Cars That Go Fast: BMW’s home event opens final third of the FIA WTCC season

BMW’s home event opens final third of the FIA WTCC season
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Elton on 03 September, 2009 08:23:00
 
The FIA World Touring Car Championship’s summer break ends next weekend when
the BMW national teams fight for victories and world championship points at
Oschersleben (DE). After five wins in the last seven races, BMW intends making
up ground on home soil in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships
before heading for the final European rounds in Imola (IT) and the two flyaway
events which will bring the series to a close.
Both BMW and SEAT carry the same compensation weight for Oschersleben, namely
40 kilograms of ballast per car. However, BMW Team Italy-Spain’s Alessandro
Zanardi (IT), whose BMW 320si WTCC is fitted with a sequential gearbox, goes
into the race without carrying ballast. BMW Team UK driver Andy Priaulx (GB),
plus BMW Team Germany’s Augusto Farfus (BR) and Jörg Müller (DE), have all
won at Oschersleben, while Sergio Hernández (ES) makes his debut for BMW Team
Italy-Spain in the Magdeburger Börde region.
Andy Priaulx (BMW Team UK):
“My feelings of Oschersleben are always of standing on the podium with Alex
Zanardi following his first win after his return to motorsport. I feel that I
have the speed to start the rest of the season on a high, we have tested hard
during the break and I want to pay back the team for all their hard work.”
Jörg Müller (BMW Team Germany):
“I always look forward to returning to Oschersleben. It is our only event in
Germany, and is thus a special one for me. BMW is a German company, I carry the
German flag – it couldn’t be more homely. Plus, BMW has always been
competitive here.”
Augusto Farfus (BMW Team Germany):
“At last the break is over. I can’t wait to race again. I won in
Oschersleben in 2007 and 2008, and feel in top form for this event, so am
intrigued by what the weekend will bring. My aim is to increase the pressure on
the drivers at the top of the championship points table.”
Alessandro Zanardi (BMW Team Italy-Spain):
“We all know the circuit at Oschersleben well. I have won there, but last
year I experienced an extremely disappointing weekend. Hopefully this year the
good moments will return. The circuit has a lot of interesting, medium speed
corners. However, the straights are very short.”
Sergio Hernández (BMW Team Italy-Spain):
“I enjoy Oschersleben. Last year I scored two points here by finishing
seventh – in a privately-entered BMW. I am looking forward to seeing whether
the balance of power has shifted after the long break.”