Photo: WTCC Media

SUNRED aiming for WTCC independents and ETC Cup titles

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SUNRED Engineering are targeting success in two of the FIA Touring Car classes this year, with Pepe Oriola and Andrea Barlesi spearheading their attack in the WTCC independents’ trophy and Fernando Monje in the ETCC.

The Spanish team, which last year ran all six of the SEAT León entries in the Championship was one of the last teams to confirm their driver programmes for this year. 17-year-old Pepe Oriola returns with the team and is currently the only driver with the new SEAT 1.6 turbo engine, whilst Andrea Barlesi and Tiago Monteiro will start the year with the older SEAT TDI engine.

“We’re racing the diesel for (Tiago) Monteiro and Andrea Barlesi because the engines of SEAT are not ready,” said Team Principal Joan Orus to TouringCarTimes.

“SEAT don’t have engines available at the moment, so we are waiting to have the new homologation engine in our cars but we have to wait…maybe four or five races.”

SUNRED’s new signing Andrea Barlesi explained his reasons for joining the WTCC after a year racing in the Intercontinetal Le Mans Cup with OAK Racing:

“In the (World) Touring Car Championship there will be a lot of manufacturers next year and I want to have the opportunity to join one and become a professional driver,” he said to TouringCarTimes.

“I’m here to win and try to win the independents’ Yokohama trophy and try to be in the top ten of the overall Championship.”

Tiago Monteiro was sixth fastest in the first free practice session at Monza with new team-mate Barlesi in 17th, but the Belgian spun into the gravel at the Parabolica in the second session before setting a competitive time.

“We tried something in the rear of the car which was not good, and I went into the gravel on the last corner, so free practice 2 was very very short, just one flying lap; but free practice 1 was good and I hope qualifying will be good and try to be in Q2.”

SUNRED are also running one car in the FIA European Touring Car Cup for Fernando Monje. The Spanish driver has been quickest in two of the three test sessions ahead of qualifying, and he will compete in all rounds of this year’s ETCC, and will race in the WTCC at events where the ETCC isn’t supporting. This means he’ll miss the Slovak Republic and Austria rounds of the WTCC in addition to this weekend at Monza.