Who will be watching the WTCC opener the weekend?

[bradc3]

i will probably watch it but when F1, BTCC and other series begin again i probably wont
my favorite WTCC driver Andy Priaulx wont be racing so i wont follow it as much as the last few seasons.

will you guys be following the series this year or has the pulling out of BMW and the stupid rule changes stop you.

anyway my predictions
RACE 1
HUFFY
MULLER
GENE

RACE 2
MULLER
TARGENIE
HUFFY

[BTCC2]

Probably end up watching since there's very little else in the way of Motorsport on at the minute, aside from NASCAR and WRC. But like you said i'll probably lose all interest once the real series begin :D

[kezbabybabe]

Oh yes I will be doing so. I like watching the series regardless of what the rule/driver changes are.

Its in the planner ready (in HD naturally) for when I get back from my weekend away. :D

[bradc3]

V8 Supercars are back up and running great series

And i guess theres still Huffy to support so maybe i will give it a watch

[mattlovestbs]

i will probably watch it but when F1, BTCC and other series begin again i probably wont
my favorite WTCC driver Andy Priaulx wont be racing so i wont follow it as much as the last few seasons.

will you guys be following the series this year or has the pulling out of BMW and the stupid rule changes stop you.

anyway my predictions
RACE 1
HUFFY
MULLER
GENE

RACE 2
MULLER
TARGENIE
HUFFY

Firstly - you won't see Jordi Gene on the podium. he isn't in WTCC this year.

I'll be watching it before work, same with GP2 Asia from Imola.

Predictions:

Race 1 -

Yvan MJuller
Rob Huff
Alain Menu

Race 2 -

Tom Coronel
Gabriele Tarquini
Yvan Muller

[lukeozade0405]

Think I'll watch the 1st few round and see how it gets on without Andy.

Don't forget that Moto GP is also back this weekend at 7pm UK time.

[mattlovestbs]

Think I'll watch the 1st few round and see how it gets on without Andy.

Don't forget that Moto GP is also back this weekend at 7pm UK time.

WTCC will survive without Andy. I must admit, it is strange not seeing his name on the entry list but hey, good luck to him in his other races.

Moto GP is one I'm looking forward to - will catch the rerun though.

[POT NOODLE MAN]

Probably end up watching since there's very little else in the way of Motorsport on at the minute.

You are Joking? there is loads on this weekend, More motorsport than you can shake a stick at :D:D:D:cool:

[BTCC2]

You are Joking? there is loads on this weekend, More motorsport than you can shake a stick at :D:D:D:cool:

By that I really mean there's still not BTCC or F1 :D

[Sparkz]

For those of you interested in Endurance Racing, the Sebring 12hr race is on this weekend. :)

[dava]

time and channel?
iv totally lost track of everything over past few weeks

[POT NOODLE MAN]

By that I really mean there's still not BTCC or F1 :D

F1 is pants anyway! :p:p

[Eunos]

WTCC isnt looking that great this year, It's all Chevvys to lose

Hopefully it will be the 2 Cruze drivers i actually like that wins it :)

[daveylad1978]

I'll watch it regardless of who is in it. Not bothered if a Brit wins or not, touring car legends like Muller and Tarquini are what it's all about for me, rather than any national favouritism.

[mattlovestbs]

WTCC isnt looking that great this year, It's all Chevvys to lose

Hopefully it will be the 2 Cruze drivers i actually like that wins it :)

Huffy and Darryl O'Young?

[Eunos]

Alain menu

[simon1220]

I was going to watch it ... then I got an offer to watch grass grow and decided that would be more exciting.

[Eunos]

I was going to watch it ... then I got an offer to watch grass grow and decided that would be more exciting.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f256/wwefangurl/chris%20jericho/burn.gif :cool:

[mullered]

i will probably watch it but when F1, BTCC and other series begin again i probably wont
my favorite WTCC driver Andy Priaulx wont be racing so i wont follow it as much as the last few seasons.

will you guys be following the series this year or has the pulling out of BMW and the stupid rule changes stop you.

anyway my predictions
RACE 1
HUFFY
MULLER
GENE

RACE 2
MULLER
TARGENIE
HUFFY


Will be watching Yvan on course to win his 3rd WTCC otherwise the Huffmeister!!

