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N Technology Heads For New Season At Curbita |
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Wednesday, 07 March 2007 |
This weekend sees the start of the 2007 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) season and fans watching the opening round in Brazil can expect many changes from the championship and N.Technology Alfa Romeo.
With an all-new driver line-up for this season, including two-time British Touring Car Champion James Thompson and Dutch rookie Olivier Tielemans, the N.Technology Alfa Romeo team is looking forward to bettering last year’s second and third finishes at the Curitiba circuit.
“I know how successful N.Technology has been so far,” said Thompson “So
I hope I can add to the trophy cabinet! Curibita was ok for me last
year but I can definitely do better. I’m looking forward to racing
again after the winter break and scoring as many points as possible for
the team.”
There has also been changes to the WTCC race format with the
introduction of a rolling start to race one. The format, commonly used
in GT Racing, is a first for the WTCC and sees cars drive in formation
during their warm-up lap until crossing the start line when racing
begins. Race two will use the traditional standing start and reverse
grid.
Last year saw N.Technology Alfa Romeo finish third in both driver and
manufacturer championships and Team Principal, Mauro Sipsz believes
this season can be as successful.
“Last year we were very competitive in Curibita,” said Sipsz. “We got
pole position as well as finishing second and third so I think that we
should do well. We will have to find out exactly where our competitors
are before knowing for sure.”
Both drivers are looking forward to the season start especially
22-year-old Tielemans as it will be his first time at the Brazilan
track.
“It’s a really big deal for me to race here, somewhere I haven’t been
before and with my new team,” said Tielemans. “I will be doing my best
to score points and make them proud. I’ve spent the last few days here
to make sure that I am over the jet-lag by the time the racing weekend
start.”
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