FIA WTCC: Newsletter.

LADA COMPLETED SIX-DAY TEST IN FRANCE LADA Sport works team continued the testing programme in preparation of their full season comeback to the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2013. Last week the Russian team completed a six-day test at Magny-Cours, France, with James Thompson at the wheel of the Granta Sport car. During the test the team focused on setting up suspension, steering and engine parameters. Thompson commented: "I was very happy with the way the testing went, and the team can be very proud of what they have achieved in such a short time. We have worked through a very long test plan, which culminated in a big step forward both in drivability and performance." Team principal Victor Shapovalov added: "Our two outings in Hungary and Portugal earlier this year, enabled us to collect a lot of information about the car. Our engineers have analyzed all the issues we had, and during the summer we prepared a lot of new parts that we have tested in Magny-Cours. This test was very useful for the team and I'm very satisfied with the results. The car's reliability is very good, as we didn't meet with any technical issues over the six days. The car has been hugely improved, but will keep on developing it according to the plans."In September the LADA Sport Team will return to Russia to start working on the 2013 car. The name of the driver who will team up with James Thompson will be announced later.

HONDA TESTED AT THE SLOVAKIA RING The Honda Racing Team JAS completed their second track test with the Civic WTCC car, at the Slovakia Ring on Monday and Tuesday. Gabriele Tarquini took the wheel for most of the time, then Tiago Monteiro replaced him on Tuesday afternoon.Team Principal Alessandro Mariani commented: “It was a very good test. We were able to go through the full programme we had planned without meeting with the lesser technical issue. The track is excellent for testing as it offers both fast and slow corners. So we had the opportunity to work on the engine and the chassis set-up, and we also completed some long runs. We are very satisfied with the outcome. The performance is there, especially in terms of race pace. During the previous test at Vallelunga, we sensed the potential of the car; at the Slovakia Ring we have had the confirmation that this potential is really promising.”And Tarquini echoed: “The Civic is a very good racing car to work on. We have tried some different set up, testing its reaction. The results were encouraging. Our relationship with the Civic has just begun and I think we have only unveiled 25/30 percent of its potential. Performance is already there, so we are optimist. However we still have a long work to do and we must wait until we measure ourselves with the competitors.”

TEAM ENGSTLER TO RUN THIRD CAR IN ASIA The Liqui Moly Team Engstler will run a third car in the Asian races. A 2-litre normally aspirated BMW 320si was shipped by the German outfit straight to Japan.In addition to the two BMW 320 TC cars of Franz Engstler and Charles Ng, Japanese racer Masaki Kano will drive the 320si at Suzuka, while Joseph Rosa-Merszei will compete in his home event at Macau.Both, Kano and Rosa-Merszei have already made occasional WTCC appearances in the previous seasons at the wheel of BMW cars.The team plan to run the third car in China as well. “We still have to finalize a deal, and in the next weeks we will evaluate the proposals,” team manager Kurt Treml unveiled.

Fabio Ravaioli/Media Delegate.