[WTCC] Race 21 & 22 - Okayama (JAP), 25/26 October 2008

**FIRE** · 12 Oct 2008, 13:26 (Ref:2310156)

Schedule
24/10 Test 00:00 CET
25/10 Free Practice 1 01:00 CET
25/10 Free Practice 2 03:30 CET
25/10 Qualifying 07:00 CET
26/10 Warm Up 01:00 CET
26/10 Race 1 05:30 CET
26/10 Race 2 08:00 CET

News

Quote:

Four drivers come from Japan
A four-driver Japanese patrol will join the FIA WTCC for the season’s final.
The addition of a race meeting at Okayama – on October 26th – has aroused huge interest in the Country of the Rising Sun.

N.technology-Honda and Chevrolet were the first to announce their plans to line up additional cars for Japanese drivers. Yukinori Taniguchi will join N.technology for the events in Monza and Okayama, while Manabu Orido will drive the fourth Chevrolet Lacetti in the same two events plus the championship’s finale in Macau.

In the latest days, two other drivers have announced participation in their home race at Okayama: Takayuki Aoki and Masaki Kano. Following a deal between Japan-based Endless Racing and Wiechers-Sport, Aoki will take the wheel of the German team's BMW 320si, while Kano will drive for Liqui Moly Team Engstler with which he clinched the 2007 Asian Touring Car Championship crown.

The Japanese drivers presented their plans to the national press last week in Okayama.

Quote:

Couto with N.technolgoy at Macau
Macau motorsport hero André Couto will rejoin N.technology for the WTCC final on his home racetrack.

Macau motorsport hero André Couto will rejoin N.technology for the WTCC final on his home racetrack. He will be at the wheel of the team’s second Honda Accord Euro R car – the same machine that Japanese driver Yukinori Taniguchi has raced in Monza and will race again in Okayama.

Like last year Couto, who won the 2000 F3 Macau GP and took pole position in the 2003 Macau Guia race with an N.technology Alfa Romeo 147, will team again with James Thompson.

“Macau has always been a special race for me and being given the opportunity to race there again with N.technology is great,” said Couto. “Is a very demanding track, which commends a driver's attention but everyone enjoys it greatly! Having seen what the car can do this year, I look forward to getting behind the wheel and seeing what James and I can do on these famous streets.”

Couto has become a regular competitor in the WTCC final at Macau, having raced there in 2005 and 2007 with the N.technology Alfa Romeo 156 and in 2006 for SEAT Sport. His best result so far was a seventh position in 2006 Race 2.

Source: WTCC press release

Bramzel · 12 Oct 2008, 14:09 (Ref:2310194)

Again Couto? He hasn't really helped the team the past 2 years...

stedevil · 12 Oct 2008, 14:19 (Ref:2310199)

Maybe the help is economical in nature?

Stefvh · 12 Oct 2008, 16:11 (Ref:2310277)

He had bad luck, that's all.

Bramzel · 12 Oct 2008, 19:55 (Ref:2310446)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefvh

He had bad luck, that's all.

How is putting a car in the wall without the involvement of another driver exactly bad luck? Or crashing from the lead position without involvement of another driver one of the years before?

Stefvh · 12 Oct 2008, 20:18 (Ref:2310467)

Kidding,

Icebaby · 13 Oct 2008, 07:45 (Ref:2310850)

Agree Couto did nothing for the team last year and potentially cost Thompson the title as he had no support or drafting for Qualifying.

On a different note I had been thinking why are the race distances so short in WTCC, 9 laps is nothing and just promotes drivers taking risks to pass, for the benefit of the fans it should be double this length at the least in both races or have one sprint and one feature race.

stedevil · 13 Oct 2008, 11:00 (Ref:2311059)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icebaby

On a different note I had been thinking why are the race distances so short in WTCC, 9 laps is nothing and just promotes drivers taking risks to pass, for the benefit of the fans it should be double this length at the least in both races or have one sprint and one feature race.

I think the races are about as long in time as the BTCC ones, they just generally run on much longer tracks. That is btw also why i dislike Macau so much, over 6km/lap and only 1 half decent place to overtake... bit of a letdown IMO that the championship decider is a tramrace. In any case, 1 sprint and 1 feature race... that would be my cup of tea as well. A1GP has shown that this format create very interesting races with often highly different outcomes.

