Three manufacturers on takeoff, a decimated field of starters and economic uncertainty: If the race weekend in Curitiba goes across the stage ends, the WTCC for a problem-rich winters. The new season will probably still exciting.
Seat? The work team was withdrawn from the WTCC. BMW? Only two cars with factory support it. Lada? For some surprisingly abruptly disappeared from the WTCC. Rickard Rydell, Alex Zanardi and Jorg Muller? Have been saved. The prestigious race in Pau and Porto? Perhaps next year in the calendar. What there is instead? Chevrolet His work has expanded to include a commitment of two to three car is also in this year three more vehicles at the factory. Seat is more supportive of private teams, and equip including a diesel car. On the lines Zolder and Portimao is new to the program, while Monza, Imola replaced again. Everything that is a rather meager compensation for the losses. One might think. Maybe, but just lie in the supposed problems encouraging opportunities for the World Touring Car Championship.
It is precisely the massive commitment of the manufacturer has in recent years repeatedly caused significant problems. Just think of the squabbling between the Äquvivalenzregelungen gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. Or the bad part, unathletic team orders. Or the almost überholfreien race courses in the tradition of Pau and Porto. All this will not change with less commitment werksseitigem suddenly - but if you look at other touring car series, where more privateers to go to the start, then you could at least hope for improvement. The same is true for the lines: One should not completely give up the tradition - but that one can get better at Monza and Portimao, than on the narrow street circuits - this is unlikely to be dismissed out of hand. And as much as old hands such as Müller and Rydell (or even the irrepressible Alex Zanardi) have their value - a little fresh blood would do quite well to the series.
So what's actually in the new season? World champion Tarquini will start after much back and forth again this year in the WTCC - in the factory-backed private team of SR-Racing, where also his former seat-work colleagues Taigo Monteiro and Jordi Gene are staying - especially Taquini is therefore probably be expected in 2010. Another SR-Racing TDI was able to secure Tom Coronel - even the Dutch could so well this year, enter one or the other win. A strong team is also 2010 Chevrolet: The usual Dou from Rob Huff and Alain Menu is in this season of former champion Yvan Muller. In the strongly reduced BMW factory team Augusto Farfus and Andy Prilaux have managed to maintain. Because of the partial withdrawal of the manufacturers could also some "real" privateers (ie those who do not drive in the quasi-factory team seat) in front ride: First of all DTC Champion Michel Nykjær and Sergio Hernandez, one should keep in mind. But maybe this time is also Franz Engstler no safety car in the way, if he should once again be leading. All in all, provides for the development of after a fairly balanced field, which can at least hope for close races.
Also in the tradition of the routes / Action pendulum has - as described above - knocked back a little more towards action. Highlights: Marrakech has delivered the premiere races in 2009 amazingly entertaining race, even though the layout of the track only moderately imaginative. (Whether it is wise to leave but, go there and the F2 I have already elsewhere questioned -. and I have huge doubts remain) Monza has actually delivered more spectacular every year, and also promise Potimão and Brands Hatch attractive touring car racing. Discussing is certainly the race in Macau: firstly like to see any point when the touring car racing side by side through the narrow canyons. On the other hand, it seems hardly anyone happy when it landed the dozen riders in the hospital. Whether it is contemporary yet to discharge at the track in its present state races, may be doubted. This is true not only for the touring car, but even more for the ever-popular F3 race in which they are already heavily in a deep breath each time, if it has not come to disaster. And who came up with the totally stupid idea, there unsubscribe even a motorcycle race that I ask myself every year anyway.
But back to the WTCC: There at the weekend waiting for the route from Curitiba to probably 21 riders. The WTCC is there already for the fifth time at the start, and in recent events, I've always wondered if the races are really exciting there, as they occur to me, or if the voltage is more likely derived from the fact that it is the premiere race of the WTCC each. Meanwhile, I'd tend to zweiterem. After all, are the Circuito Raul Boesel is a genuine and well-maintained race track, on the fair, safe and well-organized races held - what one can say that about all the WTCC Autragungsorten: Anyway. That the WTCC in Mexico is about a better course than the web can in the infield of the oval of Puebla probably be explained only by the lush perimeter advertising of the local foreign insurance Kahrs Office, which always shines on European racetracks.
You will not shake the feeling that is considered by the 2010 WTCC in charge as a kind of transitional year until 2011 will then start with a new control element. So close and Seat and BMW is not pleased with the new regulations next year to re-enter strengthened. Other manufacturers - such as Volvo - have expressed an interest in principle. Also plans to WTCC in 2011 with some new races, such as Russia and the U.S. - but the exact venue is still unclear in each case. Recently, FIA president Todt has also noted that he was a race of the WTCC in Indonesia hoping Mark could very well imagine. Let's see.
If the supposition that in 2010 more of a Gap Year should be, then you have to say anyway, that after all a very attractive package was put together. In addition to the WTCC in 2010 by the way, there will be an extended ETCC, which no longer consists only of a meeting, but will be held on four weekends in Oschersleben, at the Salzburg Ring and Braga, and on the Italian circuit of Franciacorta. Similar to the WTCC in the sport over the € subsidiary KSO also as a promoter and marketer occurs, but it would surprise me greatly if the races were not even appear in the program of pan-European sports giant.
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If I'm not mistaken, then Chevrolet was already in the last few years with 3 cars (Huff, Menu, Larini), right?
@ January :
Is of course correct. Classic case of false memory - sorry!
Your poor review of the city courses, led by Pau I do not share, just overtake BECAUSE there is so difficult / was, was always two or more battle in the more interesting!