SEAT FACES THE WTCC RACE NUMBER 100 IN THE LEAD

Posted 1st July, 2009 in SEAT | Leave a comment

The WTCC races being held next 5 July on Oporto’s urban track will be memorable for two reasons. On one hand they mark the championship’s 100th race, and on the other, they signal the half-way point of this season with the SEAT Sport team currently leading both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ classification.

SEAT’s first place standing is largely due to their unwavering team spirit, which has led them to overcome all the setbacks experienced until now, and expect the latest decisions concerning technical rules made by the FIA will provide the WTCC with the stability it is in dire need of.

SEAT does not agree with the constant changes in recent races in applying the rules which set the maximum turbo pressure limit to 2.7 bar until the end of the season. These changes have put a significant damper on the León TDI’s performance output. As a result, the SEAT cars do not clock the fastest lap times, proving that they are not mechanically superior to their rivals. Their successful performance by far stems from the exceptional work carried out by the team and the drivers’ prowess.

The SEAT drivers managed five victories, fourteen podiums and two pole positions in the first half of the season. They are determined to compete at the remaining six meetings with the same objective in mind as at the beginning of the season – a repeat performance of last year’s double title win.

That would cement SEAT’s commitment to the World Touring Car Championship. SEAT has participated at each and every WTCC meeting with their official team, and if Jordi Gené qualifies for Oporto, he will be one of only two drivers to race in all 100. Since 2005 and despite all uncertainties, the WTCC is a consolidated event on the international race calendar, with four carmakers registered and increasingly large spectator turnouts. The races are now being held on four continents and hundreds of millions of viewers follow the broadcast action, making the WTCC this year the only championship broadcast in high definition.

The SEAT León TDI has never before competed on Oporto’s urban track, and the milestone races give the five-year-old WTCC similar recognition to other championships that have been around for much longer. SEAT Sport is eagerly looking forward to the date. The double win in 2008 was one of the major successes in Spanish sport history and this year’s daunting challenge is to win again.

Schedule (local time in Oporto is one hour behind CET time)

Friday, 3 July
15.00 – 15.30: Free training sessions

Saturday, 4 July
9.00 – 9.30: Free training sessions
12.00 – 12.30: Free training sessions
15.00 – 15.50: Qualifying session

Sunday, 5 July
9.00 – 9.15: Warm-up
11.35: First race. 11 laps, rolling start
16.50: Second race. 11 laps, standing start

Minimum weights and ballast of participating cars
SEAT León TDI: 1,170 Kg. + 0 Kg. ballast = 1,170 Kg.
SEAT petrol: 1,170 Kg. – 20 Kg. ballast = 1,150 Kg.
BMW: 1,155 Kg. + 40 Kg. ballast = 1,195 Kg.
Chevrolet Cruze: 1,170 Kg. – 10 Kg. ballast = 1,160 Kg.
BMW (Privates): 1,180 Kg.
Lada 110: 1,170 Kg. – 20 Kg. ballast = 1,150 Kg.
Lada Priora: 1,170 Kg. + 40 Kg. ballast = 1,210 Kg.

(Due to a special authorisation by the FIA, the BMWs are competing with 15 kg less than the SEAT León TDI).

Third SEAT León Eurocup meeting

Diego Puyo is the SEAT León Eurocup driver who will be competing at the WTCC event, thanks to his overall win at the previous race on the Brno circuit, which gives any driver the chance to race at the next scheduled world event.

Besides winning in Brno, Diego Puyo also shares the lead in the general standings with Máximo Pedalà, with 22 points each. They are followed by Michel Matejovsky, who trails by two points, and Norbert Michelisz, fourth with 18. The previous two meetings held in Valencia and Brno have proven that there is no clear winner in each race. Until now four drivers have won — Michelisz, Larini, Rossi and Puyo, and only three drivers — Barth, Michelisz and Puyo have managed to step onto the podium twice.

The Eurocup pitches around 20 rivals, and typical of the competitions featuring the SEAT León Supercopa, this is going to be a tight race. The Oporto track is the only urban circuit of the entire season, and its narrow streets will prove to be especially challenging.

Schedule (local time in Oporto is one hour behind CET time)

Friday, 3 July
13.30 – 14.00: Free training sessions
16.30 – 17.00: Free training sessions