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Racing is the best advertisement for production cars, but sometimes the advertisement is too expensive. Touring. Interview with champion Ivan Muller. The youngest in the family of world racing championships is gaining popularity. The world economic crisis, oddly enough, may benefit the WTCC.
Racing is the best advertisement for production cars, but sometimes the advertisement is too expensive. Hondaannounced the closure of its Formula 1 team and almost simultaneously expanded its presence in the WTCC: to the car James Thompsonin the fall, joined the second "Chord"Japanese (and this is important!) pilot Yuki Taniguchi … There are no official announcements for the next season yet, but it looks like the Japanese firm will change its advertising poster. It's no secret that the participation of a full-fledged factory team in the “touring” world championship is many times cheaper than in Formula 1.
Nice flexibility
Similar rumors are circulating - do not believe it! - around "Subaru" … It seemed "Impreza"and rally are brothers forever, it cannot be otherwise. However, in December, Subaru announced the termination of the WRC program. For many, this came as a shock. But once upon a time, in the pre-world era, the company also performed on the ring. Maybe it's time to show the capabilities of the new diesel engines? In the rally, the entrance is closed, and in "Touring"- welcome! Here, in general, the most democratic technical requirements and a flexible system … no, not discounts, but on the contrary - appendages. If one of the teams leaps forward too much, its cars are simply loaded with ballast. So that cars that differ in weight and power are approximately equal in speed. The rest is a matter of luck and skill of the riders. Formula 1 never dreamed of such an approach.
Whatever one may say, they are national heroes, because almost everyone earned their first glory in national championships. And even then, in their youth, they became idols. Before you win the European Driving Championship Alfa Romeoin 2003, Tarquini shone in the championships in Italy, England and Germany. Today he is the WTCC vice-champion and he is known everywhere! And two seasons in Formula 1 (1987-1988) did not add glory to the Italian. After all, it's not enough just to come to Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship, you still need to get into a strong team. Many of Touring's current stars began their careers with the same karting and formulas. Ricard Rydell in the early 1990s was in the first roles in the British Formula 3. The three-time WTCC champion also spent two good seasons there. Andy Pryol(three wins, fifth place in 2002). A Jordi Genet and Ivan Mullergot right up to the formula 3000! But they stopped in time.
A lot of new
Unlike Formula 1 and rallies, where the number of factory teams, let's say, is not growing steadily, WTCC is accepting replenishment. "Russian bears"this year they receive the status of a factory team of AVTOVAZ. Subdivision Lada sportpromises to replace the obsolete 110th with the Priora in the course of the season - at least the serially produced one. And in 2010 Russia will host one of the stages of the world "Touring". This agreement was signed by the President of AVTOVAZ Boris Aleshin and the General Manager WTCC Marcello Lotti … Hard to believe. Opening new race tracks during the crisis? However, in unpredictable Russia anything is possible. Will it come "Subaru", will it have Hondamore weighty support for the private team, working with its "chords", we will find out closer to the spring. A Chevroletin autumn, at the Bologna Motor Show, it presented its new product for the WTCC - the Cruz model. Cruise's mission is to take the title. And the more rivals, the more interesting it is to fight for him.
Interview with champion Ivan Muller
Ivan Müller answers questions of ZR.
- I had to fight under pressure. Since last year, when it was just a little short of victory, we were driven by the desire to take the title as soon as possible, and the peak of the pressure came from our teammates who also wanted to win. Although from the rest, of course, too. In spite of everything, we finished the season with amazing results.
- Was it difficult to get used to a diesel car? A diesel engine has a different torque characteristic than a gasoline engine. What is the difference between the current Leon TDI and the previous car?
- Please share your opinion on the prospects for the WTCC - the championship that has appeared recently. Can you compare it with Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship today?
- As far as I can tell, the WTCC does not yet have such a reputation as a formula or rally. But this is normal, because Formula 1 has been held for half a century, and the rally championship is 30 years old. The body championship is only four years old, and it is actively gaining momentum. Five more years - and it will become as popular as other world championships.
- Your successes on ice tracks are known - you are a multiple winner of the Andros Trophy. Does the experience gained in ice racing give you any advantage on the “ring”?
- You started your career as a formula pilot. Do you regret that right after the debut season of 1994 in Formula 3000 you switched to a BMW-318 in the French Touring Car Championship?
- In those days, there were few places in the formula and a lot of applicants, especially the French, who had a direct path to leadership. I have had many opportunities in my long racing career and many victories, so I have no regrets.
