[WTCC] Race 3 & 4 - Puebla (MEX), 5/6 April 2008 - Page 2

Martin Haven · 5 Apr 2008, 15:47 (Ref:2170400)

As a mark of respect to the late David Leslie, there will be a one-minute silence observed by all the teams on the gird at Puebla, just prior to the roll-off for the rolling start of Race 1 on Sunday.

Andy Prialux will also pay his respects by wearing a black armband, as will many members of the RML team that runs the Chevrolets, to whom David was a close "family" member.

All the RML cars are running with a David Leslie tribute on the passenger door mirror.

**Peter Mallett** · 5 Apr 2008, 16:32 (Ref:2170431)

Good to know that Martin. He's sadly missed.

Sodemo · 5 Apr 2008, 18:46 (Ref:2170546)

Met David a few times for autograph purposes (nothing more) but he always seemed approachable and willing to give time to talk to race fans like myself. Not many drivers ive met are like that. Why is it always the nice guys that go like this

?

Hazard · 5 Apr 2008, 19:23 (Ref:2170583)

It's good to see the WTCC acknowledging the drivers like this. Good on them.

E46 · 5 Apr 2008, 21:41 (Ref:2170698)

Puebla low grip conditions are always a nightmare for BMW. Qualifying showed it one more time.

Hazard · 5 Apr 2008, 21:46 (Ref:2170701)

I think Monteiro's blown engine may in fact have just saved Tarquini's bacon.

BMW's indeed sluggish, Farfus the only one in the top 10.

Qualifying

Pos	Driver	Nat	No	Team	Car	Class	Time
1	Jordi Gené	SPN	9	SEAT Sport	SEAT Léon TDI	S2000D	1:40.808
2	Nicola Larini	ITA	6	Chevrolet	Chevrolet Lacetti	S2000	1:40.981
3	Tom Coronel	NED	20	SUNRED	SEAT Léon TFSI	S2000	1:41.239
4	Rob Huff	GBR	7	Chevrolet	Chevrolet Lacetti	S2000	1:41.488
5	Alain Menu	SWI	8	Chevrolet	Chevrolet Lacetti	S2000	1:41.517
6	Augusto Farfus	BRZ	3	BMW Team Germany	BMW 320si E90	S2000	1:41.583
7	Rickard Rydell	SWE	10	SEAT Sport	SEAT Léon TDI	S2000D	1:41.594
8	Gabriele Tarquini	ITA	11	SEAT Sport	SEAT Léon TDI	S2000D	1:41.671
9	Yvan Muller	FRA	12	SEAT Sport	SEAT Léon TDI	S2000D	1:41.791
10	Tiago Monteiro	POR	18	SEAT Sport	SEAT Léon TDI	S2000D	1:41.873
11	Félix Porteiro	SPN	5	BMW Team Italy-Spain	BMW 320si E90	S2000	1:42.045
12	Andy Priaulx	GBR	1	BMW Team Great Britain	BMW 320si E90	S2000	1:42.208
13	Jörg Müller	GER	2	BMW Team Germany	BMW 320si E90	S2000	1:42.235
14	Pierre-Yves Corthals (I)	BEL	23	Exagon Engineering	SEAT Léon TFSI	S2000	1:42.729
15	Alessandro Zanardi	ITA	4	BMW Team Italy-Spain	BMW 320si E90	S2000	1:43.050
16	Sergio Hernández (I)	SPN	31	Proteam Motorsport	BMW 320si E90	S2000	1:43.297
17	Franz Engstler (I)	GER	42	Liqui Moly Team Engstler	BMW 320si E90	S2000	1:43.890
18	Olivier Tielemans (I)	NED	16	Wiechers-Sport	BMW 320si E90	S2000	1:43.952
19	Stefano D'Aste (I)	ITA	26	Proteam Motorsport	BMW 320si E90	S2000	1:44.068
20	Andrey Romanov (I)	RUS	43	Liqui Moly Team Engstler	BMW 320si E90	S2000	1:45.437
21	Ibrahim Okyay (I)	TUR	13	Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport	BMW 320si E90	S2000	1:47.962

**touringlegend** · 5 Apr 2008, 22:16 (Ref:2170720)

Chevy's looking good for tomorrow.

