WTCC QUALIFYING REPORT

Former champion Yvan Muller will be on pole for Race 1 in Curitiba tomorrow, for the second year in succession. In a closely fought session the top seven cars ended within 0.2 seconds of each other. Chevrolet dominated the session with Alain Menu (1:23.829) and Rob Huff (1:23.833) being placed third and fourth. Only Jordi Gené in his SEAT León TDI managed to split the team mates by jumping to second with his lap of 1:23.757 in the dying seconds.

Q1- Rob Huff dominated Q1 smashing the circuit qualifying record of 1:24.196 with his early lap of 1:23.831. Despite being the first driver of the weekend to lap in under 1:24 he continued to push, beating his own time in the final minutes to sail through to Q2 with a time of 1:23.630.
His Chevrolet team mates Alain Menu (1:23.730) and Yvan Muller (1:23.923) also jumped up the order in the final minutes to make it a Chevrolet top three. Augusto Farfus (1:24.006) was the top BMW racer with Norbert Michelisz putting in a great lap in his SEAT León TDI, while in danger of dropping out the top ten, to post the fifth quickest time of 1:24.019.
Tiago Monteiro and Tom Coronel were left to fight for the final spot in Q2 and eventually, with a lap of 1:24.558, the Dutchman kicked his team-mate off by only four thousandths of a second.
Stefano D’Aste’s time of 1:25.153 jumped him ahead of Darryl O’Young to lead the Independents‘, claiming the 13^th position overall.

Q2- As the top ten drivers headed into the final 10-minute shoot out, Chevrolet was quick to assert their dominance with Muller, Menu and Huff topping the timesheet. As the chequered flag approached a nine-car slipstream of cars headed out on track with only Farfus remaining in the pits. Muller improved to secure his pole position while Gené’s final lap of 1:23.757 claimed a front row start for SR-Sport.
A mistake from the consistently quick newcomer Michelisz meant he ran wide through the Curva da Vitoria hindering his own, Menu’s and Priaulx’s final run, although the Swiss managed to salvage third ahead of team mate Huff. Reigning champion Tarquini claimed fifth ahead of Priaulx and Farfus, a disappointing result after the BMW 320si’s had been setting the pace for most of the weekend.
Danish racer Michel Nykjær posted the eighth quickest time and will start Race 1 tomorrow as the best of the rookies, while Coronel and Michelisz rounded out the top ten.

WTCC HSBC Race of Brazil – Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba – 6 / 7 March 2010

www.fiawtcc.com – www.autodromodecuritiba.com.br

Local man Augusto Farfus posted the fastest lap during today’s test as the 2010 WTCC season officially got underway at the Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba. The Brazilian topped the timesheets in his BMW 320si at the halfway point, before the session was briefly halted when Stefano D’Aste lost the back end of his BMW 320si and ended beached in the gravel at turn four.
In the dying moments of the session, Farfus bettered his earlier time clocking a 1:24.243 to remain on top. His BMW Team RBM team mate Andy Priaulx (1:24.732), who had led the session at the start, ended in third.
Alain Menu was the fastest of the Chevrolet men, driving his Cruze to the second quickest time with a lap of 1:24.732. Team mates, Yvan Muller (1:24.805) and Rob Huff (1:24.960) finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Reigning champion Gabriele Tarquini was quickest of the SEAT cars, posting a lap time of 1:25.308 to end the day sixth. His SR-Sport team mate Jordi Gené’s session ended early as he suffered problems with the steering box on his SEAT León TDI.
Hungarian youngster Norbert Michelisz was the best of the newcomers, posting an impressive seventh fastest time (1:25.625) and placing ahead of experienced drivers like Tom Coronel and Tiago Monteiro.

Augusto Farfus set the fastest lap on his home racetrack today

THEY SAID. THEY SAID..
Augusto FARFUS: "I am happy. We took advantage of the red flag and pitted to make some changes to the car, which were very effective. It was a good feeling to drive around so quickly. Now I have set the pace. I’m sure that from tomorrow the others will be closer but I wish to stay ahead if I can."
Alain MENU: "It was a session to get used to the track again. For the time being we are competitive as I am four tenths slower than Farfus, who was very quick. The car has too much understeer in the tight corners, so we have something to work on. If we manage to solve this I think we will be looking good."
Gabriele TARQUINI: "I am quite satisfied. We benefitted from our past experience and went out straightaway with the best set up for this track. The car was good from the very beginning so I am optimistic. I was really surprised by how much grip there was on the track. Last year we were struggling to find grip but now it’s totally different."

