Hernández hoping for manufacturers drive next year
Sergio Hernández extended his lead in the independents’ trophy at the weekend, finishing second then third in class at Oschersleben. Hernández is hoping to lift the independents’ trophy this year and see Proteam promoted to works status in 2011, and/or be on the shopping list of the new manufacturers rumoured to be joining the WTCC.
After the official BMW Team Italy/Spain team, run by ROAL Motorsport left the WTCC at the end of 2009, Sergio Hernández had to work hard to find a budget and team for 2010.
“Proteam is a very good team and it’s my second family,” said Hernández to TouringCarTimes.
“The team is working very hard and I am very proud to be a member of the team. We are working with that what we have and the results are really amazing. We don’t have this budget like an official team so we can’t do testing like a works team. This is the reason why we are only in the position to fight for the independents’ trophy and not for the World Championship. Our goal is to become an official team for next year.”
This year the WTCC saw some weight discussions because of the new facelift model which BMW launched last year for their factory teams. This year most of the independent teams switched to the new facelift model as well, but their cars carry some extra kilos compared to the older model since a ruling at Belgium.
“The problem is that our facelift car is heavier compare to the other car. As I know from last year when I was driving for the ROAL team is that the facelift model is exactly the same car which we used before. The facelift model is only for marketing, maybe it helps us a bit for hot races because of the new cooling system (engine bonnet). But there is no difference in lap times.”
After the last round at Oschersleben Sergio Hernandez is leading the Yokohama Independents’ Trophy by 25 points from his teammate Stefano D’Aste, and he is looking forward to his homerace at Valencia.
“Valencia is my home track and I know the track very well so we should be able to win there, but it’s more important to finish the races and score points because of the championship. I also have some good feelings for Japan because I had some good results there and it’s a track for my BMW.”
Sergio is hoping the potential influx of new manufacturers anticipated in the WTCC, will open doors for the former GP2 racer to join one of these teams:
“There are some rumours that new manufacturers could enter WTCC and my goal for the future is to become an official works driver again.”
