Back-to-back victories for Yvan Muller gave the RML team a dream start to the 2013 FIA World
Touring Car Championship season. Following Chevrolet’s decision to withdraw from the WTCC, a deal to run a pair of Cruze cars was done at the last minute and so a 1-2 in the first race and another victory and fifth place in the second must have left team members pinching themselves as they left the Monza circuit. Tom Chilton’s first race weekend with the RML team also went like clockwork! The Castrol Honda team will also be pleased with the weekend – Gabriele Tarquini gave the Civic its first podium finish by holding off a determined charge from the SEAT of Marc Basseng to finish third in Race 2. In the Yokohama Trophy, there were wins for Alex MacDowall of bamboo-engineering and Michel Nykjær of Nika Racing – both men driving Chevrolet cars.
The reigning World Champion, Rob Huff, will be pleased just to have taken away some points from Monza after a clash on the first lap of qualifying left his SEAT León with broken suspension. Starting from the back of the grid in both races as a result, Huff carved his way through the field to finish sixth in Race 1 and tenth in Race 2. Not so fortunate were the two Lukoil LADA drivers; Aleksei Dudukalo missed his braking point in the same qualifying session and crashed into his teammate James Thompson. Although Thompson was able to go on to qualify ninth, both cars were too badly damaged to race and the team withdrew them.
The championship will resume at Marrakech, Morocco, on April 7 for rounds 3 and 4.

RACE 1 – MULLER LEADS RML 1-2
Yvan Muller completed a lights-to-flag domination of the first race of the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship season to record RML’s first victory as a non-Manufacturer Chevrolet team. Tom Chilton made it a 1-2 for the team while Alex MacDowall completed an all-Chevrolet podium in the bamboo-engineering Cruze and so took maximum Yokohama Trophy points. Behind the three, Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monterio gave the new Castrol Honda WTCC team plenty to cheer about by bringing their two Civic cars home in fourth and fifth places respectively.
Heavy rain at Monza meant the race started behind the safety car, with Muller, Chilton and MacDowall running in a Chevrolet 1-2-3 throughout the race at the head of the field. An incident on Lap 4 that saw Stefano D’Aste’s BMW collide with the barriers briefly saw the re-appearance of the safety car, while contact between the Chevrolet of James Nash and the SEAT of Tom Boardman on the penultimate lap saw the León parked up with broken suspension and so the last lap was completed under yellow flags in that sector.
One of the drives of the race came from Robert Huff. A similar incident in Qualifying to that which befell Boardman meant the reigning World Champion had to start from the back of the grid, but he steadily carved his way through the field to end up in sixth place behind the two Honda cars and so salvaged some points from the race.

RACE 2 – MULLER ENCORES FROM NYKJÆR
Yvan Muller gave the RML team the perfect start to the 2013 WTCC season when he took his second victory of the afternoon. A thrilling ten-lap race saw the lead change hands three times, with pole-sitter Darryl O’Young being overtaken by Gabriele Tarquini on the opening lap and Muller then passing the Italian driver’s Honda on Lap 4. The battle for the remaining podium places was no less exciting, with the Chevrolet of Michel Nykjær finishing second – and so claiming maximum Yokohama Trophy points – and third place only decided on the final lap; Tarquini holding off a determined charge from the SEAT of Marc Basseng and the pair crossing the finish line virtually together.
The standing start then saw Basseng almost stall the car leaving the line, allowing Targuini to nip through into second place behind O’Young as the field headed down to the first chicane. Driving around the outside of the BMW at Turn 3, Tarquini took the lead, with O’Young then being passed by Basseng, Nykjær and Muller in quick succession. Tarquini’s lead lasted until Lap 4, when Muller first passed Basseng for second place and then the Chevrolet driver snatched the lead from the Castrol Honda team Civic before Muller held on to take his second win of the day.
Behind Muller, Nykjær, Tarquini and Basseng, Muller’s teammate Tom Chilton finished fifth,
ahead of Pepe Oriola, James Nash, Tiago Monteiro and Stefano D’Aste. Rob Huff once again carved his way through the field after starting from the back of the grid to score a point by finishing in tenth place.