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The start of the 2010 FIA World Touring Car Championship is just one week away.
The series‘ sixth season will get underway once again at the Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba, Brazil.
This will be the fifth time the 3.7 km circuit has hosted the WTCC. The championship visited Curitiba for the first time in July 2006; a crowd of 34,000 attended the races that were won by Jordi Gené (SEAT León) and Andy Priaulx (BMW 320si).
From 2007 the Brazilian event was moved to March and given the honour of opening the season. BMW Team Germany fellow drivers Jörg Müller and local boy Augusto Farfus shared victories and the attendance was even larger, with 45,000 spectators. In 2008 SEAT won both races with Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini.
Lat year SEAT’s Muller and Tarquini managed to replicate the previous year’s good results.

Brazilian fans flock every year to Curitiba for the FIA WTCC races

FIA WTCC TO ADOPT NEW POINTS SYSTEM
Following a fax vote by the competitors in the FIA World Touring Car Championship and subject to the fax vote confirmation by the members of the World Motor Sport Council, an amendment will be made to the points system to align with the FIA Formula One World and World Rally Championships. This will take place with immediate effect.
Points will be awarded at each event according to the following scale:
1st: 25 points; 2nd: 18 pts; 3rd: 15 pts; 4th: 12 pts: 5th: 10 pts; 6th: 8pts; 7th: 6 pts; 8th: 4 pts; 9th: 2 pts; 10th: 1 point
Although points will be awarded to the first ten drivers classified in each of the twenty-four championship rounds, this will not affect the top-eight reverse grid for the second race of each event.

COMPENSATION WEIGHT – HOW IT WORKS
The Compensation Weight system (art. 79 of the Sporting Regulations) that was introduced in 2009 will determine the running weight of the WTCC cars again, on the basis of lap time calculation.
The best lap times of the two fastest cars of each model in qualifying and the two best lap times of the two fastest cars of each model in both races are averaged. The calculation is based on a three event rolling average, except it is applied for the first time after the first two events. For example, the results of Events 2, 3 and 4 determines the compensation weight for Event 5.
All the cars run in the first two events of the season on the minimum weight fixed by Appendix 1 of the Sporting Regulations:
BMW 320si: 1155kg
Chevrolet Cruze: 1150kg
Chevrolet Lacetti: 1140kg (as per the -10kg waiver granted by the Touring Car Committee)
SEAT León TDI: 1170kg
SEAT León TFSI: 1150kg
The maximum compensation weight is 60 kg and is applied between a maximum of +40 kg to a minimum of -20 kg. When a model’s average is within the 0.3-second threshold in relation to the fastest model, no action is taken.
If a model is slower than the fastest model by more than 0.3s, 10 kg are deducted from the maximum compensation weight for every complete 0.1s more than the +0.3s threshold, up to a maximum of 60 kg.
When a model with less than 60 kg of compensation weight is within 0.3s of the fastest (reference) model, 10 kg are added to the current compensation weight per complete 0.1s within the 0.3s threshold.
The fastest (reference) model always carries the maximum compensation weight on board.

WTCC FOR CHARITY IN CURITIBA
For the fourth consecutive year the WTCC Race of Brazil will give an aid to the starving people of Brazil. Together KSO (championship promoter), HSBC (partner of the event), and the City Hall of Curitiba, repeated the initiative of offering free tickets to the public in exchange for two kilograms of food.
Fans wishing to attend the races on Sunday may collect their tickets by delivering the food to 13 different collection points scattered over the city, or at the racetrack on Sunday morning.
The food collected will be donated to the charity society Instituto Pró-Cidadania de Curitiba, which will distribute it to those in need.
In 2007 this humanitarian initiative resulted in the collection of 24 tonnes of food, that became 52 in 2008 and 43 last year.

FIA ETCC JOINS FIA WTCC AT OSCHERSLEBEN
The German event of the 2010 FIA European Touring Car Cup that was due to be held at the Oschersleben Motorsport Arena on April 18^th, has been post-poned to September 5^th on the same racetrack.
Meaning that the FIA ETCC rounds 5 and 6 will take place within the FIA World Touring Car Championship race meeting.
The FIA ETCC competitors will take part on Sunday in two separate races from the FIA WTCC’s. A detailed timetable will be unveiled soon.
The dates of the three other FIA ETCC events remain unchanged: 28^th March at Braga, Portugal; 25^th July at Salzburgring, Austria; 17^th October at Franciacorta, Italy.

