Zolder prepares for WTCC debut

The WTCC will make it’s first visit to the Belgian track of Zolder this weekend. The first time the championship has been to Belgium since it’s inaugural season.

22 cars will take to the track, all the regulars plus two newcomers racing for one event only.

Pierre-Yves Corthals, who races for three seasons in the WTCC with JAS Motorsport, then Exagon Engineering until 2008 will return with Exagon for the race.

Corthals will be driving the only petrol SEAT León in the race, and as a result of the late entry for the car, will pick up the maximum success ballast so effectively will run with the same weight as the TDI powered counterparts.

Vincent Radermecker, who’s not driven in the championship for three years will return with Chevrolet, in a Cruze LT prepared by Chevrolet Sweden – who ran Argentinean driver Leonel Pernía at Monza.

Chevrolet will be hoping to gain from Radermecker’s track knowledge at a new circuit to the calendar. Yvan Muller currently leads the championship, with team mate Rob Huff in joint second place, and the team will be hoping to build a lead over the SR-Sport SEAT’s.

Tarquini, hit with a drive through penalty last time out at his home race, as well as a final lap puncture, will be hoping for better luck with the SR-Sport SEAT team. Tarquini shares the second place in the championship with Rob Huff.

BMW put on a strong charge and picked up a 1-2 finish in race one at Monza, a track which historically didn’t favour BMW. Coming to a track like Zolder, the BMW 320si should fare better, but has also picked up 20kg of penalty weight, although they’re still lighter than the SEAT’s and Chevrolet’s.

As it’s a new track on the calendar, the team’s will get to sample the track on Friday afternoon.