ROUNDS 1 & 2 – MONZA
ETCC RACE REPORT

SINGLE-MAKE TROPHY DRIVERS DOMINATE IN THE WET
The first races of the 2013 FIA European Touring Car Cup suggested that a thrilling season lies
ahead. Both races were won by SEAT León Supercópa cars; the first by 16-year-old Jordi Oriola and the second by Nikolay Karamyshev. The Super 2000 class also saw the honours shared, with the Honda of Peter Rikli taking maximum points in Race 1 and Petr Fulín’s BMW heading the S2000 leaderboard in Race 2. Germany’s Kevin Krammes began the defence of his S1600 title by winning the category in both races, but the results mean that all three classes will be closely fought this year.

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As the start of the season approaches, LADA is getting in tune for its WTCC comeback.
During an event that took place at Togliatti, where the AVTOVAZ factory and headquarters are based, the LADA Sport unveiled the new livery of the Granta car for the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship and launched the production of the Granta Sport road car.
Commenting on the WTCC programme, Artyom Fedosov, AVTOVAZ Vice-President for Sales and Marketing said: “Motorsport is very important for AVTOVAZ. We are pleased to be part of WTCC together with some of the world’s best renowned automotive brands. Racing is an efficient marketing tool and we hope the participation in the World Championship will help us promote the LADA brand.”
As for the Granta Sport road version of the WTCC racing car, it will be produced in 1000 units in 2013. It is powered by a 120bhp 1.6-litre engine and equipped with specially designed suspension and a racing look, with 16” alloy wheels.
Igor Komarov, AVTOVAZ President explained: “This car is for people who love sport and prefer active, dynamic driving style. The engineers did a pretty good job, and I am sure the customers will enjoy driving the LADA Granta Sport.”

IT’S TESTING TIME FOR THE WTCC TEAMS

As the start of the 2013 is only two weeks away, with the championship kicking off at Monza on 24 March, a number of WTCC teams are… stretching their legs in shakedown and testing sessions.
More testing will happen next week at Monza, on 14 and 15 March. At least half a dozen of WTCC teams will take part, including Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Honda Racing Team JAS, Proteam Racing, ROAL Motorsport and Stefano D’Aste’s new PB Racing.

RML AT SNETTERTON AND BRANDS HATCH

A few days after confirming the programme with two Chevrolet Cruze cars for Yvan Muller and Tom Chilton, the RML team made their first test sessions, Tuesday at Snetterton and yesterday at Brands Hatch.
It was the first time the car has run since the final race of 2012 in Macau, but despite only two hours at the wheel Muller was feeling positive: “So that was winter testing – it went quick! That’s the first time I’ve sat in the car since Macau, but the news is I can still drive! The Cruze handles well and it’s great to be back behind the wheel. Despite limited running, we have a strong basis to work from and I hope we will keep some of that advantage.”
For team-mate Chilton the testing programme was very much focused on adapting to his new surroundings with initial work at Snetterton targeting familiarisation.
He said: “It’s everything I thought it would be – a very well put together car. The balance is very neutral, which makes it forgiving. At the moment I am trying to work out how I can play with the car to understand the handling and set up. Small changes on the Cruze can make big differences, which is a sign of a great chassis. The car has had so much development over the years and it feels good. I’m really enjoying being out on track and I feel like I am moulding into the team well so far.”

WIECHERS-SPORT AND ENGSTLER AT SLOVAKIA RING

German teams joined in a two-day test session at the Slovakia Ring.
Fredy Barth had his first test in the Wiechers-Sport BMW 320 TC, completing more than 450 kilometres.
“I’m happy with this first test. I was able to complete a fair amount of laps over the two days and we tried different setup options. I felt very comfortable at the wheel of the BMW 320 TC and with the team. I’m very much looking forward to the season’s start at Monza,” said the Swiss driver.
Charles Ng and team principal Franz Engstler drove the Liqui Moly Team Engstler’s car. The team focused on experimenting different set up solutions. Engstler was also testing new Pagid brake pads that have been specifically designed for Monza’s superfast racetrack.
As for Ng, he completed many laps and improved more than one second compared to his own qualifying lap time set in 2012.