TRW SPONSOR OF THE WTCC SAFETY CAR
TRW, one of the world’s leading providers of automotive safety and partner to the leading car manufacturers has entered into a multi-year partnership to become the first ever sponsor of the FIA WTCC Safety Car.
"We are very excited about the agreement of the safety car sponsorship for the WTCC," said Mr Søren Kristensen, European Marketing Manager of TRW. "It fits our brand position ’safety where it matters the most‘ perfectly and we are confident that the sponsorship will help us convey the message of automotive safety in the aftermarket segment. The safety car sponsorship as well as the surrounding activities will play a key role in our marketing activities this year."
‚We are extremely happy to welcome a new addition to the WTCC commercial family and believe that the sponsorship of the Safety Car will help communicate TRW’s values of safety across their distribution channels throughout Europe and beyond," commented Jacques Raynaud, Vice-Chairman of Eurosport Group and Eurosport Events.

HUNGARIAN AMBITIONS IN THE WTCC
Zengö-Dension Team and Norbert Michelisz are the first team and driver from Hungary to committ full season to an FIA World Championship.
Michelisz, who won the 2009 SEAT León Eurocup, will be at the wheel of a SEAT León TDI, a car he already drove successfully in the FIA European Touring Car Cup last year at Braga, when he was classified third after winning the first race.
"It is a dream come true! It feels great that everything we worked on together becomes reality. I expect tough fights as there are many great drivers in the series, but I think that with our car and experience we can be competitive," said Nortbert Michelisz who recently received the 2009 Talent of the Year award from FIA President Jean Todt.
"It makes me proud that we are going to be the first Hungarian team in the WTCC thanks to our partners, especially Dension Ltd. who is the main sponsor. It is a huge challenge for us, however we have proven already that we are capable to be competitive," team principal Zoltán Zengö commented.

FREDY BARTH TO RACE FOR SUNRED
Swiss driver Fredy Barth lodged a last minute entry and will make his maiden appearance in the FIA WTCC at the Race of Brazil that will take place next week in Curitiba.
Barth, a 31-year old from Lucerne, will drive a SUNRED Engineering SEAT León TDI car.
After taking his first motorsport steps in single seater series including Formula Campus and Formel Volkswagen Deutschland, Barth switched to saloon cars becoming a successful driver in the SEAT León cups.
Last year he was classified third in the SEAT Eurocup, claiming one victory at Porto.

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The full season entry list for the 2010 FIA World Touring Car Championship that will start on March 7^th at Curitiba, Brazil, was released today.
Twenty competitors are listed: drivers coming from fifteen countries at the wheel of cars built from three different manufacturers.
KSO’s reaction was of satisfaction, considering the difficult moment for motorsport in general and the fact that race-by-race entries are expected to expand the field during the season representing additional brands.
Marcello Lotti, General Manager of KSO, commented: "We are proud that we managed to maintain a high quality field in this challenging economic environment. Most of our regular drivers and teams are still with us, which guarantees continuity in the growth of the championship’s popularity. We are grateful to BMW and Chevrolet who renewed their trust in the championship confirming their factory programmes. And we also thank SEAT because, although no longer competing with an official team, the brand made a big effort to guarantee a strong representation of customers teams that will be provided by SEAT Sport with the necessary technical support ."
Speaking about new entries Lotti said: "It is very rewarding for us to see young drivers and teams joining the championship. The new entries from bamboo-engineering and Zengö-Dension Team, the arrival of promising youngsters like Michelisz and Vaulkhard and the full commitment of drivers coming from new regions – Bennani from Morocco and O’Young from China – are testament to the WTCC’s worldwide reputation."
About the missing entry from the LADA Sport team, Lotti explained: "We were surprised and disappointed, because in 2009 they undertook a commitment for a three-year programme. This is now a matter for the FIA to deal with."