[andyconnolly]

Which channel is it on? I was reading Autosport this week in hospital and they had a full preview of the WTCC. I admit the lack of GB drivers is a bit rubbish (only Mr Huff flying the Union Flag this year) and losing Andy Priaulx is a little bit of a blow, but it's touring cars so I'm interested anyway.

And as has been said, there are some giants of the touring car world in the mix.

[BTCC2]

I was going to watch it ... then I got an offer to watch grass grow and decided that would be more exciting.

^^^^^^
So true

[bradc3]

It will be on either British eurosport 1 or 2

[Sparkz]

As it is, Curitiba bores me. I was really looking forward to the first race being at Interlagos, so it's a bit of a let down for me.

But I reckon Huff and Muller will take a win a piece from Curitiba.

[Sparkz]

I thought it would be worth posting yesterdays shakedown and test sessions from Curitiba.

Shakedown Times (top 10)
1. Tiago Monteiro - 1:24.360
2. Alain Menu - +.0.080
3. Yvan Muller - +0.086
4. Franz Engstler - +0.112
5. Rob Huff - +0.169
6. Caca Bueno - +0.232
7. Tom Coronel - +0.329
8. Fredy Barth - +0.539
9. Aleksei Dudukalo - +0.663
10. Robert Dahlgren - +0.676

Test Times (top 10)
1. Tom Coronel - 1:23.090
2. Rob Huff - +0.623
3. Yvan Muller - +0.706
4. Fredy Barth - +0.774
5. Gabrielle Tarquini - +0.913
6. Caca Bueno - +1.248
7. Kristian Poulsen - +1.279
8. Franz Engstler - +1.283
9. Robert Dahlgren - +1.289
10. Tiago Monteiro - +1.383

Aleksei Dudukalo had a big accident during the Shakedown session with 20 minutes remaining and caused the rest of the session to be red flagged, therefore he couldn't compete for the day and SUNRED is hoping to have the car repaired for today's sessions. :)

[Sparkz]

I'm not too sure many people care, but here is the times for free practice one and two.

Free Practice 1 (top 10)
01. Rob Huff - 1:33.507
02. Gabrielle Tarquini - +0.183
03. Tiago Monteiro - +0.244
04. Alain Menu - +0.247
05. Yvan Muller - +0.274
06. Michel Nykjaer - +0.424
07. Caca Bueno - +0.519
08. Kristian Poulsen - +1.059
09. Tom Coronel - +1.154
10. Robert Dahlgren - +1.197

Free Practice 2 (top 10)
01. Yvan Muller - 1:22.445
02. Robert Huff - +0.141
03. Caca Bueno - +0.199
04. Alain Menu - +0.341
05. Gabriele Tarquini - +1.157
06. Franz Engstler - +1.164
07. Tom Coronel - +1.171
08. Kristian Poulsen - +1.303
09. Tiago Monteiro - +1.328
10. Fredy Barth - +1.543

[Daz-NCFC]

I'll be watching the WTCC again this season, Ok so its no where near on a par with the BTCC, but its still Car racing. I like and support Huffy and delighted to hear he's on pole for tomorrow's races.

Both races on the Sky+ will watch them tomorrow evening after the Footy :)

[mattlovestbs]

I must say, the new way of sorting the grid is silly but could give us some unpredictable grids.

[Sparkz]

I got confused with qualifying, so I didn't post the results...because I'm not sure what they are. :confused:

[simon1220]

I must say, the new way of sorting the grid is silly but could give us some unpredictable grids.

What method have they got now?

[mattlovestbs]

What method have they got now?

Top ten after Q1 go into Q2, same as last season. HOWEVER, the top 10 after Q1 get reversed so 10th gets pole for race 2.

Race 1 grid still done on Q2 times for top 10.

New system means there is no incentive for drivers at the back of the grid to make a fight of it - Fredy Barth is at the back due to being excluded so has no reason to fight.

R1 pole is Huffy (Q2) while R2 pole is Alain Menu (Q1).

Matt Neal was critical of the whole system.

[jamessmee]

Are ITV showing highlights of the WTCC races like last year? And when are these going to be shown?

[BTCC2]

Top ten after Q1 go into Q2, same as last season. HOWEVER, the top 10 after Q1 get reversed so 10th gets pole for race 2.

