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WTCC 2005 - FIA World Touring Car Championship
Tue Apr 05 18:00:00 CEST 2005 Press Kit
Press kit WTCC 2005 - FIA World Touring Car Championship
Press Contact.
Ingo Lehbrink
BMW Group
Tel: +49-89-382-76003
Fax: +49-89-382-28567
send an e-mail
Author.
Ingo Lehbrink
BMW Group
1. New championship, new goals. 3 2. Circuits. 6 3. Calendar and TV coverage. 10 4. Interview with Dr Mario Theissen. 12 5. Drivers. 14 6. Teams. 29 7. Technology of the BMW 320i WTCC. 33 8. Format and regulations. 38 9. Stats and facts. 41 10. The BMW 3 Series in motor racing. 43 11. Technical partners and sponsors. 47 12. Press contacts. 49
1. New championship, new goals.
Wanted: the best touring car driver in the world.
It's curtains up for the first World Touring Car Championship since 1987.
In the new FIA WTCC, 26 drivers and eight manufacturers are vying for top
honours in international touring car racing. BMW is fielding three national
teams in the series, all of which aim to perpetuate the successes of the past
with the tried and tested BMW 320i. At the end of the last European
Championship for the foreseeable future, the 2004 Drivers' and Manufacturers'
titles went to Munich, while among the privateers the Independents Trophy was
won by Tom Coronel (NLD), another BMW driver.
"Compared to previous years, interest in the series should see a significant
boost", says BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. "With its upgrading to a
World Championship, the WTCC is the third FIA series, after Formula One and the
Rally World Championship, to be endorsed as a world championship. Thanks to new
manufacturers joining the series, the level of the championship will be further
raised. I am sure that spectators can expect some exciting racing once more."
BMW has already seen success in a World Touring Car Championship.
In 1987, Roberto Ravaglia (ITA) drove a BMW M3 to win the only World
Championship title in touring car racing to date. Ravaglia is also involved in
the latest series - this time round as the manager of BMW Team Italy-Spain.
"I have won a lot of titles in my career", recalls the Italian. "But being
World Champion was by far the greatest success. It is very special to me to be
involved again. As a team manager, I'm sure it's going to be more difficult
than in the past."