ROAL MOTORSPORT AT ADRIA RACEWAY

Darryl O’Young made his first test with ROAL Motorsport at Adria International Raceway, completing more than 500 kilometres over two days at the wheel of the BMW 320 TC car.
Team principal Roberto Ravaglia commented: “I was very pleased with Darryl’s approach to this first test. He proved to be a professional driver and it did not take much to him to get used to the car, which it was not granted as he had never been in a rear-wheel driven saloon car before. We have planned another test at Monza next week and I believe that, afterwards, Darryl will be in the position to fight for the Yokohama Trophy title from the beginning of the season.”
O’Young said: “I felt very comfortable in the car right from the first laps and my confidence grew throughout the two-day test. I had a full day of dry running and some laps in the rain, so we accomplished a lot. I worked well with Roberto and the boys at ROAL, and I’m already looking ahead to our test days next week. I feel ready for the first race meeting as I never had the chance to test before the start of the season in the past, so I’m already ahead compared to the last few years.”

BAMBOO-ENGINEERING AT ROCKINGHAM

The bamboo-engineering team went to Rockingham Speedway where Alex MacDowall and James Nash had the opportunity to shake down their Chevrolet Cruze cars in the new livery.
The weather was rainy and the track wet, which prevented the two drivers from completing as many laps as they had planned. This was MacDowall’s first test since last year’s unfortunate second race at Macau that ended with his Chevrolet hitting the barrier at the Mandarin bend after a contact with Yvan Muller.
As for Nash, this was the first time he drove the WTCC Chevrolet. Damp conditions meant he couldn’t get a proper feel of handling but he was already very impressed with how the car feels.

PROTEAM RACING AT MAGIONE

Proteam Racing completed two days of testing at Magione with Mehdi Bennani at the wheel of the Italian team’s BMW 320 TC car.
Team Principal Valmiro Presenzini commented: “We have been lucky with the weather. We had two wonderful days that enabled us to complete an intensive programme. Mehdi ran for 400 kilometres without any technical issues. We tested new dampers and this resulted in setting our record lap time here at Magione.”
Bennani echoed: “I had not driven since Macau and it was nice to get back behind the wheel of a racing car. We have worked a lot on the set-up and I am pleased with the job done. I have the feeling that we are on the right way to improve the car’s performance.”

NIKA RACING JOIN WITH ONE CHEVROLET CRUZE

Earlier this week Swedish outfit NIKA Racing announced they will take part in the 2013 WTCC with one Chevrolet Cruze car; the name of the driver will be unveiled soon. The team spent the last few years running Chevrolet Sweden’s multiple title-winning programme in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship and in 2012 had joined the WTCC season-opener at Monza with Rickard Rydell who posted the fastest lap of Race 1 and fought for a podium result.
Nicklas Karlsson, Team Principal, said: “This is a significant day in the history of NIKA Racing. We’ve been working towards a WTCC campaign for a number of years – mostly behind the scenes – and today’s announcement makes the dream come true. Following two highly successful seasons with Chevrolet in the STCC, we now feel ready to make this leap. We are fully aware that this is going to be an exceptionally tough challenge and we head into this season with humble mind, but our target is definitely to establish ourselves at this level in the longer term.”

