2010 WTCC - Rds 3&4 Marrakech

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   BMW Team RBM drivers start from sixth row in Marrakech.

01.05.2010
Press Release

Marrakech, 1st May 2010. As expected by BMW Team RBM, Augusto Farfus (BR) and Andy Priaulx (GB) experienced a difficult qualifying session at the �Circuit de Marrakech�. Farfus had to make do with 11th on the grid for round three of the FIA World Touring Car Championship in Morocco. His team-mate Priaulx finished 12th.Therefore the second qualifying session took place without the two BMW works drivers taking part. Shortly before the end of �Q1� both were on their way to improving on the time sheets. However, following an accident to SEAT�s Norbert Michelisz (HU), the session was red-flagged with 1:47 minutes to go.
In a repeat of what happened last year, BMW privateer Franz Engstler (DE) coped extremely well with the 4.624-kilometre circuit and claimed ninth on the grid for Sunday�s first race at the wheel of his BMW 320si WTCC. SEAT driver Gabriele Tarquini (IT) secured pole position in Marrakech, setting the best time of 1:45.830 minutes in the top-ten shootout.
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal):
�We had known before the start of the weekend we would have a difficult time here in Morocco. Still it�s a huge disappointment that none of our cars managed to make it into the second qualifying session. This is even more upsetting because Andy and Augusto were hindered making it into the top-ten thanks to red flags caused by other drivers. Over the past weeks in testing we made a little progress, but a big step in terms of performance is just not possible with a five-year-old car. We shall now set our sights on tomorrow and will try to make the most of your opportunities in the races.�
Augusto Farfus (Car Number 10):
Qualifying 1: 11th, 1:47.616 min � Qualifying 2: not qualified
�We actually travelled to Morocco with low expectations. Today�s results prove we were right with our presumptions for this weekend. At the moment we just don�t have the same competitiveness as the front-runners. That�s really frustrating. We could have made it into Q2, but then Norbert Michelisz� crash ruined our final run.�
Andy Priaulx (Car Number 11):
Qualifying 1: 12th, 1:47.616 min � Qualifying 2: not qualified 
�We didn�t manage to put together the best-possible lap time today. But even if we had done this, we arguably wouldn�t have been able to challenge for top positions. There were many yellow flags, and the session was red-flagged following an accident. The red flag in the dying moments of the session finally made it impossible for us to proceed into Q2. This is a big disappointment. Now we will try our best to improve our positions in the race.�

