European Touring Car Cup - Vallelunga

[nickyf1]

the races are on eurosport2 next week at 2.00 pm.

[Monkey Head]

Franz Engstler in there too?
next ATCC round is the suppoprting race of FIA GT
how could he transport his car just 5 days?
(may be use his back up car)

[E46]

Goransson and Bjork are my bets, then Plato or Coronel.

[JMeissner]

Competitors to the FIA European Touring Car Cup hit the track for the first time this morning, under a bright sky for a 60-minute test session. Italian drivers took advantage from their knowledge of the track and set the fastest times with Salvatore Tavano (DB Motorsport Alfa Romeo 156) who topped the time sheet with a lap in 1:42.876, and Alessandro Zanardi (Roal Motorsport BMW 320i) only 0.022 seconds behind.

Claudia Hürtgen (Schubert Motors BMW 320i) was best of the rest, six tenths slower than Tavano but faster than Swedish champion Richard Göransson (West Coast Racing BMW 320i), Tom Coronel (GR Asia SEAT Toledo) was fifth fastest and the best of SEAT men, with Jason Plato (SEAT Sport UK) and Michel Nykjær (SEAT Racing Team) in 7th and 8th position respectively. Jens Edman (Peugeot Sport Denmark) managed to split them setting the 6th fastest lap in his Peugeot 407. Top-ten positions were completed by Tomas Engström (Honda Dealer Team Sweden Honda Accord) and Alessandro Balzan (SEAT Sport Italia SEAT Toledo).

21 of the 26 drivers enteres took part in the session, two of them completing in the Super Production class in which the fastest lap was clocked by Russian Sergey Krylov (Sport Garage Volkswagen Golf). The session was red-flagged twice, when Roda first, and Hürtgen went off and remained stranded in the gravel.

The FIA ETC Cup will run again this afternoon for a second 60-minute test session at 14.50.

1 Tavano Alfa Romeo 156 1:42.876
2 Zanardi BMW 320i 1:42.898
3 Hürtgen BMW 320i 1:43.570
4 Göransson BMW 320i 1:43.689
5 Coronel SEAT Toledo 1:43.791
6 Edman Peugeot 407 1:43.989
7 Plato SEAT Toledo 1:44.477
8 Nykjær SEAT Toledo 1:44.740
9 Engström Honda Accord 1:44.798
10 Balzan SEAT Toledo 1:44.995
11 Larini Alfa Romeo 156 1:45.277
12 Stureson Peugeot 407 1:45.370
13 Rangoni BMW 320i 1:45.536
14 Rida BMW 320i 1:45.927
15 Ukhov BMW 320i 1:46.473
16 Treml Ford Focus 1:47.428
17 Teregulov BMW 320i 1:47.803
18 Laivola SEAT Toledo 1:49.105
19 Björk BMW 320i 1:55.359
20 Krylov VW Golf IV 1:58.828
21 Nikolaev VW Golf III 2:04.733

[JMeissner]

In the second 60-minute practice session of the day it was Jason Plato (SEAT Sport UK) who posted the fastest lap with a time of 1:43.095. Swede Richard Göransson (West Coast Racing) also improved his position from this morning as he was second. The third best time was completed by Alessandro Zanardi in his Roal Motorsport BMW.

Fellow Italian, Luca Rangoni (Proteam Motorsport) set the fifth fastest time with Michael Nykjær (SEAT Racing Team) going 0.418 of a second better to claim fourth spot. Sixth, seventh and eight positions were all occupied by Swedish drivers: Thed Björk (West Coast Racing), Johan Stureson (IPS Motorsport) and Jens Edman (Peugeot Sport Denmark).

The last of the top ten places were taken by Claudia Hürtgen (Schubert Motors) and Franz Engstler (BMW Team Engstler), who hadn’t run in the morning.

The session was red-flagged on three occasions with the third occurring just one minute before the end of the session. On the first occasion the cause was Davide Roda who spun and the second spell was to allow one of the Schubert Motors cars to be towed back to the pits after experiencing problems.
The FIA ETC Cup will run again tomorrow, for two 60-minute test sessions at 11.10 and 17.00.


