WTCC: ENGSTLER LOOKS FORWARD TO HOME RACE

ENGSTLER LOOKS FORWARD TO HOME RACE German racer Franz Engstler is looking forward to his home WTCC event this weekend at Oschersleben. Two weeks ago at Donington Park, at the wheel of his BMW 320 TC run by the Liqui Moly team, Engstler claimed his best result ever in WTCC, finishing third in the second race behind the Chevrolet Cruze cars of Yvan Muller and Rob Huff. This also enabled him to close the gap in the Yokohama Trophy where he currently lies fourth, only ten points behind Norbert Michelisz. Engstler, who turned 50 last Monday, hopes to have another positive weekend at the Motorsport Arena. "My podium in the second race at Donington showed that our BMW 320 TC is really working well. I am obviously very much up for the races in Oschersleben. Another top result would be the perfect belated birthday present!" Franz Engstler and his team aim for another great result at Oschersleben PEPE ORIOLA SHINES IN FIA THE EUROPEAN CUP WTCC youngest racer, Pepe Oriola finished runner up to touring car star Fabrizio Giovanardi in the FIA European Touring Car Cup that took place last weekend at the Austrian Salzburgring. In difficult weather conditions, with the track flooded by pouring rain, the 17-year old Spaniard showed that his first year in WTCC is bringing him to maturity very quickly, and just like a veteran he fought with Giovanardi with no awes. Giovanardi's Honda Accord and Oriola's SEAT León TDi shared victories and second places, but the title was awarded on the basis of the qualifying points, which meant that Giovanardi was crowned champion by one mere point thanks to his pole position. Oriola said: "Second behind Giovanardi was a great result for me and the team. I did my best to follow him in the first race and pushed at the maximum in the second. I am also very proud to be the driver who gave the SEAT TDi its last victory." Pepe Oriola on his way to win the FIA ETCC Race 2 at the Salzburgring CERQUI TESTS FOR ROAL MOTORSPORT Taking the opportunity of a test session with Tom Coronel at the Adria Raceway, in order to prepare this weekend's event at Oschersleben, the ROAL Motorsport team offered to Alberto Cerqui his first drive in the WTCC BMW 320 TC. Cerqui, only 19-years old, is one of ROAL Motorsport's regular drivers in the Superstars series in which he currently lies second in the points after claiming his first race win three weeks ago at Misano. "I was very impressed by the WTCC car. Its strong points are the agility in changing direction and over the kerbs, the braking and cornering speed. The 1.6-litre turbo engine supplies the power in a very peculiar way and needs to adjust a bit the driving style. I thank the team for giving me this opportunity that I hope could be repeated in the future," said Cerqui. HUFF AND MENU TO RACE IN ARGENTINA Chevrolet WTCC drivers Alain Menu and Rob Huff will take part in the 200 Km of Buenos Aires, the main event of Argentina's TC2000 championship, at the wheel of Cruze cars run by the Equipo Oficial Chevrolet. This year the race takes place on 21st August and has been moved from the Autódromo Municipal de Buenos Aires to the Autódromo Roberto Mouras in La Plata, in the surroundings of the federal capital. It is a tradition for the Chevrolet WTCC drivers to join their Argentine fellow drivers in this traditional event that attracts touring car specialists from worldwide and huge crowds. Alain Menu has been a regular invitee in recent years, winning the race in 2006, while Rob Huff will be competing for the second time. The Equipo Oficial Chevrolet are campaigning two Cruze cars in the TC2000, achieving excellent results with Agustín Canapino and Christian Ledesma. Fabio Ravaioli/Press Delegate.