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In a surprise last-minute move, reigning World Champion Rob Huff has joined the ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport for the
2013 WTCC season.
The Briton will defend his title at the wheel of one of the German squad’s three SEAT León WTCC cars, joining 2012 GT1 World Champion Marc Basseng and team principal René Münnich. Huff replaces Markus Winkelhock who was originally announced as part of the line-up.
“Rob’s arrival is a big boost for our ambitions. We want to be at the front of the field right from the beginning, aiming for podium results and race wins. Our goal is a top-three placing in the Drivers’ Championship,” Münnich said.
For Huff, this means going back to his racing roots, as he clinched the British SEAT Cup title in 2003 before becoming a race winner in the British Touring Car Championship at the wheel of a SEAT Toledo.
“It will be quite special to compete in the WTCC with the León and a team that carries the highest amount of professionalism. I’m delighted to join René and Marc, this is an exciting newly-formed project, but the team have a huge reputation having previously won the FIA GT1 World Championship in 2012. I’m very thankful for the opportunity that I have been given and look forward to building on this relationship,” said Huff who had his first test with the team Wednesday and Thursday at Slovakia Ring.

MORE TESTING FOR LADA SPORT AT MAGNY-COURS

LADA Sport Lukoil underwent their second track test of the year, at Magny-Cours again, from Monday to Thursday. The team were focusing on race set-up and checking the car’s technical systems.
On Monday morning, the melting snow on the tarmac limited the activity of James Thompson and Aleksei Dudukalo to a few laps only.
The team had more luck on remaining three days, when dry conditions offered the opportunity of having an intensive testing schedule.
Thompson commented: “We tried some fundamental things that were a step in the right direction. One of the Granta’s strong points is the small size that results in a good drag. Potentially, if we are able maximize this, we can achieve excellent top speed. The car is also very nimble in the changes of directions and slow corners. So far the overall impression is positive, but we have some more interesting technical solutions to try.”
Dudukalo said: “It was my first time in the car and also my first visit to Magny-Cours. I really liked the Granta. Is a pretty fast car and reactive to the adjustments. I managed to adjust it to my driving style, and felt the changes. So it makes me confident. That was also my first time with my new racing engineer Arnaud Elizagaray and I enjoyed working with him and the team.”
Team principal Victor Shapovalov concluded: “I can say that we have learnt a lot about the car’s performance. Now we are focusing on the set-up.”

ROB HUFF TESTED HIS SEAT AT SLOVAKIA RING

2012 WTCC champion Rob Huff had his first test in the ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport SEAT León car he will drive in the 2013 season. The team was forced to change their plan to test in Monza, due to the snow that covered the Italian track, and headed for the Slovakia Ring.
Huff and his team-mates Marc Basseng and René Münnich completed more than 500 kilometres between Wednesday and Thursday, focusing on set up, qualifying simulations and starts.
Huff said: “I’m very pleased to be joining the team. They are world champions themselves and so we have a very strong team and a great car for the yea. I’m very excited. It’s going to be a big challenge, but it’s nice for me.”
And Basseng added: “The level of competition in WTCC is actually very high and we are a new team. We definitely have to learn, but we have a good driver line up, with Rob Huff as the World Champion. He has a lot of experience and can help the team to improve quickly. So we hope that we can be on the front of the grid from the beginning.”

FIRST TIME FOR MICHELISZ IN THE HONDA CIVIC

2012 Yokohama Trophy winner Norbert Michelisz tested his new Honda Civic car for the first time on Thursday at the Circuito San Martino del Lago, nearby Cremona, in Italy.
Michelisz and the Zengö Motorsport team joined the Honda Racing Team JAS in the test session and the Hungarian youngster sat behind the wheel of the 2012 Civic WTCC, driven by Tiago Monteiro in last year’s final three race meetings.
“The plan was to go testing as soon as our own car was ready, but because I needed to get used to the Civic it was decided to start with JAS car from last year. The first impression was really good. I was prepared to struggle in switching from BMW to Honda, but to find the feeling with the Civic was easier than expected. This test boosted my confidence looking forward to the first races of
the season,” Michelisz explained and then added: “It is amazing working with JAS Motorsport and Honda engineers. They are so professional, and have a tight schedule. I have been visiting the JAS workshop just before the test, and saw the way they work. This is a great opportunity for Zengö Motorsport to learn from them, just like for me is learning from experienced drivers like Gabriele and Tiago. We share all the information and this is going to be a big, big help!”

