| YVAN MULLER CROWNED AT THE FIA GALA
Last night Yvan Muller and Chevrolet were officially named 2011 FIA World Touring Car champions during the traditional FIA prize giving gala in that took place for the first time at New Dehli.
In the sumptuous setting of the Kingdom of Dreams, specially designed to offer a unique Indian atmosphere, the FIA honoured all its champions in a progression from Karting to Formula One.
The part of the ceremony dedicated to the presentation of the WTCC trophies culminated in an all-Chevrolet podium with the Cruze 1.6T racing car on the background. Rob Huff and Alain Menu - second and third in the championship respectively - received the runner up trophies, lining on either side of Yvan Muller. Then Chevrolet Motorsport director Eric Nève joined them to receive the Manufacturers' trophy.
Yvan Muller was awarded the Drivers' World Champion's trophy for the third time, after the titles he won in 2008 for SEAT and in 2010 for Chevrolet, while Nève collected Chevrolet's second Manufacturers' Championship trophy. 
Huff, Muller and Menu on the WTCC podium at the FIA Gala in New Dehli THE WORD TO THE 2011 WTCC CHAMPIONS
After receiving his third WTCC championship trophy Yvan Muller commented: "It was a very close call! Rob (Huff) deserved to win the title just like me. He has been quick the whole season and won as many races as I did. I am now facing my third season with Chevrolet and my goal is to win a fourth world title. Nobody has done it before in WTCC and it would be nice to do it. After all, my Alsatian countryman Sébastien Loeb has won eight WRC titles."
About Chevrolet's second Manufacturers' title, Motorsport director Eric Nève said: "The team worked very hard and the key to our success was to start testing so early with the new 1.6-litre turbo engine. Our sporting activity is of benefit for the brand. The Cruze is a truly global car and its involvement in a world championship where racing cars are so close to production cars is also good for the sales. Which is proved by the fact that we have already sold one million Cruze cars worldwide." 2012 CALENDAR APPROVED BY FIA WORLD COUNCIL
The calendar of the 2012 WTCC was approved earlier this week by the FIA World Motor Sport Council during the meeting in New Dehli.
Once again the championship will comprise twelve events between March and November.
WTCC will visit for the first time Austria, Argentina and the USA, and it will also return to Marrakech's street circuit. Rounds 1 & 2 - 11 March: Autodromo di Monza (Italy)
Rounds 3 & 4 - 1 April: Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia (Spain)
Rounds 5 & 6 - 15 April: Circuit de Marrakech (Morocco)
Rounds 7 & 8 - 6 May: Hungaroring, Budapest (Hungary)
Rounds 9 & 10 - 20 May: Salzburgring (Austria)
Rounds 11 & 12 - 3 June: Circuito do Estoril (Portugal) *
Rounds 13 & 14 - 8 July: TBA (Argentina)
Rounds 15 & 16 - 22 July: Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba (Brazil)
Rounds 17 & 18 - 23 September: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma (USA)
Rounds 19 & 20 - 21 October: Suzuka East Circuit (Japan)
Rounds 21 & 22 - 4 November: Shanghai International Circuit (China)
Rounds 23 & 24 - 18 November: Circuito da Guia (Macau)
* subject to the agreement with the promoter 
The 2012 FIA WTCC will kick off in Italy, at the Autodromo di Monza
| RACE DISTANCE TO VARY BETWEEN 50 AND 60 KM
The FIA World Motor Sport Council also approved last Wednesday a number of changes to the WTCC Sporting Regulations. ELIGIBLE CARS - In 2012 only Super 2000 cars powered by the 1.6-litre turbo engine will be eligible for full season entries. Older cars powered by 2.0L normally aspirated or turbo-diesel engines may only accepted on a race-by-race basis. RACE DISTANCE - To enhance competition, the race distance that was previously limited to 50 km has been increased to a range from a minimum of 50 km to a maximum of 60. For full details, please refer to the 2012 WTCC Sporting Regulations that will be available by December 15 at www.fia.com . ETCC HOSTED AT THREE WTCC EVENTS
In 2012 the FIA European Touring Car Cup reverts to a multiple event format.
The series will comprise four race meetings, three of them held during WTCC events, plus an ETCC stand-alone event that will conclude the season at Imola. Rounds 1 & 2 - 11 March: Autodromo di Monza (Italy)
Rounds 3 & 4 - 1 April: Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia (Spain)
Rounds 5 & 6 - 20 May: Salzburgring (Austria)
Rounds 7 & 8 - 24 June: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola (Italy) ROB HUFF AWARDED THE BRDC GOLD STAR
WTCC vice-champion Rob Huff was awarded the prestigious British Racing Drivers' Club Gold Star last Monday, during the Annual Awards ceremony.
First presented in 1929. The BRDC Gold Star is the Club's premier annual award. It recognises the strongest performance of the year by a Member in International motor sport. Rob Huff was awarded the BRDC Gold Star, after a sensational season in the World Touring Car Championship, in which he finished second just three points behind team-mate Yvan Muller, despite winning both races at the demanding Macau season finale.
Huff, who received the award from the hands of BRDC president Derek Warwick, was classified ahead of Formula One racers Jenson Button, Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton.
Rob Huff became the first Touring Car driver to win the BRDC Gold Star; three-time World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx was classified a close second in the 2010 award behind Mark Webber. | |
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