[WTCC] Race 1 & 2 - Curitiba (BRA), 1/2 March 2008

[FIRE]

Schedule

Test session has just started.

[touringlegend]

I'd wait till we're back in Europe before really judging the grid.

[Stefvh]

21, exactly like last year.

[OJB]

There are 3 more full-time entries to come - 1 Honda and 2 Ladas (hopefully...). It's more of a case of spot the BMWs in the Indy category - only Corthals is running a SEAT.

Also, I see SEAT aren't running those, erm, lurid coloured wheels this weekend.

[Bramzel]

Thank god they arent. Also a clear difference between 2 parts of that team; Tarquini and Gene run Valeo sponsoring, while Rydell, Monteiro and Muller are running Red Bull.

Good spread by the way. Surprised to see Engstler quite far back, expected him faster. It seems Okyay and Romanov can have a nice little scrap at the back, they're superclose together at 2 seconds from the rest of the field.

[FIRE]

It looks the Engstler Bimmers have good backing from Liqui Moly, it's a shame they put not a pro-driver in the 2nd car.


Live timing not working?

[Robbe]

Live timing was working for me, J Müller fastest in front of Menu, Farfus, Larini, Huff and Y Muller; best independent Corthals.

[FIRE]

Results practice 1

[touringlegend]

Good to see the Chevy's doing well so far. We badly need them to do well in the races to save this championship being dominated by BMW's and Seat's.

[E46]

I begin to think Leon TDI won´t competitive anymore. Maybe the secret is to cry (so much) like Eric Neve does.

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by E46

Maybe the secret is to cry (so much) like Eric Neve does.

I think Neve got training from Puig actually They do courses together in 'Whine to talk us past BMW instead of working on the cars like they do'

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

I think Neve got training from Puig actually They do courses together in 'Whine to talk us past BMW instead of working on the cars like they do'

BMW does their fair share of whining as well. Just remember the start of the 2007 WTCC season... they even managed to biatch and whine enough to get an overal weight drop because 1 of the races being a rolling start... WTF!?!

With only 3 big teams they have way too much leverage/influence on the governing body. Hopefully we will see 3-5 more manufacturers in the future and no extra random rules crap for any manufacturer.

[Fechna]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

I think Neve got training from Puig actually They do courses together in 'Whine to talk us past BMW instead of working on the cars like they do'

I can´t stand the talking about "the pathetic frontwheelers"? Why are you guys so sure about, that BMW has got the best cars out there? They also tricked on the homologation of the engine, and really, the old weight difference between front- and rearwheel drive was IIRC 50 kilos in the supertouring era. O.K., the new engines have less power so they are more sensitive on weight, but no one can be so sure, that the regulations now are adequate.

We just don´t know how fast the cars would be, if they had the same configuration. And no one knows, if the regulations are really fair, because fairness is a quite subjective issue!

[FIRE]

Results practice 2

The TDI's are indeed struggling. Sandbagging?

So far Tielemans is doing well.

At 19:00 CET qualifying.

[OJB]

I reckon the TDI's will be up there come qualifying - I can imagine they've spent most of practice concentrating on getting set-up right to look after their tyres as that's where they've struggled before.

[duke_toaster]

Is quali starting at 18:00 WET (In 23 minutes) or 18:00 CET (One and a half hours or so)?

[Vicky B]

Quali starts in 10 mins. (19:00 CET)

[gregc]

Eurosport listings say it starts at 18:00 UK time

[Knowlesy]

I hope Chevrolet and also Priaulx do the business this year.

I hope SEAT are banned for running an engine damaging to motorsport and its spectacle.

[E46]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I hope SEAT are banned for running an engine damaging to motorsport and its spectacle.

Say so in Le Mans 24 hours.

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I hope Chevrolet and also Priaulx do the business this year.

I hope SEAT are banned for running an engine damaging to motorsport and its spectacle.

Rather diesel cars fighting than petrol cars driving paradelaps. Sound is so overrated...

Originally Posted by Fechna

I can´t stand the talking about "the pathetic frontwheelers"? Why are you guys so sure about, that BMW has got the best cars out there? They also tricked on the homologation of the engine, and really, the old weight difference between front- and rearwheel drive was IIRC 50 kilos in the supertouring era. O.K., the new engines have less power so they are more sensitive on weight, but no one can be so sure, that the regulations now are adequate.

We just don´t know how fast the cars would be, if they had the same configuration. And no one knows, if the regulations are really fair, because fairness is a quite subjective issue!

Don't put words in my mouth I never said. I'm not complaining about FWD cars at all. I just wanted to point out that Neve wasn't the only whiner out there.

[Knowlesy]

I have done so.

If I want silent cars I'll play Scalextric.

Anyhow, back to the racing... Menu has shunted.

[Photek]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I have done so.

If I want silent cars I'll play Scalextric.

Anyhow, back to the racing... Menu has shunted.

Funny, last year when the diesel car was running (sometimes) in the BTCC I thought it was one of the more interesting spectacles. Something very different about the turbo whistleing past at high speed and I didn't think it detracted from the spectacle at all.

[FIRE]

Heavy crash for Menu. Same corner as last year.

[Knowlesy]

That bid for consistency is off to the best possible start.