STEFANO D’ASTE TO RACE FOR HIS OWN TEAM

Stefano D’Aste will continue racing in the World Touring Car Championship, driving a BMW 320 TC run by his own team, PB Motorsport.
The Italian racer, who claimed his first WTCC victories last year at Salzburgring and Suzuka, is one of the championship’s veterans. He has been competing in the series since the first season in 2005, and clinched the Yokohama Trophy title in 2007.
“I am happy with the decision to race with my own team. We have obviously a lot to learn, which is why we prefer to run only one car this year. In these days I am putting the team together: hiring the staff, buying the equipments. We are incredibly motivated for this new challenge and this will help us to be ready in time for the first event that is only three weeks away,” D’Aste explained.
PB Racing will be officially launched on March 9 at the Franciacorta circuit.

PEPE ORIOLA AIMS FOR TOP SIX IN 2013

Young Spaniard Pepe Oriola will drive again a SEAT León WTCC car run by the Tuenti Racing Team in the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship.
The 18-year old from Barcelona faces his third season in the WTCC. Last year he made a significant leap forward in terms of performance, claiming a second place in Portugal and becoming the youngest ever driver on the podium in an FIA World Championship. He was classified eighth in the Drivers’ Championship and second in the Yokohama Trophy.
“It has been a difficult winter, as we had to put in a strong effort to find companies willing to sponsor the programme. 2013 will be tough, however I hope that the experience I have gained last year will help me to improve further. I am still the youngest of the pack, but I am respected by my competitors who have to reckon with me on the track! My goal is to finish among the top-six in the championship,” Oriola said.

NEW LOOK AND FEATURES FOR WTCC WEBSITE

In view of the new season, the www.fiawtcc.com website underwent a significant revamp.
As a result, the WTCC official site features a more colourful and dynamic look, and offers its visitors a number of new and interesting features.
ONBOARD LAPS – Videos of laps shot from onboard cameras are available in the pages dedicated to the championship racetracks.
DYNAMIC STANDINGS – Arrows have been added to the point tables, showing when a driver is climbing up or dropping down in the positions.
100 RACE CLUB – A dedicated section presents the members of the club, those drivers who have taken part in at least 100 WTCC races.
SOCIAL NETWORKS – A dedicated section welcomes followers in the WTCC community and gives them the possibility to create their own avatar.
Additional features will be implemented during the season.

– 22 Days

Italy
Autodromo di Monza
23-24 March 2013

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ROAL Motorsport and Tom Coronel kicked off their racing season with two days of testing at Vallelunga, Italy.
The Dutchman was at the wheel of a BMW 320 TC fitted with a new exhaust system developed by BMW Motorsport. After a sunny Thursday, the weather changed to overcast and windy on Friday with light rain in the early morning, but the track was dry for most of the time and the team was able to complete the programme.
“We were mainly focusing on the engine set up and mapping. It is the first track test for the engine in 2013 specifications that features new exhaust and manifold. It has been a good test, though it is still too early to draw a conclusion on the benefits we may have from this technical development,” explained team principal Roberto Ravaglia.
And Coronel added: “It’s always a good feeling to be back at the wheel of a racing car after the winter break. The car is still pretty much the same, except for this new exhaust system. The main problem for us is to get down to the minimum weight, because in previous years we were never able to reach it. Now the FIA has reduced our weight from 1160 to 1150, but we need to find a solution for having a benefit from this. This is the third year for me in the team. I know them, my engineer and the car. I am satisfied and this is the first time I have the feeling that I am ready to attack. I’m not sure it’s gonna happen, but in Netherlands we have a say: the third time is going to be right one…”

WIECHERS-SPORT CONFIRM WTCC COMMITMENT

Germany-based Wiechers-Sport announced they will take part in the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship with one BMW 320 TC car.
The team claimed two outright wins in 2012 with Stefano D’Aste, the first for them in WTCC, at the Salzburgring and Suzuka; however, they will unveil the driver’s name as well as the livery of the car only during the second week in March.
“We are very much looking forward to the new WTCC season. Our team is part of the world championship since the first year and won the Independents’ Trophy twice, in 2005 with Marc Hennerici and in 2007 with D’Aste. Over the winter we have been able to develop the car in a few areas, with support from BMW Motorsport. We have planned to go out for a track test just before the season’s kick off at Monza,” team manager Dominik Greiner said.

