http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56718Fiat considering WTCC move
By Michele Lostia and Pablo ElizaldeTuesday, February 13th 2007, 10:39 GMT
Italian manufacturer Fiat is considering entering the World Touring Car Championship in the near future, according to a senior figure.
Fiat is planning to make an official return to the World Rally Championship with a Punto designed to Super 2000 regulations, which have been touted as a possible replacement for WRC technical regulations for the championship.
Now the manufacturer has admitted it is also looking at the possibility of making its WTCC debut.
"We have a lot of belief in the rally programme (with the Punto Super2000), but we are also evaluating other avenues," Fiat's Head of Brand and Commercial Activities Luca de Meo told Autosprint.
"For example we'd see the Bravo well for circuit racing. We'd like to take part in the WTCC and this is something we are seriously considering. Besides, I don't see other important showcases, and since Alfa is edging towards GT racing...
"I repeat: we believe in Fiat's sporting soul, but it's important to make the right moves, as it's been the case with the Bravo project, and that is without improvising. That's why we are closely analyzing the regulations, the organization and the TV deals."
Este ano vão continuar com o 156 (quase uma decada nesta vida :sh) [Não parece possível a saída da alfa, pelo menos não parece sensato...
O peso? [Este ano vão continuar com o 156 (quase uma decada nesta vida :sh) [] ), a ano passado houveram rumores que o 156 ia ser substituido pelo 147 no WTCC.
Se for para se manter por lá, não percebo do que estão a espera para meter la o 159...
[O peso? []
Julgo que a administração da FIAT Auto.Brincadeira. Correrem com o 159 era o natural.. Quem será q manda nestas coisas?
mekinhux : - e achas que iria ainda mais público à corrida no Porto se lá estivesse um piloto português?
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56764Huff hoping for step forward
By Glenn FreemanThursday, February 15th 2007, 12:05 GMT
Rob Huff believes that Chevrolet must make a step forward in performance as they head into their third year in the World Touring Car Championship.
The team scored their maiden victory with Alain Menu at Brands Hatch last year, and Huff followed that up with a win of his own later in the season.
However, Chevrolet failed to get one of their three drivers into the top 10 in the drivers' standings. Their highest placed driver was Nicola Larini, who didn't win a race all season.
"As a team we want to do as much as we can," said Huff, who finished the season in 16th place.
"It's all about finding the consistency that we haven't yet had to enough of an extent to go and fight for the title."
Huff is pleased with the work that the team have done over the winter though, and he feels that they are now in a position to fight with the leaders on a regular basis.
"This is our third year and we are really coming out all guns blazing," he said. "We're here to win and there are no excuses this time.
"What we have now is certainly enough to have our car running at the front all the time.
"We've done more testing at this point in the year than ever before. I just hope we've made more progress than the rest of the field."