Twenty full season competitors entered in the 2010 FIA WTCC

SR-SPORT TO FIELD A FOUR-ACE TEAM
The newly established SR-Sport, emanation of SUNRED Engineering Development, will field a very strong four-car team in the 2010 FIA WTCC.
Thanks to their strong ties with SEAT Sport, the Spanish outfit managed to put together a quartet of SEAT León TDI machines that will be entrusted to the capable hands of former SEAT Sport drivers: the reigning World Champion Gabriele Tarquini, the 2009 Independents‘ Trophy winner Tom Coronel, Tiago Monteiro and Jordi Gené.
Team principal Joán Orus said: "I am really enthusiastic to race the SEAT TDI cars, because I think we will be able to fight for the WTCC title with the new team SR-Sport and four great drivers. We will also run Michel Nykjær’s cars under the SUNRED banner and altogether this is a great opportunity to show our potential and future possibilities. I want to say thank you to SEAT Sport’s customer department for their support and to all drivers for placing confidence in our team."

SR-Sport will field four SEAT León TDI cars for Tarquini, Coronel, Monteiro and Gené

TARQUINI EAGER TO DEFEND WORLD TITLE
After becoming the oldest World Champion in motorsport history,, at the age of 47 in 2009, Gabriele Tarquini returns to defend his FIA WTCC crown with a SEAT León TDI run by SR-Sport.
"I am really pleased that I was given the opportunity to stay in the championship. I had received offers for other series, but my ambition was to defend the title. This is the first time in my career that I can sport the number one of the world champion and I did not want to miss it," Tarquini commented and then added: "The SUNRED people are competent, motivated and ready to make a step forward. The León TDI was the winning car last year and I think it can be still competitive. Obviously we won’t have the same technical and financial means we had with SEAT Sport, but in spite of this I believe we have the potential to win some rounds and, with a bit of luck, to fight for the title again."

MONTEIRO: I’M HAPPY TO STAY IN WTCC
For the fourth consecutive year, Tiago Monteiro will take part in the FIA WTCC with a SEAT car under the banner of the new SR-Sport team.
In the past three years, Monteiro has established himself as one of the top men in the championship, giving significant contribution to SEAT Sport’s successes.
"I am really happy to be able to compete in the WTCC again. Apart from Formula One, the WTCC is the championship with the greatest level of competition. I have learnt a lot over the past few years and it is essential that my career continues in the WTCC. I will give my all to secure the best results and to improve as a driver, and as a team, at each round of the season. This is the only mentality I will be working with at each race," he said.

ENGSTLER AND ROMANOV TOGETHER AGAIN
Team principal Franz Engstler and Russian driver Andrei Romanov will be team-mates again in the 2010 FIA WTCC, as they were two years ago.
The Liqui Moly Team Engstler face their third season in the FIA World Touring Car Championship and again will field two BMW 320si cars, with plans to expand to a third one for Macanese driver Hery Ho during the season.
Engstler has been rejoined by Romanov, who makes a comeback to the team after racing for them in 2008 and spending last year claiming three race victories in the German ADAC Procar series at the wheel of a Chevrolet Lacetti.
"Andrei has always had ambitions, now we can benefit from his 2008 experience and go together as a strong team into the championship," said Franz Engstler who last year finished third in the WTCC Independents‘ Trophy and second in the FIA European Touring Car Cup.

SERGIO HERNÁNDEZ RETURNS TO PROTEAM
Spanish driver Sergio Hernández will join Stefano D’Aste at Proteam Motorsport for the new season.
Hernández who spent the 2009 as factory driver at BMW Team Italy-Spain and claimed his first WTCC victory at Brno, returns to the Italian outfit for which he raced in 2007 and 2008.
During his second year with the team, Hernández managed to win the Yokohama Independents‘ Trophy and together with D’Aste helped Proteam to win the Teams‘ Trophy.

2009 FIA WTCC Independents‘ Trophy winner Tom Coronel will switch to a SEAT León TDI for the new season. After four years at the wheel of petrol-powered SEAT León cars, the 37-year-old Dutchman will drive a turbodiesel machine run by SUNRED Engineering.
"I always said I wanted to have a diesel car. At last I managed to get one. With this car we can fight for podium places on a regular basis," said Coronel who faces his third season with the Spanish team.
"We have developed a great relationship. Of course they have close ties with SEAT Sport and their workshop is just around the corner. Therefore we have the opportunity to benefit from full technical support. With this package I have better chances than ever to score. I can’t wait for the season to start!" Coronel concluded.

