WTCC Puebla

[AndyRAC]

Following the 2 races at Puebla, Mexico; SEAT won both races, but not only that they absolutely dominated them. I know the BMW's were expected to struggle at that altitude, but the sooner they bring in the Diesel the better. Not only that, but the Chevrolet Lacetti seemed to go well. I know it's early yet, but Andy Priaulx has got his work cut out.

[VkmSpouge]

Yeah, after that performance I can't say it is a level playing field between the SEAT diesels and the petrol BMWs and Chevrolets.

[Iain]

Could have left the 'SEAT domination' bit out of the thread title........infact I'll do it now, so nobody else gets the result in the title before they get the chance to see the races.....

[AndyRAC]

Sorry, hadn't thought of that - apologies!!

[Iain]

No probs. :) Watching the rerun of race 2 now. Why do they not show both races the morning after? I can't work that one out.

[SEATFreak]

No probs. :) Watching the rerun of race 2 now. Why do they not show both races the morning after? I can't work that one out.

How do you mean? Who isn't showing both races the morning after? Eurosport? It is just you can see the coverage of races 1 & 2 in full (minus commentary) on the WTCC webite.

If it weren't for Menu going into the gravel on about lap 10 would it have been a SEAT 1-2-3-4 & 5? Maybe. Maybe not.

[Mighty]

Yes, the SEAT Cars were pretty fast at Puebla, but i still don´t like diesel engines in WTTC.
BMW hast tested a diesel car this year and this car was very fast!
But their decision was to take the petrol engine furthermore.

[TCuns]

When is Thompson going to appear>?

[Mighty]

James Thompson will have his first race at Valencia 16.5. - 18.5.2008
But by the official WTCC test sessian from 15.4. - 16.4. he will also take part.

[Iain]

How do you mean? Who isn't showing both races the morning after? Eurosport? It is just you can see the coverage of races 1 & 2 in full (minus commentary) on the WTCC webite.

If it weren't for Menu going into the gravel on about lap 10 would it have been a SEAT 1-2-3-4 & 5? Maybe. Maybe not.

Is that not the one with no commentary though? I tried watching a rerun on that before, but lost track of what was going on because there was no commentary.

[SEATFreak]

Is that not the one with no commentary though? I tried watching a rerun on that before, but lost track of what was going on because there was no commentary.

Yeah. "Puebla Race 2 - Re-live!" is what it is called. And until now I had no idea motorsport with no commentary could be so darn good! You get to hear the sound of those tintops for once.

In what way did you loose track? Because their was uninterupted video right from the start of the warm up lap to the last. Nothing edited out.

[Funks]

Is that not the one with no commentary though? I tried watching a rerun on that before, but lost track of what was going on because there was no commentary.

I find that when Mr Haven is doing the commentary and the timing screens are screwing around - it is best to just press the mute button anyway and work out yourself what is going on.

Coverage with on-board shots and no commentator ruining the noise is the best coverage there is though.

[AndySpeed]

I tried to watch some of the Eurosport 'Re-Live' footage for the opening races in Curitiba and struggled to follow what was happening. I was hoping that it was some sort of "technical error" with no commentary and that the Puebla races would have commentary, but no, I am left a little bit confused and disappointed again. :\

[SEATFreak]

I tried to watch some of the Eurosport 'Re-Live' footage for the opening races in Curitiba and struggled to follow what was happening. I was hoping that it was some sort of "technical error" with no commentary and that the Puebla races would have commentary, but no, I am left a little bit confused and disappointed again. :\

I find now the best coping strategy is just to memorise the TV graphics of the positions best you can. I have Windows Media Player and I assume like most media players can adjust the size of the screen so I can bring up the graphics to a larger size.

An idea of mine born from the fact I really struggled to think of, at the time, which of the Chevrolet drivers it was who went off in the gravel on about lap 10 allowing Jordi Gene and Tom Coronel behind him to overtake and create the mini-SEAT convoy. It is only from the results I know it to be Menu.

Can I take this opportunity though to quickly say how much I am looking forward to Valenica? The Leon Eurocup begins with the Triple R guys (Liam McMillan, Tom Boardman and Neil Waterworth) having a great chance of racing at in the Pau meeting of the WTCC; the meeting after Valencia.

[AndyRAC]

The WTCC Lacettis seem to be far more competitive than the BTCC Lacettis. Any reason why?

[BDunnell]

The WTCC Lacettis seem to be far more competitive than the BTCC Lacettis. Any reason why?

Because the WTCC cars are new-build works entries and the BTCC ones are year-old independent-run cars.

[Erki]

Why wasn't Thommo there?