Monkey Head · 13 Oct 2008, 14:23 (Ref:2311277)

Hong Kong driver Matthew Marsh enter final two races with Wiechers,under sponsership of Macau Casino Project:

Matt · 13 Oct 2008, 17:17 (Ref:2311402)

Good looking racecar, imo.

**touringlegend** · 13 Oct 2008, 19:35 (Ref:2311487)

WTCC Predictions now open for entries! Click here

You know you want to enter!

Aslak Vind · 15 Oct 2008, 20:15 (Ref:2313333)

Thats one sexy livery, dude.

mattt · 17 Oct 2008, 15:01 (Ref:2314778)

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=2817

Team Signapore will join the field for Japan and Macau

**FIRE** · 18 Oct 2008, 11:34 (Ref:2315230)

Corthals will not race in Japan and Macau.

redshoes · 18 Oct 2008, 13:17 (Ref:2315259)

Norbert Michelisz is in the Sunred Leon (Cupra Cup winner)

Masaki Kano in the third Engstler car, using an older E46 model.

**FIRE** · 18 Oct 2008, 13:54 (Ref:2315276)

Because of the extra entries we can already conclude the Japanese event is a success.

Monkey Head · 18 Oct 2008, 15:05 (Ref:2315302)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

Corthals will not race in Japan and Macau.

because he has out of indi champion contention?

Monkey Head · 18 Oct 2008, 15:06 (Ref:2315303)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattt

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=2817

Team Signapore will join the field for Japan and Macau

not sure whether he can pass 107%
ah haha

Monkey Head · 18 Oct 2008, 15:08 (Ref:2315304)

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshoes

Norbert Michelisz is in the Sunred Leon (Cupra Cup winner)

Masaki Kano in the third Engstler car, using an older E46 model.

how many race he can get as race winner
may be this is stupid question but SUNRED has to seek locals to rent the car in macau otherwise they have to waste bit of transportation fee

Ellmau · 18 Oct 2008, 15:54 (Ref:2315319)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkey Head

because he has out of indi champion contention?

No, financial problems.

BTW, the so called sponsor of Olivier Tielemans has been arrested for fraud and his company has gone bankrupt.

**FIRE** · 18 Oct 2008, 15:54 (Ref:2315320)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkey Head

how many race he can get as race winner

For winning the SEAT Eurocup event at Monza he will race only in Japan. I am not sure if SUNRED will enter the Leon in Macau. Maybe the winner of the SEAT Eurocup series (Oscar Nogués) will drive the Leon at Macau?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkey Head

may be this is stupid question but SUNRED has to seek locals to rent the car in macau otherwise they have to waste bit of transportation fee

SUNRED hasn't to worry about that because SEAT Sport is paying the bills.

Martin Haven · 19 Oct 2008, 11:34 (Ref:2315822)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Good looking racecar, imo.

Will be a black blob on TV screens... seems designers never look at liveries from a distance greater than 12 inches...

Martin Haven · 19 Oct 2008, 11:38 (Ref:2315826)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

For winning the SEAT Eurocup event at Monza he will race only in Japan. I am not sure if SUNRED will enter the Leon in Macau. Maybe the winner of the SEAT Eurocup series (Oscar Nogués) will drive the Leon at Macau?

He's doing the European Touring Car Cup as his prize drive... his 3rd of the year in that car!

Valencia - for winning 2007 Spanish Supercopa, as well as once for winning in Eurocup and now for being the Champion...

Robbe · 19 Oct 2008, 13:23 (Ref:2315886)

Valencia was Perez Aicart

redshoes · 19 Oct 2008, 13:46 (Ref:2315898)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Haven

Will be a black blob on TV screens... seems designers never look at liveries from a distance greater than 12 inches...

Unless he can break into the top 6 he's unlikely to get much TV coverage anyhow.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
[WTCC] Race 19 & 20 - Monza (ITA), 4/5 October 2008	FIRE	Touring Car Racing	36	6 Oct 2008 09:48
[WTCC] Race 17 & 18 - Imola (ITA), 20/21 September 2008	FIRE	Touring Car Racing	54	25 Sep 2008 14:22
[WTCC] Race 13 & 14 - Brands Hatch (GBR), 26/27 July 2008	FIRE	Touring Car Racing	51	30 Jul 2008 10:05
[WTCC] Race 21 & 22 - Macau (MAC), 16/18 November 2007	FIRE	Touring Car Racing	170	23 Nov 2007 10:22
[WTCC] Race 15 & 16 - Oschersleben (GER), 25/26 August 2007	FIRE	Touring Car Racing	57	4 Sep 2007 16:29