Race 1 grid still done on Q2 times for top 10.

New system means there is no incentive for drivers at the back of the grid to make a fight of it - Fredy Barth is at the back due to being excluded so has no reason to fight.

R1 pole is Huffy (Q2) while R2 pole is Alain Menu (Q1).

Matt Neal was critical of the whole system.

Hahahaha what a joke

[lukeozade0405]

Well that was boring:mad:

If this is what to expect from the Wtcc this year I don't think I'll be watching much more.

[craig adams]

I've only seen the live timings and missed the first 3 laps, Did Villa get 6th place from 15th on the Grid?

Also Poulsen 4th.... those bmws don't look too bad. How far behind the chevys were they? The live timings only kept the lap one gaps!!!:(

Edit... Live timing now showing a different result, Villa now 14th? and coronel 4th instead of 8th..?

[redshoes]

Ignore most of what you saw on live timing, it was badly borked

[craig adams]

Yeah I realise that (now)!!!

So Menu on pole for race 2:

Menu
Nykjaer
Coronel
Tarquini
Bueno
Huff
Engstler
Muller
Poulson
Monteiro

I think if Menu can get a clean break then he will win, if he get's hassled by Coronel / Tarquini or Nykjaer then either Muller, Huff or Bueno will get past to win! :cool:

[lukeozade0405]

Much much better action from the 2nd race. Congrats to Huffy & Menu for the wins, nice for Menu to get a win for his dad.

[Les]

lovely to see Rob leading the championship - long may it continue

[fiesta_sav]

race one was BOOOORRRRRIIINNNGGGG I FELL ASLEEP NEARLY

RACE TWO WAS BETTER well done menu on win for his dad :)

but COME ON VOLVO

THAT VOLVO IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING AND THE NOISE IT MAKES FROM ITS 5 CYLINDER ;););););););)
VOLVO FOR THE WTCC CHAMPIONSHIP

[vulcan1]

That Volvo does sound amazing. :D :D

The Chevrolets though are in a different class of their own. It is going to be boring if they are this far ahead all season. I just hope that Huff can win the championship this year.

Once again the races are just too short in the WTCC, it is ridiculous.

[BTCC2]

That Volvo does sound amazing. :D :D

The Chevrolets though are in a different class of their own. It is going to be boring if they are this far ahead all season. I just hope that Huff can win the championship this year.

Once again the races are just too short in the WTCC, it is ridiculous.

If they were any longer I think the viewers would die of boredom so really it's a health and safety precaution.

[hopperg]

If they were any longer I think the viewers would die of boredom so really it's a health and safety precaution.

It's unbelievable how the FIA are brilliant at creating a series that is so dull. I only watch it as a fix when BTCC is not on and i like Matt Neal's commentary. I did have a chuckle at his less than PC comment during race 1.

[jamessmee]

I'll tell you the thing that winds me up.

In BTCC, a driver can have a pretty large bang on the bumper during a race to punt someone out the way. Whilst this may be slightly against the rules, for touring cars is OFFICIALLY a non-contact sport (:rolleyes:), the BTCC mostly ignores such issues unless it really is a game changing issue like when Jonny Adam shunted Plato at Brands.

However, in the WTCC, a tiny, tiny tap from Poulsen on Coronel causes the commentators to go into a frenzy about "oooh the stewards may have to get involved now" - This really is not in the spirit of touring cars. Long live the BTCC.

[Sparkz]

What really annoyed me was in race one, Poulsen pecked (think of a peck kiss!) Coronels bumper on ONE lap and like two laps later, Poulsen was given a black and white flag.. WHAT DAMAGE DID POULSEN EVEN DO TO CORONEL? :confused: No positions changed and Menu didn't exactly gain much of an advantage behind them. There was no need for that flag! :mad:

[jamessmee]

What really annoyed me was in race one, Poulsen pecked (think of a peck kiss!) Coronels bumper on ONE lap and like two laps later, Poulsen was given a black and white flag.. WHAT DAMAGE DID POULSEN EVEN DO TO CORONEL? :confused: No positions changed and Menu didn't exactly gain much of an advantage behind them. There was no need for that flag! :mad:

Ah that's the thing I was referring to. Me and my memory... :rolleyes:

[BTCC2]

It's unbelievable how the FIA are brilliant at creating a series that is so dull. I only watch it as a fix when BTCC is not on and i like Matt Neal's commentary. I did have a chuckle at his less than PC comment during race 1.