Reminds me of my last year's puzzlement when Monteiro wasn't racing in first (or first few) rounds. :confused:

[Alfa Fan]

Because the WTCC cars are new-build works entries and the BTCC ones are year-old independent-run cars.

Because the WTCC ones run with FIA dispensations & no extra weight. The BTCC ones run with the FIA dispensations, but with extra weight to compensate.

[BDunnell]

Ah yes, that too. Thanks, Alfa Fan.

[SEATFreak]

Why wasn't Thommo there?

Don't really know. I think it is just a case of total preparation. Their has been two articles on TouringCarTimes about that topic.

They insisted back on 25 February the car was going to be ready for Puebla but they said the car was going to be ready for Puebla.

Then on 27 March it was said that they had to postpone their start till the third meeting of the season and that after testing on the official WTCC test-day on April 15 & 16 at Valencia, then will be ready for the third meeting at the same track; Valencia. Mauro Sipz said, "We need to take the time that is needed to prepare the car. We hope our efforts pay off at Valencia."

Nowhere does it say in any of the articles about problems with the car or anything else.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Why wasn't Thommo there?

Reminds me of my last year's puzzlement when Monteiro wasn't racing in first (or first few) rounds. :confused:

The simple answer for both questions is money (and time).

[VXRDartford]

Why wasn't Thommo there?

Reminds me of my last year's puzzlement when Monteiro wasn't racing in first (or first few) rounds. :confused:


Monteiro was not at the first 2 races because he only signed for Seat just before the first race and did not have time to build a car for him before the Valencia round

[Robinho]

i just hope the Honda's are competitive, the current line up is dull, dull, dull. the tracks favour BMW one week and Seat the next, Chevvy occasionally getting in the mix, the racing has become even more processional and the sheer weight of works Seats and BMW's looks ridiculous IMO.

the privateers rarely get a look in, and get very little coverage/support and the whole things looks a little unprofessional (that might be the Eurosprt coverage)

on top of that the constant meddling with the rules leaves the casual viewerr with no idea of what actually is the better car, only what is being favoured that week. i fully expect a crackdown on the diesels (probably boost pressure or something) if we get another race like Mexico, or a clarification on the diesels staying the same in which case i think BMW will join that party

[SEATFreak]

i fully expect a crackdown on the diesels (probably boost pressure or something)

A limitation has already been applied to the Leons

This from the 3 March TouringCarTimes article:

"The FIA Touring Car Bureau have issued a decision this morning to limit the supercharged air pressure and the fuel rail pressure on the SEAT León TDI cars. Both pressures have been limited to the average maximum values measured by the FIA data logger during yesterday's qualifying session.
This decision only applies to the current race meeting."

But it seems they are still making better and better progress. Last season they won 4 races; bettering by one the wins achieved in 2005 and 2006. They have already won 4 races. Only Rikard is yet to win a race. Yvan won round 1, Gabriele won round 2, Jordi won round 3 and Tiago won round 4.

I am personally not worried at all about the limitations and the difference they make to the running of the Leons if I know the team can compete as well as they did do at Puebla.

[100%hondafan]

the robertshaw chevys are 2 years old wtcc in 2006 and dtcc in 2007. they also dont have works drivers or resources so are where they should be really.

[Robinho]

A limitation has already been applied to the Leons

This from the 3 March TouringCarTimes article:


But it seems they are still making better and better progress. Last season they won 4 races; bettering by one the wins achieved in 2005 and 2006. They have already won 4 races. Only Rikard is yet to win a race. Yvan won round 1, Gabriele won round 2, Jordi won round 3 and Tiago won round 4.

I am personally not worried at all about the limitations and the difference they make to the running of the Leons if I know the team can compete as well as they did do at Puebla.

i think that only applied to Brazil, although i may be wrong, but even then i would not be surprised to see the authorities making a further limitation to level the field, as they seem to like doing.

that said, i think that if the rules are held on diesels then the BMW diesel will break cover and probably be every bit as quick as the SEAT, if not quicker. they won't introduce the diesel until that clarification os made, as they might then lose ground to the Chevvy's and Hondas if they are later disadvantaged by the rules

[playmo]

I'm kind of new to WTCC (since mid 2005) and got hitched right away, and the c'ship keeps getting better.
This year appears to be good too and so far my clear favourite hasn't won a race but tops the standings.
The "show" at puebla was as expected by the teams and i don't see this repeating once more throught the season, specially by the restrictions mentioned by SeatFreak.
As a casual viewer i got really interested from the first lap i saw (sure, rules were a little different) and i don't see all that bad the "mess" FIA makes with rules, almost every event is far more interesting than F1 (to my eyes), and you get the plus with that "soap" they make from the rules!
Regards.