2010 WTCC Last Two Races - Macau

• 19.11.2010
• Press Release

Macau, 19th November 2010. Four red flags, many incidents and the postponement of the second phase to Saturday: The first part of qualifying for round 21 of the FIA World Touring Car Championship in Macau (CN) was a thriller. Despite being involved in his own accident, BMW Team RBM’s Andy Priaulx (GB) finished eighth, so advancing into “Q2”. The triple world champion set his lap time of 2:33.331 minutes on his first flying lap round the 6.117-kilometre circuit. Priaulx was 0.279 seconds faster than his team-mate, Augusto Farfus (BR), who came ninth, therefore also making it into the second session. Due to darkness falling, Q2, which determines the grid positions, was suspended following the almost two hours long first session. Therefore, the top-ten drivers need to go out again on Saturday at 9:00hrs to fight for good positions for Sunday’s grid.

The BMW Team RBM drivers had just completed their first flyers when SEAT’s Tom Coronel (NL) hit the crash barriers, which caused extensive repair work. It took the marshals almost one hour before the qualifying session could be resumed. After the re-start Priaulx also hit the barriers in the “R-Bend”, damaging the left front of his BMW 320si WTCC. Also thanks to two more red flags, which gave the mechanics some extra time, the BMW Team RBM squad managed to send the BMW 320si WTCC back on the track before the end of the session. However, the two BMW drivers’ lap times clocked during their first stints were good enough to secure them a place in “Q2”. Following another incident, “Q1” was finally red-flagged and not re-started shortly before the official end of the 30-minute session that, in the end, took almost two hours.

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal):
“This session was a difficult one. We were fortunate enough to put in quick laps at the very beginning of qualifying. These times proved to be the benchmark for our two cars, and meant we proceeded to Q2. Once again the qualifying in Macau turned out to be unpredictable. There were many accidents, and in the end the darkness caught us out. We are happy we made into the second session under these circumstances.”

Andy Priaulx (Car Number 11):
Qualifying 1: 8th, 2:33.331 min – Qualifying 2: postponed – Weight: 1,198 kg
“I ran a little wide and the tyre wall on the exit just pulls you in. The conditions were getting worse and worse as we were delayed, and so we were pushing hard. My lap back into the pits on three wheels was pretty slow and a long way, as I was near the start of the 6.117-kilometre track. However, I made it back and the team was amazing as I was able to go out and do an exploratory lap five minutes before the end of the session.”

Augusto Farfus (Car Number 10):
Qualifying 1: 9th, 2:33.610 min – Qualifying 2: postponed – Weight: 1,198 kg
“This has really been an amazing qualifying. I was in the car for more than two hours, which doesn’t happen too often in a qualifying session. It’s great we were able to put in lap times that were good enough to proceed to Q2. Once again Macau proved today that anything can happen at this track.”

• 21.11.2010
• Press Release

Macau, 21st November 2010. The BMW Team RBM drivers added some more points to their tallies at the season finale of the FIA World Touring Car Championship in Macau (CN) on Sunday. In the 22nd race of the season, Augusto Farfus (BR) crossed the finish line in fifth at the “Guia Circuit”. His team-mate, Andy Priaulx (GB), put in an impressive fight back from 22nd on the grid, after he was hit at the start of race one and subsequently dropped to the back of the field. He scored six points in the second encounter of the day by finishing seventh. In the first race on the classic street circuit, Farfus came sixth, with Chevrolet’s Robert Huff (GB) scoring victory. SEAT’s Norbert Michelisz (HU) won the final round of the year.

The two final races of the year were turbulent affairs – as is usual in the former Portuguese colony. In the first race the safety car was deployed twice, while race two had to be red-flagged following a huge first-lap pile-up involving no less than 12 cars. Only after the marshals had cleaned the track again, was the race able to be re-started behind the safety car.

Priaulx finished fourth in the drivers’ standings, boasting a points total of 246. For the second time since 2008, title honours went to Chevrolet’s Yvan Muller (FR). Farfus has collected 167 points in the past 22 races, coming seventh in the overall classification. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, BMW finished third with 580 points, while Chevrolet claimed its maiden title.

With the 2005, 2006 and 2007 world titles to its name, BMW remains the most successful manufacturer in the history of the World Touring Car Championship. The brand can also look back on plenty of successful races in 2010. In addition to Priaulx’s impressive six season victories, Colin Turkington (GB) of Team WSR added another win in Japan. In total, BMW drivers scored 13 podiums, two pole positions and clocked six fastest races laps.

For the fourth time a BMW privateer triumphed in the Independents’ Trophy: Scuderia Proteam Motorsport’s Sergio Hernández (ES) won this category, claiming his second title with the BMW 320si WTCC after his first in 2008. He notched up 156 points, relegating his fellow BMW driver Franz Engstler (DE) to second. Kristian Poulsen (DK), also running a BMW, finished third. A total of seven BMW privateers made it into the top-10.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen:
“This has been a spectacular conclusion to a very demanding season. Macau once again lived up to its reputation. Andy was taken out of the competition shortly after the start of race one. However, he managed to make it back to the pits on three wheels. The team was able to repair the car in time for the second round. He started race two from the back of the grid and fought his way up in an impressive manner, recording the second-fastest race lap in the process. This proves what would have been possible for him from a better grid position. Race two was a defensive battle for Augusto. Although his car was damaged, he showed his fighting sprit and finished fifth. Our customer team of Proteam Motorsport experienced a perfect weekend: Sergio Hernández claimed his second title in the Independents’ Trophy. A big thank you for their efforts in the past season go to Bart Mampaey, his RBM team and our drivers, Andy and Augusto. Following the opening races of the season it looked as if they wouldn’t be in a position to fight for the championship. But they didn’t give up and successfully fought back. Our title chances were only over after the exclusion from the results following the races in Okayama. Up to that point, Andy was still in with a chance of winning the title. We congratulate Yvan Muller and Chevrolet on winning the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal):
“This was all we could do in this season finale. Andy’s hopes for a good result in race one were already over after the start, when he was hit by another driver. His car suffered quite severe damage, but the team was able to make the necessary repairs during the race and the following break. In race two Andy put in a sensational performance, and the pace of the car was good. However, our competitors still had a obvious advantage regarding top-speed, which was clearly proven by Augusto’s races. In these circumstances he couldn’t join in the fight for the top positions. Many thanks to the drivers, the team and BMW Motorsport. Everyone gave their all in 2010. Congratulations to Chevrolet and Yvan Muller.”

Augusto Farfus (Car Number 10):
Race 1: 6th, 2:34.820 min – Race 2: 5th, 2:35.323 min – Car weight: 1,198 kg
“These have been two really hard races in which we had to fight for every single position. Of course we had hoped for a better result to finish this season, but this just wasn’t possible today. I constantly had to defend. The fact the rear bumper of my car was loose for most of the race after I was hit by some other cars didn’t make it any easier for me. In terms of results this hasn’t been my best year, but the cooperation with Andy and the team worked perfectly well.”

Andy Priaulx (Car Number 11):
Race 1: 22nd 2:34.585 min – Race 2: 7th, 2:33.461 min – Car weight: 1,198 kg
“Race one didn’t turn out good for us. Somebody hit me very hard from behind and spun me around. I had no chance and was turned around before the corner. Then for race two my car was hooked up – it was superb. The great thing is I am with a world class team and we all give it a hundred per cent. We must be proud of what we have achieved with our six wins this year. Despite being disappointed about the lost title chance, it is a great feeling and a great end to the season driving round Macau in a car that felt like this.”