The livery of Tom Coronel’s SEAT León TDI for the new season

The 2009 season of the FIA WTCC drew record viewing figures with a cumulative global audiences of 430 million different viewers according to the annual broadcast report published by independent German Institute IFM.
The 2009 audience figures represent an increase by 23% of ratings and a gain of 80 million viewers (over 350 million) compared to 2008.
Throughout the 2009 season, the WTCC was televised by 75 TV networks worldwide (50 free-to-air channels and 25 cable & satellite networks or pan-regional channels) in over 160 countries. The global TV coverage generated over 1,040 hours of dedicated broadcasts, a significant 15% increase.
The WTCC’s continuous growth in popularity and success has also resulted in an increase in event attendance with 761,000 spectators enjoying the races, while the website traffic generated 8.2 million page views.
Jacques Raynaud, Vice-Chairman of Eurosport Group and Eurosport Events commented: "The WTCC is now firmly established and perceived as a true motorsport World Championship and we are extremely satisfied to see how it continues to break audience records season after season. These outstanding viewing figures prove that the WTCC’s popularity is growing steadily and appeals to large, diversified audiences. This success results from the event’s format which is compact, dynamic and entertaining and the high standard television broadcast that has seen the introduction of our landmark production in native HD. Our continuous innovations and a permanently renewed suspense have contributed to boost audiences. We look forward to continuing our development in 2010 and working with all our stakeholders to deliver another successful year."

Last year the FIA WTCC attracted 430 million viewers over 75 TV channels worldwide

Macanese driver Ho Wai Kun, better known as Henry Ho, is due to join the 2010 FIA WTCC at mid season in a BMW 320si car run by the experienced Liqui Moly Team Engstler.
The 24-year-old Ho who claimed two Macau Touring Car Championship titles in 2008 and 2009, was in negotiations with the German outfit to find the budget for the whole season, after making his first WTCC appearances last year at Okayama and his home racetrack.
"It was one of my targets to build up a new team with Asian drivers. But same as in Europe, we had to face the financial crisis in Asia too and we failed to find the budget for the whole season. However, Ho Wai Kun will join us from the middle of the season," team mager Kurt Treml explained.
Liqui Moly Team Engstler are due to announce their driver line-up in the next few days.

Henry Ho plans a comeback after racing at Okayama and Macau in 2009

Like all the Swiss drivers, Alain Menu has not many opportunities to race in his home country. Despite a great motorsport tradition, Switzerland has no racing tracks and laws that limit motorsport to a few rallies and hill-climbing events.
However, Menu will have the chance to delight his home fans when he takes part in a demonstration at the Course Automobile de Romont, in the Fribourg canton on June 12^th and 13^th, driving a two-seater Chevrolet Cruze WTCC. The Geneva-born driver will be the guest of honor at the 40^th edition of this traditional event.
Before the start of the FIA WTCC season, Menu will carry out the final testing session in Valencia, on February 17^th and 18^th, alongside team mates Robert Huff and Yvan Muller.

England-based bamboo-engineering launched today their maiden campaign in the FIA World Touring car Championship. The team will field two Chevrolet Lacetti cars for drivers Harry Vaulkhard and Darryl O’Young who will be the first Chinese driver ever to take part in a full WTCC season.
O’Young, 29-years-old from Hong Kong, who won the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia twice in 2006 and 2008, said: "To be competing in an FIA World Championship has been one of my targets for many years now, so to be able to enter the WTCC is an amazing opportunity!"
Harry Vaulkhard, 24-years-old from Britain, has been a front-runner in the BTCC the last two seasons, after winning the Seat Cupra Cup in 2007. "The WTCC is where I’ve always aspired to be some day but to be honest this has come sooner than I expected. I have learnt so much in 2009 and I am really confident I can get some great results in 2010," he declared.
Team manager Richard Coleman explained: "We have a great driver line up: Harry showed last year in the BTCC and the ETCC what he can achieve. Darryl is a huge talent and once adapted to front wheel drive I expect him to be a regular podium contender in the Independents‘ Trophy."
Chevrolet Motorsport Manager Eric Nève commented: "This is the first time we see Chevrolet cars competing full-time in the Independents‘ Trophy, and we warmly welcome this development, as it demonstrates the level of confidence that top independent teams have on our products and racing services. We will follow closely the bamboo campaign and wish them all the best."

