[WTCC] Race 5 & 6 - Marrakech (MAR), 3rd May 2009

[helterskelter]

It remains to be seen if he's fast because he got in touch with the track before the others, being the local man, or if he's on the same starting conditions as the others. Well done, though, either way

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by helterskelter

It remains to be seen if he's fast because he got in touch with the track before the others, being the local man, or if he's on the same starting conditions as the others. Well done, though, either way

Because it's a street circuit it's unlikely he has tested on speed.

[helterskelter]

Not tested, had a look and possibly learned, like Priaulx did in Dubai to help himself to learn the track.

[FIRE]

Practice 1
Practice 2

Huffy on pole!

Best BMW is Engstler (!) on 8th position.

[helterskelter]

Funny move from Sergio indeed. It ruined Andy's chances. BMW was a disaster in terms of performances IMO. And Chevys are a bit too light now, their 1-2-3 feels a bit innatural. Anyway, great performance by Huff! Gonna have 2 great races tomorrow

[FIRE]

Qualifying
Top 10 qualifying

Bennani 2nd best privateer! Very impressive debut.

[helgi]

Ha. Have just read at the main page - private driver is quicker than works. Have the Bureau played with weights enough now? Real RACING - real CIRCUS!

[Matt]

This "street circuit" is about as much a street circuit as the Valencia F1 circuit is....

[helterskelter]

Originally Posted by helgi

Ha. Have just read at the main page - private driver is quicker than works. Have the Bureau played with weights enough now? Real RACING - real CIRCUS!

If you're talking about Engstler, Priaulx was excluded from the Q2 after being helped by the race officials to restart after a collision with Hernandez and Jorg Muller had a puncture in the early stages, meaning he couldn't gat a clean lap, that's why Franz was 8th.

[helgi]

So, is it all right with all those weight games??

[JMeissner]

Menu gets moved down to tenth on the grid:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=3424

[stedevil]

Ouch.

In any case, nice to see Chevy getting their act together and doing qualy as a team instead of going 1 by 1.

BMW seems to at least be trying to teamplay as well now, but whos bright idea was it to sandwich a 6speed -30kg car between 2 5speed heavier cars? Quite unsurprisingly the 30kg heavier cars couldn't take the corner at the same speed as the 30kg lighter one... They need to team up Priaulx and Hernandes and unfortunately let Zanardi do his own thing. As long as the difference between their cars are so large it will either end with accidents or them slowing each other down.

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by helterskelter

Funny move from Sergio indeed.

Do you ever actually see what happens? Andy was heading for the tire barriers all on his own.

[FIRE]

Boooooooring race.

Well done Bennani! Hope he's able to do more races.


BTW Nice GPS system on that moped

[Speed-King]

What a snoozer! They really have to take a look at that layout if they are to come back next year.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

What a snoozer! They really have to take a look at that layout if they are to come back next year.

The event seems to be well organized (no tarmac issues like in Mexico ) but the layout is the big problem.

[werner]

Whatever the reasons are, BMW seem to mess up their qualifingsessions structurally. Will it affect their weight next round?

On race 1: not superspectacular, as everybody tried to keep his car in 1 piece. Exept for Coronel that is, and unfortunately he didn't. A bit daft imo, he had have a warning in the same corner 1 or 2 laps before, with a big oversteermoment. And he had not much to gain either. Engstler, the closest independent was driving about 3 seconds in front of Farfus.
On independents: well done Bennani. Would it be a weird thought to suggest he might do some more races in the WTCC?

Strange mistake from Yvan Muller. I would not expect that from him. Good job from Gene that he took advantage of it.
Huff was faultless. Menu must have had a great start.

Rydell's crash was his own mistake imo. He just braked to late to avoid Muller. That was even harder to accompisch when Muller 'braked' harder than usual because he hit the back of Menu. It offcourse did not help that there is so little room, but it is not that that was unknown before the race.

[werner]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

What a snoozer! They really have to take a look at that layout if they are to come back next year.

What would you suggest to make it better? If there is some room somewhere they might try to widen it at some places, but for the rest I don't see much options.
I btw foresee some more action the next race. The drivers always are a bit more carefull in race 1, but in this weekend that is increased because both of the concrete walls, but also because of the little time there is to repair the cars between the races.

[Speed-King]

I don't know enough about the local traffic situation to make qualified suggestions, but many street tracks evolve throughout the years and get better as time passes.

Maybe shorten the track a good deal and cut down on the number of chicanes, i.e. make it more like Noris-Ring.

[werner]

When they remove the 2 chicanes at the backstraight, that would make for a réally long straight.

[FIRE]

Hernandeze and Tanev collided?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by werner

When they remove the 2 chicanes at the backstraight, that would make for a réally long straight.

I don't see a problem with that. Just have a chicane about a half kilometer from the hairpin, in case someone's brakes go out.

[FIRE]

Result race 1

[Speed-King]

Race 2 was a bit better. Not great, but okay. Good to see the Seats get some pressure from Chevy.

[werner]

Finally Larini. I guess Jorg will be a bit miffed. Second weekend in a row he lost the first place by contact with another driver. Although in this case it was a very mild tap I must say.