1 Plato SEAT Toledo 1:43.033
2 Göransson BMW 320i 1:43.141
3 Zanardi BMW 320i 1:43.219
4 Nykjær SEAT Toledo 1:43.428
5 Rangoni BMW 320i 1:43.646
6 Björk BMW 320i 1:43.730
7 Stureson Peugeot 407 1:43.795
8 Edman Peugeot 407 1:43.818
9 Hürtgen BMW 320i 1:44.010
10 Engstler BMW 320i 1:44.145
11 Tavano Alfa Romeo 156 1:44.636
12 Balzan SEAT Toledo 1:44.685
13 Larini Alfa Romeo 156 1:44.953
14 Engström Honda Accord 1:45.459
15 Collard SEAT Toledo 1:45.631
16 Ukhov BMW 320i 1:45.697
17 Roda BMW 320i 1:46.928
18 Teregulov BMW 320i 1:47.961
19 Treml Ford Focus 1:47.089
20 Laivola SEAT Toledo 1:48.861
21 Krylov VW Golf 1:58.740
22 Nikolaev VW Golf 2:05.614

[Hazard]

So Plato, Goransson, Zanardi & Tavano are possibles...

That works quite nicely, one BTCC...one STCC, ITCC & a WTCC driver...truly international! (If pracitce time form-book so far holds up).

Anyone want to bet on the Volkswagons?

[FIRE]

LAST MINUTE CHANGES TO THE ENTRY LIST

OTHLA WITHDRAWS
Estonian Aivis Othla, who was expected to drive the second Ford Focus car run by Germany-based TW Racing, has withdrawn his entry from the Super 2000 cup. This leaves Wolfgang Treml, from Austria, as the team’s only driver.

COLLARD REPLACES KAYE
Also in the S2000 Cup, Robert Collard from England has replaced fellow Countryman James Kaye at the wheel of GR Asia’s second SEAT Toledo Cupra car, alongside Tom Coronel.

FALESSI JOINS SUPER PROD
Italian Lorenzo Falessi has been added to the list of men pretending to Super Production Cup; he joins the three drivers – Pasquinelli, Krylov and Nikolaev – who had entered already. Falessi will be at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo 147 run by Errepi Racing.

FIA EUROPEAN TOURING CAR CUP – TESTING 3
1 Zanardi (BMW 320i) 1:41.547at 144.82 kph
2 Tavano (Alfa Romeo 156) 1:41.875
3 Plato (SEAT Toledo Cupra) 1:41.974
4 Göransson (BMW 320i) 1:42.050
5 Hürtgen (BMW 320i) 1:42.575
6 Björk (BMW 320i) 1:42.583
7 Engstler (BMW 320i) 1:42.710
8 Edman (Peugeot 407) 1:42.737
9 Engström (Honda Accord Euro R) 1:43.106
10 Nykjær (SEAT Toledo Cupra) 1:43.139
11 Rangoni (BMW 320i) 1:43.264
12 Stureson (Peugeot 407) 1:43.264
13 Collard (SEAT Toledo Cupra) 1:43.400
14 Ukhov (BMW 320i) 1:45.109
15 Teregulov (BMW 320i) 1:45.548
16 Roda (BMW 320i) 1:46.131
17 Treml (Ford Focus ST170) 1:47.355
18 Krylov (Volswagen Golf IV) 1:54.677
19 Nikolaev (Volkswagen Golf III) 1:59.408
Source: www.fiaetcc.com

[touringlegend]

Why the Collard / Kaye swap ???

[Hazard]

Apparently that's not the only swap - though surprisingly not mentioned on the FIA ETCC site - the Yokohoma tyres weren't up to standard so all teams were permitted to switch to another supplier of their choice.

All have chosen Michelin!

[JMeissner]

Seriously?! Source?

[j_t_8_8_8]

Today in Vallelunga Alessandro Balzan won the last two races of the Italian Superturismo Championship at the wheel of his Toledo - Scuderia del Girasole. At the start of the races there were also Coronel, Engstler, Rangoni and Roda.