"Like a gypsy through a kitchen window." I was in stitches :D

[jamessmee]

"Like a gypsy through a kitchen window." I was in stitches :D

When did he say that?

[BTCC2]

When did he say that?

During race 1 :D

[bradc3]

tbh i watched the wtcc warmup and i didnt have a clue who quite a few were
and it just wasnt the same without Andy and Augusta's so i gave the races a miss.
WTCC just isnt the same as it was back in 06/07/08

[vulcan1]

"Like a gypsy through a kitchen window." I was in stitches :D

That was funny. He said that last season in commentary as well. If that was on the BBC then the amount of complaints made would be ridiculous.
At least he speaks the truth. :p

[klaus]

that was really a shame.
boring races...at least they were short:) fortunatly Coronel brought a bit of action in the second race.
and shame on me too, because I recorded the races (I was away and didn't want to miss it) :rolleyes:
and it was really annoying that Poulson got a black-white flag for the little touch he gave Coronel.
I'm really glad there will be real racing when the BTCC starts soon.

[kezbabybabe]

Uh Oh sounds like another series of typical WTCC nonsense...
My silly Sky+ box has stuffed up the recording so I might be fortunate to miss out on watching this this time.:p

[mattlovestbs]

tbh i watched the wtcc warmup and i didnt have a clue who quite a few were
and it just wasnt the same without Andy and Augusta's so i gave the races a miss.
WTCC just isnt the same as it was back in 06/07/08

Yeah it is. Things move on, drivers move on.

I found it strange not having Mr P around but after a lap or two, I didn't notice it whatsoever.

[Sparkz]

To the people who think Hungaroring will provide more action and overtaking. I disagree. ;)

Hungaroring to replace Marrakech.. bad move. Zandvoort would have been a better move. :)

[mattlovestbs]

To the people who think Hungaroring will provide more action and overtaking. I disagree. ;)

Hungaroring to replace Marrakech.. bad move. Zandvoort would have been a better move. :)

I disagree - Zandvoort was boring in '07 and I'd rather see a new circuit than one visited before.

Le Mans or Nordschliefe I'd choose...

[Eunos]

I think it's fair to say that the Chevy drivers are gonna run away with it this year.

Coronel and Poulson look like they could be the main threats this year, The tables have turned on the Seats as they are now the ones that are getting left behind :p

I think we are looking at a mediocre year this year in WTCC, I really want to like the series but it's not doing itself any favours with their Penalty fetish and so forth.

[klaus]

I disagree - Zandvoort was boring in '07 and I'd rather see a new circuit than one visited before.

Le Mans or Nordschliefe I'd choose...

agree. Hungaroring and Zandvoort are both boring tracks...but that would somehow match the series:D
I'd say a track in South Africa (Kyalami or sth.) would be good, to keep the race in Africa.

[Eunos]

Take the WTCC down to Australia, A Bathurst Race would be awesome.

I'd love to see them go to the states too.. Laguna Seca if you please :cool:

[Sparkz]

Id love to see them use the short layout of the Nurburgring track.

[Shortride]

Spa in Belgium :cool:

[bradc3]

I say we delete the series and reatart it again no fia this time!!

[lewismrl]

As a long time BTCC fan, WTCC has just never seemed to produce the goods and i've never really got into it. The opening race this year has just passed me by to be honest.

BTCC has all the right ingredients, great teams, drivers, organisers and tracks. WTCC has some of those elements but has never succeeded in putting it together in my humble opinion. Perhaps the global market is too big an ask and they would have been better investing into a more European based series.

[klaus]

...so they're racing on Hungaroring in June.
What a choice:mad:
better than Marrakesch but still a boring track with almost no opportunities for overtaking.

[Stitch]

...so they're racing on Hungaroring in June.
What a choice:mad:
better than Marrakesch but still a boring track with almost no opportunities for overtaking.

Au contráire, the Hungaroring produces some magic touring car races. You have to remember that F1 cars â‰* touring cars, and the aero problems aren't the same barrier for the touring cars. Expect a lot of overtaking into the blind crested left hander that Massa went off at in '09...