car Cup starts this week in Braga for the first of its three events.
After being held at a single event for the past five years, the ETCC will visit Austria and Italy after Portugal for the 2010 season.
The original schedule included an event in Oschersleben, Germany, on September 5^th, but this was cancelled to avoid clashes with the national touring car series.

2010 FIA European Touring Car Cup – calendar

28^th March – Braga, Portugal
25^th July – Salzburgring, Austria
14^th October – Franciacorta, Italy

SHORT STORY OF THE EUROPEAN CUP
The FIA European Touring Car Cup is reserved for cars complying with the FIA Super 2000, Super Production and Super 1600 technical regulations. Drivers‘ titles are awarded for each of the three categories.
The first event, held in Valellunga, Italy, on 16^th October 2005 was won by Richard Göransson from Sweden in a BMW 320i (S2000) and Lorenzo Falessi from Italy in an Alfa Romeo 147 (SP).
The second event took place in Estoril, Portugal, on 22^nd October 2006 and saw victories for Ryan Sharp from Scotland in a SEAT León (S2000) and Alexander Lvov from Russia in a Honda Civic (SP).
The third event, hosted by the Italian Adria Raceway, on 28^th October 2007, Denmark’s Michel Nykjær (SEAT León) and Russia’s Aleksey Basov (Honda Civic) claimed the S2000 and SP titles respectively.
Nykjær (Chevrolet Lacetti) encored his S2000 victory at the Austrian Salzburgring, on 29^th October 2008. Italian Fabio Fabiani (BMW 320i) was sacred champion in SP. S1600 cars made their first appearance and the title went to Ralf Martin from Germany in a Ford Fiesta ST.
Last year the ETCC visited Braga’s Circuito Vasco Samerio on October 25^th. In rainy race conditions, James Thompson (Honda Acccord) won the S2000 Cup, while Marcis Birkens (Honda Civic) and Carsten Seifert (Ford Fiesta) were crowned in the SP and S1600 classes respectively.

A THREE-MANUFACTURER BATTLE FOR S2000
Although the number of cars has shrunk considerably compared to the previous years, especially because the smaller teams could not find the budget to afford to take part in the event, the level of the Super 2000 12-car field promises exciting and close competition.
In the major class, local drivers César Campaniço (BMW) and Francisco Caravalho (BMW) will face a strong international representation headed by the Honda cars of James Thompson and Tomas Engström that also includes a few FIA WTCC independents such as Kristian Poulsen (BMW) from Denmark, Marin Colak (SEAT) from Croatia and Ibrahim Okyay (BMW) from Turkey.
The strong Spanish team SUNRED Engineering will run petrol-powered SEAT cars for a couple of young and promising drivers, the 19-year old Russian Timur Sadredinov and the 21-year old Michaël Rossi from France.
A whole family will make the long trip from the far Ukraine: Leonid Protasov leads a trio of BMW cars, alongside his son Yuriy and his daughter Irina. 
Drivers of three different manufacturers – BMW, Honda and SEAT – will be fighting on equal ground for the European crown.

2009 CHAMPIONS DEFEND THEIR TITLES
All three winners of the 2009 FIA ETCC titles are eager to defend their crowns.
In the Super 2000 class James Thompson is back at the wheel of the Honda Accord run by the Denmak-based Hartmann Honda Racing. The Briton, who will drive the same car in this year’s Scandinavian Touring Car Cup, is joined by the experienced Swede Tomas Engström, the only driver who has taken part in all the ETCC events from 2005 onwards. The pair is also due to make occasional appearances in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
Latvian driver Marcis Birkens, who clinched the Super Production Cup last year in his SC Papa’s Racing Team Honda Civic, will be challenged by the BMW 320i of the previous winner Fabio Fabiani, who won the class in 2008.
In the Super 1600 class three Ford Fiesta cars will fight for victory, with reigning champion Carsten Seifert facing his German countrymen Jens Lhönig and Florian Heitmeier.