The bamboo-racing Chevrolet Lacetti cars of Harry Vaulkhard and Darryl O’Young

Denmark-based Hartmann Racing have confirmed their plans to take part in a couple of 2010 FIA WTCC events with their Honda Accord Euro R cars, one of them driven by British touring car ace James Thompson.
"Our priority is the FIA European Touring Car Cup, because we want to defend the title James won last year at Braga," team principal Hans Hartmann revealed. " However we are also looking at occasional participation in the WTCC, because we would like to warm Honda up for the future."
The Danish team are due to take part in the WTCC events at Monza and Brands Hatch and they are currently in negotiations with a few experienced drivers for their second Accord car.
"I think we can spring a surprise or two at one of those races and represent ourselves well," Thompson commented.

Thompson’s Hartman Racing Honda is due to race at Monza and Brands Hatch

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Young Moroccan driver Mehdi Bennani who made an impressive WTCC debut last year, will compete in the whole 2010 season at the wheel of a Wiechers-Sport BMW 320si.
"We are delighted that Mehdi will be able to do the entire season with Wiechers-Sport. As the only Moroccan driver in a world championship, he will be carrying high the colours of Morocco on the world’s most prestigious circuits" said Aly Horma, President of Marrakech Grand Prix.
"We are very pleased that Mehdi Bennani has joined Wiechers-Sport. From his very first laps in the WTCC, he proved to be very competitive Our common aim is a place on the podium of the 2010 Yokohama Independents‘ Trophy," said team manager Dominik Greiner.
In 2009 Bennani took part in selected events with a SEAT León run by Exagon Engineering and managed to claim an outstanding victory in the Independents‘ class on his maiden appearance at his home race in Marrakech.

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The total prize money for WTCC Independent competitors has been raised by 72,000 euros thanks to the MONROE Performer trophy that will reward the fastest drivers.
3,000 euros will be awarded to the drivers setting the fastest lap in the Independents‘ category at each of the championship’s 24 rounds. At the same time, the drivers setting the race’s overall fastest lap (irrespective of being independent or not) will be awarded a TW Steel watch MONROE Perfomer limited edition and a Marzotti mountain bike WTCC limited edition.
"We are very grateful to MONROE, who recently joined WTCC as an official partner, for their generosity. The MONROE Performer 72,000-euro prize money comes on top of the 480,000 euros awarded by the Yokohama Independents‘ Trophy, increasing the total prize money to an amazing 552,000 euros," KSO general manager Marcello Lotti commented.
During the 2009 season, Stefano D’Aste set the independents‘ fastest lap in eight races, which would have been worth 24,000 euros.

During the 2009 season Stefano D’Aste set eighth times the Independents‘ fastest lap

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On Wednesday and Thursday this week in changing weather conditions, BMW’s RBM team and Chevrolet spent two days testing at Portimão’s new Autódromo do Algarve, in Southern Portugal, the venue that will host rounds 11 and 12 of this year’s FIA WTCC on July 4^th.
Rain poured down at intervals on the first day, while by the end of Thursday morning the track finally dried up completely.
Facing his fourth season as BMW Motorsport driver, Brazilian youngster Augusto Farfus completed his first test in the BMW 320si run by Bart Mampaey’s RBM outfit, in which he joins triple WTCC champion Andy Priaulx.
Chevrolet fielded two Cruze LT cars during the test, for 2008 world champion Yvan Muller and Robert Huff, who both had already tested two weeks ago in Valencia. Alain Menu attended the test and the briefing, but did not drive. He will be back at the wheel together with his two team-mates during the team’s last test session before the beginning of the season, on February 17^th and 18^th at Valencia again.

Augusto Farfus tested the RBM-ran BMW at Algarve’s new racetrack

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ATS has entered into a multi-year partnership with the FIA WTCC. The German wheel manufacturer will become ‚official supplier‘ offering specially designed lightweight alloy wheels to factory and independent teams, together with technical support for ATS supported teams at each event during the season.
As part of the agreement, ATS will fully support the Chevrolet team in their effort to win the world title, after the wheels successfully underwent extensive track and aerodynamic testing and analysis. ATS will also make significant investment in offering its support to the competitors of the Yokohama Independents‘ Trophy.
"As a global company, we want to further expand our technological and leading role in the sector of top-quality lightweight alloy wheels and to present it to a broader public. Cooperation with leading teams and the WTCC organisers was the logical step to take", said Harald Jacksties, Marketing and Motorsport Manager of the Uniwheels Group, parent company of ATS.
Marcello Lotti, General Manager of KSO, promoter of the WTCC, commented: "The fact that ATS is making such a long-term and focused commitment to the WTCC is fantastic for both the teams and the championship and we are delighted to welcome a brand with such a rich motorsport history."

