Photo: WTCC

BMW strikes back in Germany?

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WTCC moves on to Germany and Oschersleben. Last year Priaulx won the first with Zanardi winning the second race. BMW has dominated the races here by winning seven out of eight rounds. Rickard Rydell is the only non-BMW driver to win here in 2004. BMW is most certainly looking to continue that performance as they are facing hard competition from SEAT this year.

The penalty weight system will as usual affect the races and new weights have been calculated after Brands Hatch. Yvan Müller is leading the championship and heading the weight list.

Penalty weights:

Yvan Muller SEAT León +75 kg
James Thompson SEAT León +55 kg
Andy Priaulx BMW 320si +50 kg
Gabriele Tarquini SEAT León +40 kg
Rickard Rydell SEAT León +40 kg
Alain Menu Chevrolet Lacetti +35 kg
Jörg Müller BMW 320si +25 kg
Dirk Müller BMW 320si +20 kg
Florian Gruber (SEAT León +20 kg
Augusto Farfus Alfa Romeo 156 +15 kg
Jordi Gené SEAT León +5 kg
Peter Terting SEAT León +5 kg

The two Schnitzer-drivers are carrying least weight of the top drivers at the moment. After their weak start of the season, both Jörg and Dirk is looking strong for this race. Here is a preview of the race in BMW-eyes from WTCC:

Last year, Andy Priaulx of BMW Team UK secured victory in the first race, while in Race 2, BMW Team Italy-Spain driver Alessandro Zanardi provided emotional moments when he won the first race since his accident in 2001, in which he lost both legs.

Following two difficult races in Brands Hatch, BMW Team Germany, Jörg Müller and Dirk Müller, are hoping to be able to benefit form the fact that they will compete with less handicap weight on board: 25 and 20 kilos respectively.

“I’m really looking forward to the only WTCC meeting in Germany,” said Dirk. “The track is interesting and offers some technical sections that you simply need to know. I like Oschersleben. It is important to find a good compromise in terms of car set-up here. There are many different types of corners, and you need to have the correct balance everywhere. The few kerbs you are forced to cross in Oschersleben are a hazard and need to be taken into consideration for the set-up.”

And Jörg echoed: “Overall, the Motorsport Arena is one of the slower tracks on the race calendar. Most important is a good mechanical grip, particularly under partial loads, as for instance in the 180-degree corners. Additionally, the car has to be able to cross the kerbs quickly.

“I was able to win in Oschersleben in 2003. However, past successes are useless in this extremely close field of drivers in the championship. The really nice part is to be able to compete in front of a home crowd again. My family and many friends will be on site to support me. That is a great feeling.”

Will BMW make things right this time, or will the SEAT-dominance continue?