Rounds 15 & 16 – 4th/5th September 2010 – Preview
BMW returns from WTCC summer break with home races in Oschersleben.
Munich, 30th August 2010. When BMW Team RBM takes to the track for the first free practice session in Oschersleben (DE) at 08:30hrs on Saturday, it will mark the end of the five-week summer break in the FIA World Touring Car Championship. The 3.696-kilometre “Motorsport Arena” is the venue for races 15 and 16 of the season.
BMW has enjoyed more success to date at Oschersleben than any other track on the WTCC calendar. A BMW driver has crossed the finish line first in nine of the ten races held in the “Magdeburger Börde” region. Both Augusto Farfus (BR), who celebrates his 27th birthday on Friday, and Andy Priaulx (GB) have won there on three occasions.
The first race at the “Motorsport Arena Oschersleben” begins at 13:05hrs on Sunday. Race two starts at 15:20hrs. Priaulx goes into the race weekend third in the Drivers’ Championship on 183 points – just 16 points behind leader Yvan Muller (FR, Chevrolet). Farfus is seventh on 109 points.
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal):
“In Brno Andy was able to reduce the gap to the front-runner in the Drivers’ Championship to 16 points. We obviously want to continue this positive trend in Oschersleben. The circuit has always been a successful stomping ground for BMW in the past. Our drivers have claimed a lot of victories there. It will be important to get good starts in both races. A lot can happen in the first corner in Oschersleben – for that reason it is very important to keep away from the chaos. As usual, we do not have the fastest car. However, our race pace is spot on. We must use this to pick up a lot of points in both races.”
Augusto Farfus (Car Number 10):
“It goes without saying the races in Oschersleben are special, as these are home events for BMW. Our mission is to win the title back for BMW. Therefore we obviously have to gain more points than anyone else. The easiest way to do this is to be at the front of the field myself, and to finish in front of our main competitors, so they ultimately drop points. That is precisely what I aim to do.”
Andy Priaulx (Car Number 11):
“Last year proved to be superb for BMW. I would have no problems if Augusto Farfus and I were again on the top step of the podium. I like the circuit, and it suits my style. The BMW 320si WTCC is particularly competitive here. Oschersleben kicks off the part of the season when the championship battle hots up, so I really hope we have every reason to celebrate here after both races.”
Facts and figures:
Circuit / Date Motorsport Arena Oschersleben / 5th September 2010
Lap / Distance 3.696 km/51.74 km (14 laps)
2009 winners Race 1: Andy Priaulx (BMW)
Race 2: Augusto Farfus (BMW)
2009 pole position Gabriele Tarquini (SEAT), 1:39.866 minutes
2009 fastest laps Race 1: Andy Priaulx (BMW), 1:36.754 minutes
Race 2: Andy Priaulx (BMW), 1:37.350 minutes
Driver Augusto Farfus Andy Priaulx
Date of birth 3rd September 1983 8th August 1973
Place of birth Curitiba (BR) Guernsey (GB)
Nationality Brazilian English
Place of residence Monte Carlo (MO) Guernsey (GB)
Marital status
Married to Liri Married to Joanne
Daughter Danniella
Son Sebastian
WTCC debut 2005, Monza (IT) 2005, Monza (IT)
Races started 122 124
Pole positions 10 4
Victories 15 17
Podium finishes 30 46
Fastest laps 13 16
Best World Championship position 3rd (2006 and 2009) World Champion (2005, 2006 and 2007)
Total WTCC Points 485 614
2010 WTCC Points 109 183
Current position 7th 3rd
Race calendar:
7th March – Curitiba (BR), 2nd May – Marrakech (MA), 23rd May – Monza (IT),
20th June – Zolder (BE), 4th July – Portimão (PT), 18th July – Brands Hatch (GB), 1st August– Brno (CZ), 5th September –Oschersleben (DE), 19th September – Valencia (ES), 31st October –Okayama (JP), 21st November –Macau (CN).
