WTCC 2014 Race of Japan - Preview

17.10.14
Preview Rounds 21&22 – Suzuka, Japan


2014 RACE OF JAPAN

CIRCUIT DE SUZUKA

Lap distance:     5.807 km

Race distance:   2 x 11 laps / 63.877 km

Location:            50 km South West of Nagoya

Press officer:     Yoshihisa Ueno tel: 03 32780731, fax: 03 32780733

email: media@mobilityland.co.jp

Airports:             Nagoya-Chubu Centrair International (90 km), Osaka Kansai International (160 km)

 

Lap records:       None

 

ROLL OF HONOUR RACE OF JAPAN

                              Race 1                                                                             Race 2

2011      Alain Menu (Chevrolet Cruze)                                    Tom Coronel (BMW 320 TC)

2012      Alain Menu (Chevrolet Cruze)                                    Stefano D’Aste (BMW 320 TC)

2013     Norbert Michelisz (Honda Civic)                                Tom Coronel (BMW 320 TC)

 

DID YOU KNOW IT?

22 October 1989 – The fight for the F1 title between McLaren team-mates Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna was decided at Suzuka by a collision between them a few laps from the end. Senna rejoined and won the race, but was excluded for having received outside assistance and Prost was crowned champion. One year after, Senna took his revenge and the title by eliminating Prost (who had moved to Ferrari) in another incident at Suzuka.

26 October 2008 – The WTCC paid its first visit to Japan at Okayama. In the second race Tom Coronel and his SEAT hold off Augusto Farfus’ BMW. This was the Dutchman’s maiden victory in the championship and the first win for a non-factory driver in WTCC history.

22 September 2013 – In Race 1 Norbert Michelisz converted his pole position in a lights to flag victory from Alex MacDowall. Thus the Hungarian driver gave Honda a memorable win on its home racetrack. Yvan Muller finished third and grabbed his fourth WTCC title.

26 October 2014 – After racing for three years on the 2.2km Suzuka East Circuit, for the first time the WTCC will race on the 5.8km Suzuka International Circuit, the very same layout that is used for the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix.

 

WTCC TIMETABLE

Friday, 24 October

13.30 – 14.00 :   Testing

17.00 :  Drivers’ briefing

 

Saturday, 25 October

09.20 – 09.50     Free Practice 1

11.20 – 11.50     Free Practice 2

15.30 – 15.50     Qualifying Q1

15.55 – 16.05     Qualifying Q2

16.10 – 16.30     Qualifying Q3

16.45 (est)         Qualifying press conference

 

Sunday, 26 October

14.30     Race 1

15.40     Race 2

16.20 (est)          Podium ceremonies

16.30 (est)          Race 1 & 2 press conference

 

FIA OFFICIALS

Chairman of the Stewards :                Daniel Fausel (CHE)

2nd International Steward :                 Rod Parkin (GBR)

Race Director :                                  Miroslav Bartos (CZE)

Assistant to the Race Director /

FIA Coordinator :                               Rui Marques (PRT)

Medical Delegate :                            Jacques Tropenat (FRA)

Technical Delegate :                          Manuel Leal (ESP)

Press Delegate :                               Fabio Ravaioli (ITA)

Chief Timekeeper :                            Mike Salmon (GBR)

Incident Camera Delegate :                Lionel Bérard (FRA)

Safety Car Driver :                             Bruno Correia (PRT)

 

FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

The provisional classifications for all the Championship can be found on the following link:

http://www.fia.com/championship/world-touring-car-championship-wtcc/2014/classifications

 

FIA WTCC RACE OF JAPAN

Shortly after the finish of the sessions, results of the event can be found on the following link:

http://www.fia.com/championship/events/world-touring-car-championship-wt...