NATIONS CUP AWARDED FOR THE FOURTH TIME
In addition to the three FIA European Touring Car Cups for Super 2000, Super Production and Super 1600 drivers, the FIA Touring Car Nations Cup will be awarded for the fourth time. This title goes to the National Sporting Authority (ASN) whose drivers have scored the highest number of points in the two races.
The best two cars entered by competitors belonging to the same ASN will be taken into consideration for the Nations Cup’s classification.
The Nations Cup was awarded to the British Motor Sports Association in 2006 and 2009 and to the Dansk Automobil Sports Union in 2007 in 2008.

ONE QUALIFYING AND TWO 50-KM RACES
The format of the FIA European Touring Car Cup is based on the FIA World Touring Car Championship’s.
After three one-hour private test sessions on Friday, the actual event will start on Saturday with one 30-minute practice and one 30-minute qualifying session.
On Sunday two back-to-back 50-km races (17 laps) will take place, featuring a rolling start and a standing start respectively.
The grid for the second race will be determined by the results of the first race, with the first eight drivers classified placed in reverse order.

YOKOHAMA AWARDS 100,000-EURO PRIZE MONEY
At each of the three events, Yokohama, sole supplier of the control tyres for the FIA European Touring Car Cup, will award the competitors prize money of 100,000 euros.
Prize money will be split among the three categories: ? 70,000 to Super 2000, ? 20,000 to Super 1600 and ? 10,000 to Super Production.

www.fiaetcc.com

Touring car ace James Thompson added another jewel to his already rich crown by clinching the FIA European Super 2000 Cup after a couple of hectic races at Braga today. After finishing third in the first race on a wet track, the Briton and his Honda Accord took the most out of the nearly dry asphalt in the second race and overturned the situation by jumping ahead of rivals Franz Engstler and Norbert Michelisz.
The final result meant that there were three different manufacturers represented on the podium: Honda, BMW and SEAT. In five editions of the cup Honda is the fourth manufacturer to win the S2000 trophy after BMW, SEAT (twice) and Chevrolet.
Thompson’s victory, added to Harry Vaulhards points, also meant that Great Britain was awarded the Nation’s Cup.
Latvian driver Marcis Birkens (Honda Civic) won the Super Production cup, becoming the first Baltic driver to win an FIA ETCC title, while Carsten Seifer (Ford Fiesta) continued Germany’s winning tradition in the S1600 cup.

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BRAGA TO HOST THE FIFTH EDITION
OF THE FIA EUROPEAN TOURING CAR CUP

The fifth edition of the FIA European Touring Car Cup will take place on October 25^th at Braga’s Circuito Vasco Samerio.
This will be the first FIA automobile event at the 3.0 km racetrack located 6 km North of Portugal’s third largest city. Although the karting track nearby has hosted several international meetings, including FIA World Championships in 2000 and 2005, the racing circuit has only been used for national events so far.
16 drivers of 10 nationalities have entered the event and they are at the wheel of cars built from 6 different manufacturers (see the final entry list attached).

A FOUR-MANUFACTURER BATTLE FOR S2000
Although the number of cars has shrunk considerably compared to the previous editions, especially because the smaller teams could not find the budget to afford taking part in the event, the top level of the Super 2000 field promises exciting and close competition.
In the major class, double European Cup winner Michel Nykjær will try to secure a third consecutive title facing strong opposition from WTCC regulars James Thompson and Franz Engstler, SEAT Eurocup new champion Norbert Michelisz, experienced touring car racers like Vincent Radermecker and Tomas Engström, ambitious young lions such as Harry Vaulkhard and Per Poulsen and a trio of very fast locals: Fèlix Duarte da Costa, José Monroy and Francisco Carvalho.
As a matter of fact, drivers of four different manufacturers – BMW, Chevrolet, Honda and SEAT – will be fighting on equal ground for the European crown.