Matt · 5 Apr 2008, 22:58 (Ref:2170750)

Wahoooooo!!!!! Go go Chevrolet!

Lam Pak · 6 Apr 2008, 04:05 (Ref:2170845)

i preview 1-2-3 seats today. what the turkish is doing?

dj4monie · 6 Apr 2008, 04:17 (Ref:2170848)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Haven

As a mark of respect to the late David Leslie, there will be a one-minute silence observed by all the teams on the gird at Puebla, just prior to the roll-off for the rolling start of Race 1 on Sunday.

Andy Prialux will also pay his respects by wearing a black armband, as will many members of the RML team that runs the Chevrolets, to whom David was a close "family" member.

All the RML cars are running with a David Leslie tribute on the passenger door mirror.

WTCC field especially the Brits are true class act, David will be missed!

Hats off to you Martin I know you would try to get a moment of silence and he of all people deserve it -

**FIRE** · 6 Apr 2008, 08:06 (Ref:2170898)

Coronel

I am surprised there's only one diesel in top 5.
Chevrolet did very well.

Quote:

Chevrolet’s Robert Huff, who had posted the fourth fastest lap in yesterday’s qualifying, will be dropped five places on the grid for Sunday’s Race 1. The decision was taken after his car failed to restart on its own means after stopping at the weighing scales.
...

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=2127

BTW Is it tarmac or gravel?

smokinjo · 6 Apr 2008, 08:51 (Ref:2170917)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellmau

Hey Smokinjo (fan of Joachim Winkelhock?

). Welcome to the forum.

No, the BMW's aren't going to use the diesel cars in Mexico yet. It's still unknown if they are going to use it in Valencia for the third race of the season.

yup. he's amazing. i like him so much =]

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Welcome to ten tenths, smokinjo.

It would probably make more sense for BMW to introduce the 320d at Brno. Similar to in F1 where engines have to last two weekends, in the WTCC engines have last four. I don't think they would gain anything by introducing it at Valencia or Pau and taking the grid drop unless the engine really is something spectacular, which is unlikely.

ic

but due to their performance in Qualifying
it seems that the BMWs are uncompetitive ..=[

duke_toaster · 6 Apr 2008, 09:14 (Ref:2170929)

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokinjo

ic

but due to their performance in Qualifying
it seems that the BMWs are uncompetitive ..=[

Puebla is a unique track where it is hard to judge performance. As it is high altitude, the air is thinner. This favours forced induction - I.E. Turbodiesels.

Ellmau · 6 Apr 2008, 10:28 (Ref:2171008)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

BTW Is it tarmac or gravel?

Mud

Ellmau · 6 Apr 2008, 10:43 (Ref:2171021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Puebla is a unique track where it is hard to judge performance. As it is high altitude, the air is thinner. This favours forced induction - I.E. Turbodiesels.

Plus the twisty track of Puebla is not in favour of the RWD's either. Two years ago BMW had a bad performance at Puebla as well.

Martin Haven · 6 Apr 2008, 13:12 (Ref:2171193)

Seems that a reasonably large part of the problem is the track surface itself. It's not breaking up, like the 'rally stage' races of yore, more that the tarmac they laid to replace that old surface is polished smooth.

Chevrolet's Mark Busfield described it best, as 'like an indoor kart track.' The 'grain' of the tarmac is tiny, allowing it to be filled with rubber more easily, retain the heat of the sun better (so very high track temps - 50degC for 30degC ambient air) and it's actually shining in the sun, as the cameras show.

So, why does this affect the BMWs more? Perhaps it's just that if the tail slides (as EVERYONE's does when there are so many corners (16) and the surface is SO low-grip) the FWD cars (in true Mini fashion) can nail the throttle and the front wheels will pull them through the slide but the BMWs have to stay off the gas until the slide is under control, or they are just pushing a 'swing-o-meter' that forces the tail ever wider. And sideways, as wel all know, is SLOW.

