Slipstreaming key strategy for qualifying at Monza

The long straights of Autodromo Nazionale di Monza and hard braking for the chicanes present a difficult challenge for the 330bhp, over a tonne, touring cars racing in the TCR International Series, with most drivers resorting to slipstreaming each other on the long straights to improve their sectors.

Craft-Bamboo drivers Pepe Oriola, Hugo Valente and James Nash tried the strategy during free practice, with the trio not getting the results they expected. “We will have to look at it at the briefing, see how we work it out,” Nash said to TouringCarTimes.

“We lose too much top speed in the straights, but others today went out in FP2 on new tyres. I love this track and I hope we will do better tomorrow. Still, we are getting top speeds over 250 km/h,” asserted Pepe Oriola.

Straight-line speed is the only asset some teams have, as it’s the case for the GE-Force Alfa Romeo Giuliettas: “We have good top speed in the straights, but our car is all over the place in the corners, so one thing compensates for another. It’s not an easy situation,” said Dusan Borkovic.

The Volkswagen Golfs struggled in free practice, with WestCoast Racing’s Gianni Morbidelli only managing sixth and seventh. Jaap van Lagen, who makes his TCR debut at the wheel of the second Team WRT’s Golf, said: “We will try slip-streaming but, to be honest, we lack too much top speed to be competitive here. I think that being able to get in the top ten will be a dream result for us.”

Next for the TCR teams and drivers is the qualifying session, scheduled for 10:45 CET tomorrow morning.