SHORT STORY OF THE EUROPEAN CUP
The FIA European Touring Car Cup is reserved for cars complying with the FIA Super 2000, Super Production and Super 1600 technical regulations. Drivers‘ titles are awarded for each of the three categories.
The first edition, held in Valellunga, Italy, on 16^th October 2005 was won by Richard Göransson from Sweden in a BMW 320i (S2000) and Lorenzo Falessi from Italy in an Alfa Romeo 147 (SP).
The second edition took place in Estoril, Portugal, on 22^nd October 2006 and saw victories of Ryan Sharp from Scotland in a SEAT León (S2000) and Alexander Lvov from Russia in a Honda Civic (SP).
The third edition, hosted by the Italian Adria Raceway, on 28^th October 2008, Denmark’s Michel Nykjær (SEAT León) and Russia’s Aleksey Basov (Honda Civic) claimed the S2000 and SP titles respectively.
Nykjær (Chevrolet Lacetti) encored his S2000 victory in last year’s edition at the Austrian Salzburgring, on 29^th October 2009. Italian Fabio Fabiani (BMW 320i) was sacred champion in SP. S1600 cars made their first appearance and the tìitle went to Ralf Martin from Germany in a Ford Fiesta ST.

NATIONS CUP AWARDED FOR THE FOURTH TIME
In addition to the three FIA European Touring Car Cups for Super 2000, Super Production and Super 1600 drivers, the FIA Touring Car Nations Cup will be awarded for the fourth time. This title goes to the National Sporting Authority (ASN) whose drivers have scored the highest number of points in the two races. The best two cars entered by competitors belonging to same ASN will be taken into consideration for the Nations Cup’s classification.
The Nations Cup was awarded to the British Motor Sports Association in 2006 and the Dansk Automobil Sports Union in 2007 in 2008.

ONE QUALIFYING AND TWO 50-KM RACES
The format of the FIA European Touring Car Cup is based on the FIA World Touring car Championship’s.
After private test sessions on Friday, the actual event will start on Saturday with two 30-minute practices and one 30-minute qualifying.
On Sunday two back-to-back 50-km races (17 laps) will take place, featuring a rolling start and a standing start respectively.
The grid for the second race will be determined by the results of the first race, with the first eight drivers classified placed in reverse order.

YOKOHAMA AWARDS 165,000-EURO PRIZE MONEY
Yokohama, sole supplier of the control tyres of the FIA European Touring Car Cup will award the competitors a prize money of 165,000 euros.
Prize money will be split among the three categories: ? 125,000 to Super 2000, ? 25,000 to Super 1600 and ? 15,000 to Super Production.

NYKJÆR LOOKS FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE CROWN
Michel Nykjær, recently crowned Danish Touring Car champion for the second time, will defend his double FIA European Touring Car Cup title in the Super 2000 class at Braga. The Dane, who will be again at the wheel of a Perfection Racing Chevrolet Lacetti car, won the ETCC in 2007 at Adria and in 2008 at Salzburgring.
"I guess that because I arrive with two consecutive victories I should be regarded as one of the favourite drivers. But there are many others who are aiming for the title, so it is going to be a hard fight. In this kind of event, when everything is decided in one day, anything can happen. It would be great to win again and make a hat trick, but it requires two perfect heats," said Nykjær.

MICHELISZ WINS PARTICIPATION IN BRAGA
By clinching the 2009 SEAT León Eurocup title, Norbert Michelisz won participation in the FIA European Touring Car Cup.
The 24-year old from Hungary will race at Braga in a SEAT León car entered by SUNRED Engineering.
This is the second year the winner of the SEAT Eurocup is awarded with participation in the ETCC. In 2008 Oscar Nogués won the second race to finish runner-up in the S2000 cup at the Austrian Salzburgring.

THOMPSON TOPS THE FAVOURITES‘ LIST
WTCC ace James Thompson joins the ETCC in Braga as the most serious contender for the Super 2000 crown.
The Briton will race a Honda Accord run by the Denmak-based Hartmann Honda Racing, the same car he has driven in selected events of the Danish Touring Car Championship, claiming four race victories. The ETCC is the umpteenth commitment for Thompson who is spending the season jumping back and forth between WTCC with LADA Sport, the Danish and British Touring Car championships and the Australian V8 series.
His team-mate in Braga will be Per Poulsen, the winner of the Privateers‘ Cup for Hartmann in this year’s Danish Touring Car Championship.