Race 1

1. Balzan - SEAT
2. Tavano - Alfa
3. De Lorenzi - BMW
4. Larini - Alfa
5. Valli - BMW

Race 2

1. Balzan - SEAT
2. De Lorenzi - BMW
3. Tavano - Alfa
4. Engstler - BMW
5. Larini - Alfa
6. Valli - BMW
7. Coronel - SEAT

[JMeissner]

It is true about Yokohama:

Problems with Yokohama at ETC Cup, 2005-10-15, 19:55:51
The problems for Yokohama and ETC Cup have arrived even before the race. The Yokohama-tyre which was ment to be the only tyre for this race and for the WTCC next year showed big problems immideately. The organisation for the race have chosen to make Dunlop and Michelin avalible as well.

Several of drivers with front wheel driven cars have experienced tyres separating and getting worn in no time. The Swede Johan Stureson in his Peugeot 407 was one of them.

- After five, six laps the lap times increased with about three seconds. The first lap was quickest and then it went downhill fast, Stureson said over the phone from Vallelunga.

Stureson has chosen to switch to Michelin along with most of the other teams. STCC champion Richard Göransson also decided to switch to Michelin tyres, but not due to problems.

- We chose to switch to Michelin since Zanardi did that. He has been quickest and if we can keep up with him we are more than pleased, Göransson said.

His team mate Thed Björk has chosen to remain with the Yokohama-tyres since the rear wheel driven cars were practically not affected at all by the problems of the Yokohama-tyres.

Two practice sessions of 60 minutes each have been completed today. Zanardi was quickest at both of them, closely followed by Tavano. Göransson was fourth quickest in the first session and third in the second session. And it seems like Zanardi, Tavano and Göransson are the strongest contenders for the races tomorrow.

- It will not be easy, Zanardi and Tavano are really fast. For example Tavano is driving a works Alfa Romeo. If we can keep up with them tomorrow, we are more than pleased, Göransson said.

Stureson was 12:th in the first practice session today and climbed to 10:th during the second session. The Swede is a bit catious for the races tomorrow with his expectations.

- It´s working quite well now. We are satisfied if we reach top ten tomorrow. We had no real expectations before the race weekend, we didn´t know really what to expect, Stureson said.

Follow the races live tomorrow at Eurosport channel 2.

[E46]

Originally Posted by JMeissner

His team mate Thed Björk has chosen to remain with the Yokohama-tyres since the rear wheel driven cars were practically not affected at all by the problems of the Yokohama-tyres.

Very interesting. Thanks for info JMeissner.

[touringlegend]

I find it interesting there are other tyres there ready to be used. Strange!

[redshoes]

I was going to say the same.

Wasn't there a couple of national championships running today as part of the same meeting? Forget which but think Italian Championship was one of them. I assume Dunlop/Michelin would have been there to support those, although a little suprised Michelin had enough tyres for everyone.

Another FIA run event (almost) reduced to a farse thanks to poor quality tyres, although this time Michelin seem to have come to the rescue rather than be the source of the problem.

[JMeissner]

Well, at least all WTCC teams are looking on the coming (tyre) season with confidence now...

And indeed, strange that Michelin AND Dunlop were both there ready to supply all teams.

[Neil Adams]

maybe good planning by those tyre companies the wtcc tyre contract must be a biggie

[Hazard]

As redshoes picked up on, the Italian championship is there in support (Tavano won both races) - so that's where the alternative choice has come from. As to how they had so many tyres, pass

I've seen no sign of a qualifying session as yet? How's that supposed to work, is Alan Gow coming along with his hat?

[kmchow]

uh oh, the conspiracy theorists are getting all excited and rubbing their hands together.

