CORONEL AND ROAL TESTED IN VALLELUNGA

CORONEL AND ROAL TESTED IN VALLELUNGA

CORONEL AND ROAL TESTED IN VALLELUNGA ROAL Motorsport and Tom Coronel kicked off their racing season with two days of testing at Vallelunga, Italy. The Dutchman was at the wheel of a BMW 320 TC fitted with a new exhaust system developed by BMW Motorsport. After a sunny Thursday, the weather changed to overcast and windy on Friday with light rain in the early morning, but the track was dry for most of the time and the team was able to complete the programme. “We were mainly focusing on the engine set up and mapping. It is the first track test for the engine in 2013 specifications that features new exhaust and manifold. It has been a good test, though it is still too early to draw a conclusion on the benefits we may have from this technical development,” explained team principal Roberto Ravaglia. And Coronel added: “It’s always a good feeling to be back at the wheel of a racing car after the winter break. The car is still pretty much the same, except for this new exhaust system. The main problem for us is to get down to the minimum weight, because in previous years we were never able to reach it. Now the FIA has reduced our weight from 1160 to 1150, but we need to find a solution for having a benefit from this. This is the third year for me in the team. I know them, my engineer and the car. I am satisfied and this is the first time I have the feeling that I am ready to attack. I’m not sure it’s gonna happen, but in Netherlands we have a say: the third time is going to be right one…”

WIECHERS-SPORT CONFIRM WTCC COMMITMENT Germany-based Wiechers-Sport announced they will take part in the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship with one BMW 320 TC car. The team claimed two outright wins in 2012 with Stefano D’Aste, the first for them in WTCC, at the Salzburgring and Suzuka; however, they will unveil the driver’s name as well as the livery of the car only during the second week in March. “We are very much looking forward to the new WTCC season. Our team is part of the world championship since the first year and won the Independents’ Trophy twice, in 2005 with Marc Hennerici and in 2007 with D’Aste. Over the winter we have been able to develop the car in a few areas, with support from BMW Motorsport. We have planned to go out for a track test just before the season’s kick off at Monza,” team manager Dominik Greiner said.

SEVEN OFFICIAL TEST SESSIONS IN 2013 Seven official 30-minute test sessions have been scheduled for 2013. At each of the non-European events, a test session will be held on Friday (Thursday at Macau) in order to give teams the possibility to shake down their cars. An additional test session will be held on Friday at the Moscow Raceway that will host the World Championship for the first time. 2013 TEST SESSION LIST 5 April, Marrakech 7 June, Moscow 26 July, Curitiba 6 September, Sonoma 20 September, Suzuka 1 November, Shanghai 14 November, Macau Fabio Ravaioli Media Delegate.