WTCC @ BRANDS HATCH // N.TOZER & J.YORATH REPORT

The legendary Brands Hatch GP circuit plays host to rounds 15 and 16 of this years World Touring Car Championship this weekend. The fourth consecutive time the series has visited Brands saw preparations begin today for Saturdays qualifying. CTD's Neil Tozer and Jake Yorath are both trackside over the weekend to bring you all the news and exclusive images from what promises to be another two races of bumper to bumper action... [read more]

Going into this the the final WTCC race weekend before a six week summer break, the championship battle is starting to take shape and following their reluctance to operate team orders in previous years BMW driver Augusto Farfus will now be fully supported by his fellow 320si team mates in his bid to catch the series leading Seat TDI's.
 
Augusto Farfus who claimed pole at Brands last year before going on to endure a nightmare weekend is relishing the challenge of the Grand Prix circuit and is hoping for a large points haul to once again put pressure on the championship leading Seat's of Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini.

Meanwhile over in the Chevrolet camp their focus will be on British driver Rob Huff who is by far their best placed driver after the previous 14 rounds.
Huff (Below) who knows the GP circuit very well will be hoping for better luck than last year where he comfortably led race one before a high speed blowout on the approach to the ultra fast Hawthorn Bend pitched him briefly into the gravel before retirement and a back of the grid starting position for race two.

British driver James Thompson will be piloting the new Lada Priora as the Russian car makes its UK circuit debut. The Priora will benefit from a weight reduction at Brands this weekend bringing it in line with the older 110's. Thompson who this year is combining the WTCC with competing in the British Touring Car Championship feels that after a promising if unspectacular debut at Porto last time out the new car will begin to find its pace around the undulating GP circuit.


A welcome entry for this weekend are a brace of Volvo C30's for former single seater driver Robert Dahlgren and Tommy Rustad. In what is a one off entry the pair who are regulars in the Swedish Touring Car Championship hope to show the pace of the C30 in amongst the might of the regular WTCC runners. Dahlgren spent much of his early career racing in the UK with one highlight being crowned Formula Ford champion in 2001. Competing as a private entry this was no mean feat and hadn't been achieved previously since 1983. The Volvo C30 is unusual in the fact that the car uses a 5 cylinder in line 2litre engine which certainly produces a unique noise!

2009 WTCC Championship Standings (after 14 rounds):
1. Yvan Muller Seat Leon TDI 80
2. Gabriele Tarquini Seat Leon TDI 66
3. Augusto Farfus BMW 320si 65
4. Rikard Rydell Seat Leon TDI 46
5. Robert Huff Chevrolet Cruze 43
6. Jorg Muller BMW 320si 42
7. Andy Priaulx BMW 320si 38
8. Jordi Gene Seat Leon TDI 32
9. Tiago Monteiro Seat Leon TDI 31
10.Sergio Hernandez BMW 320si 29


The all new for 2009, FIA Formula Two Championship makes its UK debut this weekend with two races at Brands. The series has been created to introduce a one make low cost single seater formula to Europe as a cost effective alternative to GP2.

Working alongside Williams F1, Motorsport Vision were awarded the FIA contract and have produced an exciting new race series with the emphasis being on lowering spiralling costs and producing a "ground effect" car that can provide thrilling racing.

FIA Formula Two Technical Specifications:

Chassis: Carbon composite monocoque built to comply with 2005 F1 safety standards.

Wheelbase: 2885mm

Weight: 570kg

Engine: 1.8 litre Turbocharged Audi 4 cylinder (5 valves per cylinder)

Power Output: 400BHP@ 8,250rpm or 450BHP with "Overboost".

Electronic control: Pi Research Pectel MQ12 ECU

Gearbox: 6 gear Hewland TMT with Semi Automatic shift system.

Today saw the famous F2 name return to Britain's most iconic Circuit for the first time in over 25 years with free practice and qualifying taking place at showery Brands Hatch.

Series leaders after the opening rounds of the season are Andy Soucek (Spain) and Robert Wickens (Canada) and Julien Jousse (France)

Also on the varied support bill at Brands this weekend are the Formula Master Series (Below) which although taking a drop in grid numbers this year still shows signs of healthy competition at the sharp end of the field.Stay Tuned to CTD over the next few days for all the WTCC and Support action from Brands.

Photo: Jake Yorath & Neil Tozer
Editorial: Neil Tozer