SEVEN OFFICIAL TEST SESSIONS IN 2013

Seven official 30-minute test sessions have been scheduled for 2013.
At each of the non-European events, a test session will be held on Friday (Thursday at Macau) in order to give teams the possibility to shake down their cars.
An additional test session will be held on Friday at the Moscow Raceway that will host the World Championship for the first time.

2013 TEST SESSION LIST
5 April, Marrakech
7 June, Moscow
26 July, Curitiba
6 September, Sonoma
20 September, Suzuka
1 November, Shanghai
14 November, Macau

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The LADA Sport Lukoil team hit the track for the first time in view of the 2013 WTCC season. On Monday and Tuesday, James Thompson completed his first pre-season tests in the LADA Granta at Magny-Cours, France.
The British driver tested the new engine and race set up solutions, completing 70 laps of the French circuit.
“I am very satisfied with the speed and performance of the car and the steps forward that have been taken since our long test in August. I think we have worked very hard with our LADA Granta to maximize its strengths and minimize any weak points. In particular we focused on the chassis balance and speed on the long straights, and moved a step forward compared to the car we had one year ago. It is quite important, as the championship visits many high speed circuits. This updated variant of the car gives hopes for better overall performance, especially in the race. Now we should focus on further improvements and I am eager to test new evolutions of the Granta,” Thompson said.
Team Principal Victor Shapovalov echoed: “It was important to estimate the performance of the car after all the improvements we made. The car was seriously developed in terms of aerodynamics, speed, drivability. James’ feedback is crucial for us to understand in which areas we need some more improvement.”
The LADA Sport Lukoil team will test again at Magny-Cours from 25 to 28 February, when Thompson will be joined by his new team-mate and Aleksei Dudukalo.

ROAL MOTORSPORT WITH CORONEL AND O’YOUNG

ROAL Motorsport announced their line-up for the 2013 WTCC, with Darryl O’Young who will join Tom Coronel at the wheel of the team’s BMW 320 TC cars.
Team principal Roberto Ravaglia said: “We are very confident while looking forward to the new season. Tom is part of our family and we are pleased to welcome Darryl in the team. They are both experienced drivers; Tom has the potential to fight for top three in the Drivers’ Championship and Darryl for the Yokokama Trophy title.”
Coronel faces his third season with ROAL Motorsport, after finishing fourth in the 2011 Drivers’ Championship and fifth last year: “At the end of last year, Roberto Ravaglia made it clear that the team had every reason to continue our existing partnership. During the winter, they have tried everything to make the BMW lighter and better. We are now quite close to the minimum weight, which certainly will give us an advantage. With ROAL Motorsport, we are aiming at top three results in the races and in the championship. Of course, the opposition has been working hard, too, but I am very confident that we can be among the front runners.”
After driving SEAT and Chevrolet cars in WTCC, O’Young makes the switch to rear-wheel drive: “I am excited to join ROAL Motorsport! I have admired Roberto and his team for many years in the WTCC, and to have an opportunity to work with them this season is perfect. I have built a rear-wheel drive experience in GT racing, so I feel the BMW will suit me well. I’m looking forward to begin testing with the team, and I will work hard to deliver the best results. This will be my fourth WTCC season and by now I have the experience to fight for the Yokohama Trophy title.”
The team will hit the track for the first time on February 21 and 22, testing at Vallelunga, Italy.

