2016 WTCC Race of Slovakia

[Rubio]

Preview:
https://www.fiawtcc.com/race-preview...g-in-slovakia/

Track facts:
https://www.fiawtcc.com/event/race-of-slovakia/

BREAKING: James Thompson will return to WTCC and drive for Munnich.

As for the event, will a tough track to overtake for TC1 cars. Expect even more from Honda this time. Lopez will need a lot of luck and bravery to keep the championship lead.

[Canuck59NHL]

That's great news to learn that James Thompson will be back for this round!
I hope that he'll be present on other rounds of the championship instead of Munnich.

[GM10]

Very good. I really like Thompson, I hope he will battle with Coronel, at least.

[Bramzel]

Are those Munnich cars updated already? Last year - like Coronels car - they were still running 2014-spec. Coronels car has been updated since, but I haven't read anything about Munnich.

[FIRE]

Not sure about Thompson. I have the feeling his racing days are over.

[Rubio]

Some Citroen moaning:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2016/...80kg-handicap/

Muller has forgotten that in 2006 we already had 80kg of ballast and everything worked fine

[Loran]

Originally Posted by Rubio

Some Citroen moaning:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2016/...80kg-handicap/

Muller has forgotten that in 2006 we already had 80kg of ballast and everything worked fine

Since then the power of engines has changed on 100+ horsepowers. And the torque has grown by one and a half times.

[helmat]

entry list the next weekend is here:

2 – Gabriele Tarquini – Lada Sport – Lada Vesta WTCC
3 – Tom Chilton – Sébastien Loeb Racing – Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
5 – Norbert Michelisz – Honda Racing Team JAS – Honda Civic WTCC
7 – Hugo Valente – Lada Sport – Lada Vesta WTCC
9 – Tom Coronel – ROAL Motorsport – Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1
10 – Nicky Catsburg – Lada Sport – Lada Vesta WTCC
11 – Gregoire Demoustier – Sébastien Loeb Racing – Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
12 – Rob Huff – Honda Racing Team JAS – Honda Civic WTCC
18 – Tiago Monteiro – Honda Racing Team JAS – Honda Civic WTCC
25 – Mehdi Bennani – Sébastien Loeb Racing – Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
27 – John Filippi – Campos Racing – Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1
37 – José MarÃ*a López – Citroën Racing – Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
55 – Ferenc Ficza – Zengo Motorsport – Honda Civic WTCC
61 – Fredrik Ekblom – Polestar Cyan Racing – Volvo S60 TC1
62 – Thed Björk – Polestar Cyan Racing – Volvo S60 TC1
68 – Yvan Muller – Citroën Racing – Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
## – James Thompson – Münnich Motosport – Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1

and surprisingly no Nika

[pimmy]

And only one Zengo Honda.

[GM10]

Originally Posted by pimmy

And only one Zengo Honda.

The second one will debut in Hungaroring, it is not ready yet.

[Rubio]

No Nika

http://www.nikainternational.se/raci...p-in-slovakia/

Nothing unusual

[Canuck59NHL]

[CJFG]

Are there any penalties for teams that miss rounds? Just a curiosity on my part given that so far only 1 Zengo Honda (out of 2) has made an appearance and the Nika Chevrolet hasn't shown up at all.

[Rubio]

Live streaming of practices available here:
http://www.fiawtcc.com/live-streaming

Really, can't predict who will be the fastest, but still feel that Citroen and Honda are sandbagging.

[Canuck59NHL]

You can follow Free practice also on Eurosport Player.

*Results Free practice 1:

[Canuck59NHL]

Citroën drivers made the decision to drive with used tires.

[Rubio]

I'm afraid to think what is going to happen at the Hungaroring considering Citroen is on pole with 80 kg more.

Stunning lap from Yvan though

[Canuck59NHL]

Results 2015:
*Muller: 2:03.736 Citroën + 60 kg
*Lopez: 2:03.959 Citroën + 60 kg
*Huff: 2:04.598 LADA + 0 kg
*Catsburg: 2:04.729 LADA + 0 kg
*Michelisz: 2:05.659 Honda + 60 kg
*Tarquini: 2:05.286 Honda + 60 kg


Results 2016:
*Muller: 2:03.910 Citroën + 80 kg
*Catsburg: 2:03.950 LADA + 0 kg
*Lopez: 2:04.191 Citroën + 80 kg
*Michelisz: 2:04.297 Honda + 0 kg
*Huff: 2:04.751 Honda + 0 kg
*Tarquini: 2:04.950 LADA + 0 kg

[GM10]

Great lap from Muller, only +0.174 with +20 kg it's amazing. Pechito a bit nervous, but tomorrow I think he will take good points.

Good pace for Ladas, Catsburg is overperforming both Tarquini and Valente and I honestly didn't expect it.

Sad for Thompson and Coronel. It's incredible how the situation changed from Le Castellet to Slovakia Ring, from the Q3 to the penultimate position.

[Canuck59NHL]

https://twitter.com/FIA_WTCC/status/721385077268045825

[CJFG]

The MAC3 concept couldn't have been more nailbiting between Citroen and Honda, pretty much a dead heat.

Given the Citroens were sandbagging in practice it was unclear how pacy they would be come qualifying, but I didn't expect that lap from Muller. That was top draw, he really couldn't have done any more.

Catsburg's run was mightily impressive too, he hustled that Lada around, though as mentioned by others you would've thought Tarquini would be Lada's man to produce that.

The other man to stand out for me was Bjork. 5th in that Volvo, whilst still learning the car and the circuits was a good job indeed.

Just seeing Thompson back on the grid was great. It would've been nicer if he was higher than 15th, but after a year out we couldn't have expected too much.

[Rubio]

Enjoyed MAC3. Zero difference over two laps with 3 cars is incredible. Though I'm not a fan of a standing start - if someone stalls, there is no chance to give a fight anymore. And makes the show a bit boring. They should probably change it to a rolling start.

BTW, was surprised to find out that they made Premium TV free for Slovakia and Hungary as well
http://premium.fiawtcc.com/

[Canuck59NHL]

*Results Race 1:

[Mark0994]

Nice races, but as i say Citroen need to get 20kg more and Honda need to get 20kg and championship will be great.

[Rubio]

Wow, didn't expect the Main race to be that good. Shame for Lada, but what an incredible race from both Lopez and Monteiro.

Great weekend for Tiago.