[redshoes]

From ETCC Media office

Italian drivers will fill the front row of the grid for this afternoon's Race 1.
Alessandro Zanardi claimed pole position at the wheel of his BMW Team Italy-Spain car, with a lap in 1:41.125.
Salvatore Tavano will line up alongside him on the front row, having been 2nd fastest with a gap of 0.135.
Third and fourth fastest were two other BMW drivers: Swedish champion Richard Göransson (0.338 off the pole) and Claudia Hürtgen (0.696).
Pole position in Super Production class went to Lorenzo Pasquinelli (Zerocinque Motorsport)
SUPER 2000 CUP
1. Alessandro Zanardi (BMW 320i) 1:41.125; 2. Salvatore Tavano (Alfa Romeo 156) 1:41.260; 3. Richard Göransson (320i) 1:41.463
SUPER PRODUCTION CUP
1. Lorenzo Pasquinelli (BMW 320i) 1:48.050
These results are PROVISIONAL
Full report and final results will follow later.

[j_t_8_8_8]

From the official site:

ETCC - Vallelunga, 16th October 2005 - Qualifying Session:
# DRIVER TEAM CAR Best Lap Av. Speed\Gap
1 2 Alessandro Zanardi (ITA) BMW Team Italy-Spain BMW 320i 1:41.125 145.42 kpg
2 5 Salvatore Tavano (ITA) DB Motorsport Alfa Romeo 156 1:41.260 0.135
3 15 Richard Göransson (SWE) West Coast Racing BMW 320i 1:41.463 0.338
4 13 Claudia Hürtgen (GER) Schubert Motors BMW 320i 1:41.821 0.696
5 24 Luca Rangoni (ITA) Proteam Motorsport BMW 320i 1:41.955 0.830
6 20 Jason Plato (GBR) SEAT Sport UK SEAT Toledo Cupra 1:42.108 0.983
7 21 Tom Coronel (NED) GR Asia SEAT Toledo Cupra 1:42.129 1.004
8 3 Franz Engstler (GER) BMW Team Engstler BMW 320i 1:42.205 1.080
9 16 Thed Björk (SWE) West Coast Racing BMW 320i 1:42.257 1.132
10 9 Jens Edman (SWE) Peugeot Sport Denmark Peugeot 407 1:42.267 1.142
11 10 Johan Stureson (SWE) IPS Motorsport Peugeot 407 1:42.342 1.217
12 4 Michel Nykjær (DEN) SEAT Racing Team SEAT Toledo Cupra 1:42.410 1.285
13 1 Tomas Engström (SWE) Honda Dealer Team Sweden Honda Accord Euro R 1:42.447 1.322
14 6 Andrea Larini (ITA) DB Motorsport Alfa Romeo 156 1:42.548 1.423
15 14 Alessandro Balzan (ITA) SEAT Sport Italia SEAT Toledo Cupra 1:42.640 1.515
16 22 Robert Collard (GBR) GR Asia SEAT Toledo Cupra 1:43.197 2.072
17 8 Stefano Valli (RSM) Zerocinque Motorsport BMW 320i 1:43.572 2.447
18 7 Mikhail Ukhov (RUS) Avtodom Racing - BMW Russia BMW 320i 1:43.717 2.592
19 23 Davide Roda (ITA) Proteam Motorsport BMW 320i 1:43.878 2.753
20 12 Rustem Teregulov (RUS) Schubert Motors BMW 320i 1:44.408 3.283
21 19 Wolfgang Treml (AUT) TW Racing Ford Focus ST170 1:44.586 3.461
22 11 Ari Laivola (FIN) Maarakennus M. Laivola Oy SEAT Toledo Cupra 1:45.256 4.131
23 51 Lorenzo Pasquinelli (ITA) Zerocinque Motorsport BMW 320i 1:48.050 6.925
24 52 Sergey Krylov (RUS) Sport-Garage Volkswagen Golf IV Gti 1:55.374 14.249
25 53 Andrey Nikolaev (RUS) Sport-Garage Volkswagen Golf III Gti 2:01.550 20.425

[Kicking-back]

LIVE now on Eurosport 2

[Hazard]

Great win in race one for Zanardi. Tavano shows some true Autodelta driving properties.

Plato & Coronel fighting well throughout, Peugeot on pole for race 2

[Kidzer]

First few laps seems to be a bit crazy in terms of driving standards (or not) didn't you think?

[Hazard]

All good fun. Plato wins race two! - not without performing a suspect nudge on Engstler at the beginning in true Plato style.

But Göransson wins the cup for finishing 2nd in both races.