ALEX MACDOWALL RE-SIGNS WITH BAMBOO

Alex MacDowall has re-signed with bamboo-engineering for a second consecutive season in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
The partnership between the 22-year old Englishman and the Silverstone-based outfit will continue, following last year’s successful campaign in the WTCC that was worth the 11^th position in the Drivers’ Championship and the fifth, with two race victories, in the Yokohama Trophy.
MacDowall will team with his fellow countryman James Nash at the wheel of the bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T cars.
“It’s fantastic to stay with the team and in a Chevrolet. We had a great first season together and I think we did a really good job. My confidence started to build during the second half of the season, and with all of that experience I’m certain we’ll be able to fight for the Yokohama Trophy this year,” said MacDowall.
Richard Coleman, Chief Executive bamboo-engineering commented: “We are delighted to keep Alex again this year and to build on his strong experience from 2012. Alex had an especially strong second half to the season and this, twinned with the signing of James Nash, not only gives us a great driver line up but a real chance to challenge for a title.”

PORTUGUESE TEST FOR ALL-LINKL.COM

A few days after testing for the first time the SEAT León WTCC at Navarra, the German outfit ALL-LINKL.COM Münnich Motorsport moved to Portimão’s Autódromo di Algarve for two more days.
After the rain in Navarra, sunny weather blessed the test on Sunday and on most of the Monday.
“We were able to complete a lot of laps in the dry. I had enough time to adapt my driving to the SEAT. We worked with different set up solutions to evaluate the best combination for the car and my style. SEAT Sport had sent Jordi Gené to help us with his enormous experience in the WTCC car. We managed to simulate qualification runs and races and the results were quite satisfactory,” said Marc Basseng.
René Münnich added: “The Track is a real challenge for the drivers, with its combination of ultra quick corners, hard braking and slow speed corners. We worked in different direction with the set up in order to have range of possibilities for all kind of conditions. I´m still learning, but I’m quite happy with the results I achieved so far.”
Now the team are heading back to their workshop in Germany, where they will get more familiar with the preparation of the car before the next test.

HONDA TEAM COMPLETE TEST IN SPAIN

The Honda Racing Team JAS completed a three-day testing at the Aragón Motorland circuit in Spain where they ran two cars from Monday to Wednesday.
The Honda Civic WTCC in 2013 specifications made his first appearance in the hands of Gabriele Tarquini who completed 204 laps without any problems. The Italian driver tested qualifying and race set up, working on suspension geometry and differential settings.
His team-mate Tiago Monteiro ran in the 2012 car in the same specs used in the previous test at Valencia and completed 222 laps focusing on engine mapping and testing a new steering box.
Team principal Alessandro Mariani commented: “It has been an important step that gave us significant feedbacks about the new car’s potential. We were pretty happy about the work done and the data we collected on the new car, but also on the engine. We are very satisfied with all the progress. Both cars managed to go through the whole testing programme without any technical problem, completing more than 2200 kilometres in total.”
Tarquini echoed: “This racetrack is very demanding and excellent for testing, though we have not any comparison with touring car performance here. However, I have the feeling that together with the engineers and the whole team we have done a good job.”
Monteiro added: “I managed to complete many laps with the 2012 car that had been updated with many new parts. Our focus was the engine set up, but I had also the opportunity to develop the car set up, checking different options that will prove useful for the coming season.”

ONLINE MEDIA ACCREDITATION FOR WTCC

Media accreditation for the events of the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship is now open. Representatives of the international printed press, websites and agencies who wish to apply race-by-race are requested to register on the FIA online accreditation system at https://acr.fia.com/ECR/.
First-time applicants must register before any application for accreditation can be submitted. After approval by the FIA, the applicant will receive an email which will give access to the online accreditation system. Only then can an accreditation application be submitted. After approval the online accreditation system can be accessed via the FIA website using your chosen ID and password.
The online accreditation system will apply for accreditation requests for any event for the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship within the deadlines listed here below:

Monza – 13 March
Marrakech – 27 March
Slovakia Ring – 17 April
Hungaroring – 24 April
Salzburgring – 8 May
Moscow – 29 May
Porto – 19 June
Curitiba – 17 July
Sonoma – 28 August
Suzuka – 11 September
Shanghai – 23 October
Macau – 18 October

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