Portugal’s stunning new circuit brings extra excitement to the WTCC
No time to rest for the WTCC contenders:the championship is now in the busiest moment of the year, with an event every other week untilthe en of July. Following the exciting but cool week-end in Zolder, the team trucks are nowheading to the South-West end of the continent, to the Autódromo do Algarve in Portimão,another new entry in the calendar.
No doubt, weather conditions will be different at the Portuguese track, which was inaugurated twoyears ago. It has become not only one of the favourite spots for winter testing but also one of theEuropean tracks best-liked by drivers because of its wonderful “natural” design, which makes fulluse of the hilly landscape close to the Atlantic shore.
The Chevrolet team looks forward to the traditionally warm welcome they receive fromPortuguese fans and are confident that the RML-prepared Cruze will do well on such ademanding track, where the team tested last winter. The objective is to come home with as manypoints as possible to keep the advantage in both Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ standings.
• QUOTES
Yvan Muller: “I will not make any prediction, as I haven’t been very good recently at predictingwhat can happen! My dearest hope is that the weather will be warmer in Portugal; so far we havehad quite cool temperatures at all events, and I am convinced that warmer temperatures canhave an impact on how the cars function and change a little bit the cards at play. Portimão isdefinitely a very interesting tracks, hilly and with all kinds of corners, including blind ones, so it willbe important to find a set-up that fits all of them”.
Rob Huff: “I was very pleased with the team result in Zolder, which basically left thingsunchanged in the championship. We have been in Portimão this winter and although the test wasdisturbed by rain, we gathered a lot of useful data. It is definitely a circuit I like, with a lot ofinclinations, steep drops and climbs, and where overtaking is not an issue. I think the Cruze cando well there and that we can aim again at some heavy points”.
Alain Menu: “It is very nice to be again on a new circuit, I think this adds some excitement foreverybody: the drivers, teams and fans. It is a driver circuit by all means, so no surprise that weare all thrilled at the prospect of racing there, and Portugal is of course a very nice place. We canexpect some high temperatures and I am not sure how this will affect us, but I think it risks topose some front tire problems in the final laps for those who have front-wheel drive cars, so thiswill be a parameter to watch closely”.
Ron Hartvelt: “It’s the busiest part of the season for the team, and we had a very short turnaroundbetween Zolder and Portimão. Luckily, there was no major damage in Zolder, soeverything is under control. Today we will be shaking-down at MIRA, and Alain will takepossession of his new RML-built car, which he will drive in Portugal. We are bringing to theAlgarve some further small front suspension up-dates, which should help us finding the rightbalance in this peculiar track, and help us to stay on top of everything which is thrown at us. Still,it will be a close fight, as I expect our competitors, especially those who are still on a lightconfiguration, to be very competitive”.
Eric Nève: “We always go to Portugal with great pleasure, especially this time that we arearriving there as the championship leaders and are fully determined to leave in the same position!We will have again quite a number of Chevrolet guests, this time from Portugal’s dealerships, andwe will also have the visit of the top executives from all the European markets, who will hold theiryearly meeting in Portimão. It will be an excellent opportunity to strengthen the ties between thebusiness and the WTCC program”.
ALGARVE SCHEDULE (Local time = CET - 1)
Friday, 2nd July 201014:30-15:00 (15:30-16:00) Testing
Saturday, 3rd July 201008:30-09:00 (09:30-10:00) Free Practice 111:45-12:15 (12:45-13:15) Free Practice 217:30-17:50 (18:30-18:50) Qualifying 1 (20’)17:55-18:05 (18:55-19:05) Qualifying 2 (10’)
Sunday, 4th July 201008:30-08:45 (09:30-09:45) Warm up12:05-12:30 (13:05-13:30) Race 1 (11 laps = 51.194 kms) (Rolling start)16:50-17:15 (17:50-18:15) Race 2 (11 laps = 51.194 kms) (Standing start)