How the continual sliding (front and rear) affects the various car/engine layouts in the race remains to be seen... but I think that Andy, for one, may be hard pushed to repeat his Brazilian result...

If 'Mr 12th Place' doesn't get a haul of points, Chevrolet's drivers really have to, after the disaster of Curitiba.

By the way, apologies for the technical snafu during qualifying and, can anyone tell me, does the FIAWTCC website's live streaming come with commentary?

Piglet · 6 Apr 2008, 14:18 (Ref:2171272)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Haven

By the way, apologies for the technical snafu during qualifying and, can anyone tell me, does the FIAWTCC website's live streaming come with commentary?

Hi Martin, there is no commentary on the live streaming for warm-up, didn't try it for qualifying though so I don't know if that was any different.

It was strange hearing you without David last night, I could almost hear his voice at the points where he would normally have commentated. You sounded like you were missing him as well.

There is a lovely post from David's son on the Tribute thread on here, where he says his Dad would have wanted everyone to enjoy their racing...

Monkey Head · 6 Apr 2008, 14:50 (Ref:2171337)

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Welcome to ten tenths, smokinjo.

It would probably make more sense for BMW to introduce the 320d at Brno. Similar to in F1 where engines have to last two weekends, in the WTCC engines have last four. I don't think they would gain anything by introducing it at Valencia or Pau and taking the grid drop unless the engine really is something spectacular, which is unlikely.

is 'four race' mean races instead of events?I think it only need last two weekends because we have 2 races for each race weekend.

redshoes · 6 Apr 2008, 15:32 (Ref:2171389)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Haven

By the way, apologies for the technical snafu during qualifying and, can anyone tell me, does the FIAWTCC website's live streaming come with commentary?

There was for the last race and qualifying this weekend.

Sodemo · 6 Apr 2008, 15:38 (Ref:2171398)

I am glad that *someone* has finally done something about the sound mix levels, you can actually hear the cars now and have been able to for the last few meetings, not that I would wish to mute your voice Martin in any way, but the levels were way too quiet...

smokinjo · 6 Apr 2008, 17:57 (Ref:2171512)

a disastrous race to the BMWs .. =[

Bramzel · 6 Apr 2008, 18:14 (Ref:2171524)

Pretty ok race, just annoying that the director managed to miss all of the action in the first laps. Thats not such a big problem though, we all make mistakes. But at least throw in a replay then so we can see what happened.

SALEEN S7R · 6 Apr 2008, 18:24 (Ref:2171533)

Hmm well it would appear the diesel Seat's are all dominant this season, so far anyway. Honestly it could almost be mistaken for a 1 make Seat Championship with 6 cars inside the top 8 being Seat's. BMW and Chvrolet really need to get a move on and develop diesel cars for 2009.

The situation in the WTCC with Seat's dominance reminds me of the dominance Audi and Peugeot are currently enjoying in the LMS/ALMS due to the fact they are running diesel powered cars, whilst there is the occasional petrol powered interlooper on the podium they arent usually beaten by another car in the LMP1 class thanks to their massive torque and fuel economy.

Fingers crossed race 2 is a little closer and that Priaulx and the other BMW's can break into the top 8.

Sodemo · 6 Apr 2008, 19:23 (Ref:2171590)

I just think they should stamp on the diesel issue sooner rather than later.

I mean, where will it end? Will all marques be "forced" to develop diesel engines in order to be competitive?

What will then be the point if all cars run diesel engines?

As far as spectating goes, I certainly wouldn't be all that thrilled about watching 25 near silent cars going around a track.

duke_toaster · 6 Apr 2008, 19:30 (Ref:2171594)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkey Head

is 'four race' mean races instead of events?I think it only need last two weekends because we have 2 races for each race weekend.

Nope, it's weekends I.E. three engines per season.

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