A STRONG PAIR FOR MAURER MOTORSPORT
Maurer Motorsport come to Braga with a very strong team: two Chevrolet Lacetti cars in the hands of Vincent Radermecker and José Monroy.
Both drivers have already been successful with the Swiss outfit during the previous seasons. Radermecker, a 42-year-old from Belgium, is one of the most experienced Touring Car racers in Europe, having competed in the British, Belgian, French and German championships claiming three national titles in his home country and the 2006 German ADAC Procar with a Maurer-run Chevrolet.
Monroy, 29 from Lisbon is a top contender in the Portuguese Touring Car Championship. After finishing runner-up in 2007 switching from a BMW to Maurer’s Lacetti in the last races, he is currently leading the series‘ 4^th Division at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX.

ENGSTLER TEAMS UP WITH KITSING
WTCC regular independent Franz Engstler will take part in the ETCC once again. After he saw his ambitions frustrated last year because of a pile up at the start of the first race, the German driver is definitely determined to claim a great result.
The second BMW of Liqui Moly Team Engstler will be driven by Estonian racer Urmas Kitsing, who made his first ETCC appearance last year at Salzburg and is currently competing in the German ADAC Procar series.

ENGSTRÖM THE FAITHFUL FOLLOWER
Among the ETCC competitors, Tomas Engström is the most faithful follower. As a matter of fact he is the only one who has taken part in all the four previous editions. And he’s coming to Braga to make his fifth consecutive appearance at the wheel of his Honda Accord.
After a third place in the 2006 ETCC at Estoril and a second in 2007 at Adria, last year Engström qualified fourth at Salzburg but retired in the first race after an incident. Maybe Braga will bring him luck. "My goal is definitely to compete for a podium position!" he said.

TWO CHEVROLET CARS FOR BAMBOO
UK-based Bamboo Engineering have entered two Chevrolet Lacetti cars. The team’s BTCC regular driver Harry Vaulkhard will be joined by Duarte Fèlix da Costa who currently lies second in the Portuguese Touring Car Championship after a recent race win at the Braga circuit in September.
"Looking at the circuit the Chevrolet should be a strong car round there and to have someone alongside me with the experience of Duarte should put us in a great position for a good result there," Vaulkhard declared.
Da Costa echoed: "To race with Bamboo was an easy choice for me, the Chevrolet is a fast car, with their experience of the car in the BTCC and RML support, I’m certain it’s a good combination and I’m sure we’ll be on the pace from the outset."

VELOSO MOTORSPORT AIM FOR GOOD RESULT
Francisco Carvalho will take part in the Super 2000 cup at the wheel of a SEAT León run by Veloso Motorsport.
"This participation is a big step forward for out team, as we aim to build up international experience. We are proud to race in Braga and we have high expectations because of the car’s potential and the driver’s excellent knowledge of the track," said team principal Luís Veloso.
After claiming a number of victories in the Portuguese Touring Car Championship and the SEAT Supercópa driving a León Turbo, Carvalho is facing his maiden appearance in a Super 2000 machine: "I am very happy for this opportunity that I have been waiting long for. We have very good chances to claim an important result, although our handicap is having not enough time to get used to the car."

FINANCIAL CRISIS AFFECTS SMALLER CLASSES
The financial crisis has hit the smaller teams hard, affecting participation in the Super Production and Super 1600 categories.
Only three drivers have entered in Super Production. Marcis Birkens from Latvia drives a Honda Civic; he has recently been crowned Baltic Touring Car champion and faces his first international motorsport appearance. Russians Nikolay Karamishev (VW Golf) and Mikhail Zasadych (Opel Astra) have already competed in the ETCC. Karamishev was runner-up in Super Production last year at Salzburg, while his fellow countryman Zasadych took part in the 2006 event at Estoril.
Carsten Seifert is the only competitor for the Super 1600 Cup. The 28-year-old German will be at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta ST; he was classified second in last year’s event at the Salzburgring.

BOTH RACES LIVE ON EUROSPORT
Eurosport will broadcast live both the FIA European Touring Car Cup races from Braga on Sunday, October 25^th.
Race 1 will be aired on Eurosport 2 from 13.00 to 13.30; coverage of the second race will be on Eurosport International, from 14.30 to 15.00. All times are CET.

THE ETCC OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Further information, regulations, results and photos are available on the official website of the FIA European Touring Car Cup: www.fiaetcc.com.