ATS wheels are now used by the Chevrolet Cruze WTCC cars

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2008 FIA WTCC champion Yvan Muller made his first appearance behind the wheel of the Chevrolet Cruze earlier this week, at Valencia’s Circuito Ricardo Tormo.
The Chevrolet WTCC team successfully completed the two-day testing session held on Monday and Tuesday. Despite Spain being hit by bad weather, conditions were excellent for testing on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. Yvan Muller and Rob Huff carried out an intense programme, aimed at testing different balance solutions and optimizing set-ups.
Chevrolet’s new recruit Yvan Muller, proved he is already perfectly integrated in his new team and completely at ease with the Cruze, despite having discovered the car only very recently.
"I am still discovering the Cruze but can already tell it is a car with an excellent basis and a good potential for further growth. The team looks extremely professional and I am very pleased with the way we are working here in Valencia," Muller commented.
Chevrolet will be testing again next week, on 20^th and 21^st January, at Portimão, where Alain Menu and Yvan Muller will be sharing driving duties.

Yvan Muller tested the Chevrolet Cruze for the first time in Valencia

SEAT TO SUPPORT CUSTOMER TEAMS
SEAT Sport will not take part in the 2010 FIA WTCC; however the Spanish car manufacturer announced that SEAT Sport will give maximum support to the drivers who will be competing in the León TDI and the fuel-powered León FSI cars.
Jaime Puig, SEAT Sport Director explained: "After achieving all possible successes in the WTCC, we are now going to focus all our efforts on customer sports in different championships, such as the WTCC. We are always eager to win when a SEAT is on the track and to do so, SEAT Sport will provide all of our customers with the necessary technical support."
Dominik Hoberg, SEAT Communications Director, added: "SEAT will continue with a noteworthy presence in motor sports in 2010, with a team of highly qualified professionals of which we are particularly proud of, but the company will have a different approach as regards to its motor sports activity. The presence of our cars in different championships and countries will continue to be a major value to strengthen our brand image."

MICHEL NYKJÆR TO RACE FOR SUNRED
Reigning Danish Touring Car champion Michel Nykjær will take part in the 2010 FIA WTCC at the wheel of a SEAT León run by SUNRED Engineering.
During the latest seasons the 30-year old Dane emerged as one of the most successful touring car drivers in Europe, clinching two Danish Touring Car titles (2007 and 2009) and twice winning the FIA European Touring Car Cup (2007 and 2008) in SEAT León and Chevrolet Lacetti cars.
Nykjær, who is sponsored by Pole Position Denmark and Valvoline International, has recently driven the SUNRED car in a private test, with excellent results.
"The SEAT León is a fantastic car. SUNRED and SEAT Sport have very close relationships and I am confident that they can help me to reach the very top. My goal is to win the Independents‘ Trophy in 2010, which I consider possible in spite of the tough competition," Nykjær said.

Danish Touring Car champion Michel Nykjær will drive for SUNRED Engineering

D’ASTE RETURNS TO PROTEAM
Stefano D’Aste will return to Proteam Motorsport for the 2010 FIA WTCC season. The Italian driver previously raced for the team directed by Valmiro Presenzini Mattoli in 2005, 2006 and 2008, but spent the 2007 and 2009 seasons with Wiechers-Sport.
"I am very pleased with our agreement. With D’Aste back in the team we can look at the next season with high expectations," said Presenzini.
"I am really happy I have received this offer from Proteam. We have managed to find a deal and we have the same goal: achieving the best possible results without wasting money," D’Aste stated.
The team is currently negotiating to sign their second driver, whose name will be unveiled soon.

HELPING ANDRÉ COUTO’S CHILD
Macau racing driver Andre Couto, a regular competitor in the FIA WTCC event at Macau, needs your help.
Andre’s six-year-old son, Afonso, has leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant.  Please help him find a bone marrow match: http://bit.ly/8rcrgj  There is a list of clinics worldwide where you may go to see if you are a match here:
http://www.bmdw.org/index.php?id=addresses_members&no_cache=1
If you are already registered, then please pass this message on to your friends and contacts. 
Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

COUNTDOWN: – 51 DAYS

to the 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Brazil – 6^th / 7^th March, in Curitiba