As usual, the WTCC and BTCC provided the last weekend again for Varied and interesting race.
The decision by the FIA to send the touring car came to Zolder, but a bit surprising. The Belgian section is in terms of safety and equipment is far more up to date on the other side of the course is quite appealing and driving is not easy. Unfortunately, you have the "little baffled" by the Bianchi curve completely rebuilt. Previously, you could lose as much time if you did not have the fast left / right turn just made. Now you have bawled the chicane, so that they can take only in second gear. This has unfortunately completely destroyed the flow and because the harassment is too narrow, you can not really get on well. Therefore, the two races in the WTCC were a bit mau.
The first race could be forgettable. Jordi Gene won his seat with the start and led until the finish line in front of Gabriele Tarquini. However, it was Gene's victory in the evening again disallowed because his Air Resitictor was non-compliant. As he races in the second due to a problem with the turbocharger could not have done, he remained without points. Behind the seat is a somewhat disappointing assorted Chevys. Of the BMWs that I actually had because of their weight advantage and the rear-wheel drive at the top of the bill, unfortunately, we saw nothing. This was due to an almost catastrophic misjudgment of the leadership team in the qualification.
During the qualification, a thick rain cloud hanging over the track. While all the world's salvation at an early fast lap was looking for, we waited calmly from BMW until the traffic had thinned out on the track. But just then it started to pour in buckets. Prilaux could just put in the top eight, Farfus was far back. Therefore, one could see anything in the first race of the two BMWs. After all, was the former British champion secure eighth place, which meant the pole for race second
In the second race we went to something more cheerful. Prilaux could convert his pole into the lead, but got a lot of pressure from Rob Huff in the Chevrolet, had his turn, Tiago Monteiro in the cross. All three fought in the first round a beautiful duel, but moved over time to address the position. On the following places did not happen too much, but we let loose in the Independent Trophy. Freddie Barth d'Aste, Poulsen and not belonging to the Trophy Tom Coronell fought a thrilling duel with neat paint exchange. It then clearly compensated for the rather quiet race at the top.
Whether the WTCC should use the track at Zolder again next year? Why is not that his race was thrilling moments and traditional circuits like you always see in the program. Perhaps we can improve even a little baffled that it does not destroy the whole rhythm.
BTCC - Croft
As expected, the BTCC offered on a very fast rate in Croft three good races. I was somewhat surprised about the rather flat ones performance of the Ford Focus, which none of the three races showed up front. They should have to swim because of their good top speed and acceleration actually even better in front, but in any race you could see the focus point to intervene in the fight.
Instead, blew away the Honda Civic front. This time, in the person of Gordon Shedden, who had once again caught one of his better days. With him it is so often so that you do not see for weeks and then he suddenly appears out of the barrel like Oscar and everything goes into the ground. In the first race he had, however, toward the end of violent attacks against the driver of the BMW's Rob Collard help thinking of it stuck in the last two rounds on the bumper of the Honda. The BMW came out better from the curves of the Honda was a bit faster on the straights. On the last lap there was a breathtaking finish when Collard sat down next Shedden and together they drove to the finish line. The few minutes you should treat yourself, because it shows itself only rarely in the BTCC.
The second race was there, at least at the top more rest. Jason Plato, who was the first race in 3rd place, could work their way to first place, because Matt Neal and Rob Collard clashed. Collard paid the maneuver with a spin in the first turn and fell back hopeless. Neal, however slipped to 3rd place and grabbed relatively fast Plato, who had no chance against the much faster Honda and prefer to concentrate the points retract.
Further back it was like at the fair. McDowell admitted his Chevy from a tire barrier head-on, which, interestingly, the Chevy is not acknowledged with a Aufall. Although he distributed are many elements of its front to the course, but disturbed the McDowell will have the race stewards. The best duel of the race Tom Onslow-Cole fought in the focus and Paul O'Neill in something Honda Intraga elderly. O'Neill had already laid a very good first race, because the integration in speed was not much slower than the Focus. O'Neill was on the brakes even better. Long raked around you, to the integration pilot heading to the final hairpin on the last lap with great optimism, a gap. About 3 kilos of paint exchange later Cole had left behind. Shedden won against Neal, Plato, and O'Neill.
Race 3 due to the reverse grid saw Andrew Jordan on the Pole, who was able to put the well, because behind him was not at all agree. Cole turned almost, because it anschieb Boardman. Matt Neal, spanked the start and came back just as 9 from the first round, while championship rival Plato already was in third place. However, the burst a tire on lap three, and so he was out of the race. Shedden was struggling in fourth place and put the privateer Boardman under pressure. Of which also no longer dewy seat (gasoline) could hold only one front. Out of nowhere appeared behind Shedden to the Rob Collard, who put pressure on Shedden what Boardman was a little more air.
In the ninth round, it was stupid to Collard and Shedden, he pushed gently and not to the side and not unfairly hunted Boardman. Sheddens car had some injuries after the attack and slowly dissolved. One lap to go in the luggage section Collard already Boardman, while O'Neill is the amazing Paul Shedden snapped. Because Shedden did not advance, finished on the back of a large group, including Matt Neal. But caught in a tight battle to a puncture.
Collard dug himself further forward, but then failed the drive. Paul O'Neill found himself with his old Integra suddenly at number 4 and he put pressure on Boardman, whose seat was clearly inferior. Behind both clenched together again and we fought a group of fifth in the usual manner BTCC. From the crowd sat down at the end of Steven Kane (BMW) by which to secure third place. Boardman was the unfortunate end, only fifth.
The race was won by Andrew Jordan, but in an old Astra, which is, however, already equipped with the new 1.6 liter turbo engine that comes in from next year all NGTC used. That was the first victory for the engine and Andrew Jordan.
Three really interesting race. Next round will not end until 8 August at Snetterton.
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I Pande & f2 workflows in the wtcc zolder quite well.
zolder is in itself a nice track. but kinda funny ... even though the track more or less looks the same as years before 20th these very small surgeries on the track the flow of the race hurt. bad drum ...
This time have only seen a BTCC race. But that was cool: D The best way I found it but when someone flew off in one of the curves right (do not remember, it was galube one of Chevis). He always rode straight through the gravel and I thought there would come the same ne guardrail or a stack of tires. But since nothing! Since just a high cereal box came: D Super cool! As simple as it may sound, you can see something I think only in the BTCC: D
@ JanW: Nice and the run-off area at Snetterton. Coming on the grass not to be, plowing through a corn field ;)