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Melvyn Pettit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Location: Isle of Wight Status: Offline Points: 1502	Post Options Post Reply Quote Melvyn Pettit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 2010 WTCC - Rds 3&4 Marrakech Posted: 02 May 2010 at 4:56pm
	BMW Team RBM drivers start from sixth row in Marrakech. 01.05.2010 Press Release Marrakech, 1st May 2010. As expected by BMW Team RBM, Augusto Farfus (BR) and Andy Priaulx (GB) experienced a difficult qualifying session at the �Circuit de Marrakech�. Farfus had to make do with 11th on the grid for round three of the FIA World Touring Car Championship in Morocco. His team-mate Priaulx finished 12th.Therefore the second qualifying session took place without the two BMW works drivers taking part. Shortly before the end of �Q1� both were on their way to improving on the time sheets. However, following an accident to SEAT�s Norbert Michelisz (HU), the session was red-flagged with 1:47 minutes to go. In a repeat of what happened last year, BMW privateer Franz Engstler (DE) coped extremely well with the 4.624-kilometre circuit and claimed ninth on the grid for Sunday�s first race at the wheel of his BMW 320si WTCC. SEAT driver Gabriele Tarquini (IT) secured pole position in Marrakech, setting the best time of 1:45.830 minutes in the top-ten shootout. Bart Mampaey (Team Principal): �We had known before the start of the weekend we would have a difficult time here in Morocco. Still it�s a huge disappointment that none of our cars managed to make it into the second qualifying session. This is even more upsetting because Andy and Augusto were hindered making it into the top-ten thanks to red flags caused by other drivers. Over the past weeks in testing we made a little progress, but a big step in terms of performance is just not possible with a five-year-old car. We shall now set our sights on tomorrow and will try to make the most of your opportunities in the races.� Augusto Farfus (Car Number 10): Qualifying 1: 11th, 1:47.616 min � Qualifying 2: not qualified �We actually travelled to Morocco with low expectations. Today�s results prove we were right with our presumptions for this weekend. At the moment we just don�t have the same competitiveness as the front-runners. That�s really frustrating. We could have made it into Q2, but then Norbert Michelisz� crash ruined our final run.� Andy Priaulx (Car Number 11): Qualifying 1: 12th, 1:47.616 min � Qualifying 2: not qualified �We didn�t manage to put together the best-possible lap time today. But even if we had done this, we arguably wouldn�t have been able to challenge for top positions. There were many yellow flags, and the session was red-flagged following an accident. The red flag in the dying moments of the session finally made it impossible for us to proceed into Q2. This is a big disappointment. Now we will try our best to improve our positions in the race.�
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Melvyn Pettit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Location: Isle of Wight Status: Offline Points: 1502	Post Options Post Reply Quote Melvyn Pettit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 May 2010 at 9:49am
	Priaulx celebrates first win of the season for BMW Team RBM in Marrakech. 02.05.2010 Press Release Marrakech, 2nd May 2010. Andy Priaulx (GB) won the fourth round of the 2010 FIA World Touring Car Championship. In Marrakech (MA) the triple world champion claimed victory ahead of Yvan Muller (Chevrolet, FR) and Tom Coronel (SEAT, NL). In the first race of the day the BMW Team RBM driver secured pole position for Sunday�s second encounter by finishing eighth, while SEAT�s Gabriele Tarquini took the win. This was Priaulx�s 12th triumph in the WTCC. His team-mate, Augusto Farfus (BR), experienced a disappointing weekend. By coming tenth the 26-year-old collected one point in race one, but had to retire in the second following a collision. The first race only got underway at the third attempt, after several drivers failed to stick to the correct grid formation for the rolling start. When the field was finally given the starting signal, Priaulx managed to pass Farfus. On the first lap both BMW works drivers gained two places each. Thanks to a courageous overtaking manoeuvre on lap five Priaulx took eighth away from Chevrolet�s Alain Menu (CH), securing pole position for the second race. Following an accident the safety-car was deployed, and the race was finished under these conditions. Farfus crossed the line in tenth. The Moroccan WTCC fans were treated to just one racing lap. Immediately after the start an accident involving four cars brought out the safety-car again. Priaulx successfully defended the lead, Farfus managed to improve from tenth to fifth. However, the Brazilian�s progress came to an end shortly after the re-start on lap seven. In a fight with Menu, the cars of the two drivers touched, leading to a broken track rod on Farfus� BMW 320si WTCC. Unable to steer, he couldn�t avoid pushing Menu into the wall. Farfus retired after making it back to the pits. After the safety-car phase there was just one lap left, during which Priaulx kept his cool and brought his car home for his first win of the year. Bart Mampaey (Team Principal): �This victory is a great result for our team. Andy paved the way for this success with a sensational overtaking move on Alain Menu in race one. Unfortunately we only managed to get one car in the top eight. In the second race both of our drivers made excellent starts. We have worked hard on this since Curitiba. Despite our performance disadvantage in terms of top-speed compared to the opposition, Andy managed to keep the lead. I�m sorry for Augusto. Without the incident he also could have had a strong result. However, we shouldn�t overestimate this success, as this race was not much longer than just a lap.� Andy Priaulx (Car Number 11): Race 1: 8th, 1:47.841 min � Race 2: 1st, 1:48.282 min �This victory comes rather unexpectedly. The whole team has worked tremendously hard since Curitiba, but we couldn�t make the improvements we had wished for. Therefore it�s amazing to stand on top after this somehow strange race. It�s a nice reward for everyone in the team. In race one I grabbed my chance and earned pole position for the second race. The safety-car phases played into my hands, although the fans deserved a bit more racing action. But the only thing that counts is we have the first win of the season under our belt.� Augusto Farfus (Car Number 10): Race 1: 10th, 1:47.977 min � Race 2: DNF (lap 7) �This was a disappointing weekend for me. Firstly I narrowly missed out on the important top eight finish in race one, then I was forced to retire following the collision with Alain Menu. When I was racing well up the field I was unable to steer, which would have avoided this accident. Congratulations to Andy. His win gives our team a big boost.� Edited by Melvyn Pettit - 03 May 2010 at 11:14am
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2010 WTCC - Rds 3&4 Marrakech

BMW Team RBM drivers start from sixth row in Marrakech.

Priaulx celebrates first win of the season for BMW Team RBM in Marrakech.