Round 7 of the 2007 DTM series will be at Circuit Park Zandvoort, just a hop skip and a jump from Amsterdam. The Dutch track, with its signature sand dunes will host a DTM round for the seventh straight year. This is the earliest (calendar wise) the event has been contested, as it moves up a month. Mattias Ekström, the series point leader has won here twice (2002 & 2004). Audi and Mercedes have split in the previous six events, three wins for each marque. Two other former winners are in the field, 2005 victor, Gary Paffett and defending race champion Tom Kristensen. For a complete list of Zandvoort’s winners, click here.
The championship got quite a shake-up in the last round at Mugello. Ekström retook the points lead thanks to a strong 2nd place showing coupled with a disappointing run for Bernd Schneider. The reigning champion had an early incident was only able to finish 11th. That snapped a streak of 17 straight finishes in the points for Schneider, whose deficit is now 6.5 points.
Still, there was a lot of success for Mercedes as Mika Häkkinen used a brilliant pit strategy to pick up his 2nd win of the year. First place points boosted the Finn’s total to 20 and pulled him even with Martin Tomczyk for 5th in the championship. Paul di Resta bounced back from his recent woes to finish third, followed by Bruno Spengler and Daniel La Rosa, all in Mercedes machinery. Those points for Spengler show him in third place in the championship with di Resta tied on 22 points and within 10 of the leader.
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline picked up some breathing room thanks to Ekström and the plight of Scneider, extending their Team Title lead to 4.5 points. Click here for the full 2007 points standings.
Who will taste Dutch victory? Look for Schneider and Spengler to be strong (2nd and 4th last year) as well as the 3 former winners. Maybe even a first time winner, like say Jamie Green or Mike Rockenfeller. Keep up with all the action at www.dtm.de.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
SWC Mid-Ohio Preview
An American road racing classic, the Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course, is the site of Round 7 of the Speed World Challenge GT. This will be the 6th time the series visits Mid-Ohio (click here for a list of SWC GT winners at Mid-Ohio).
28 cars are on the entry list which is headed by the hottest driver in the series, Randy Pobst. The 2003 series champion has been on the podium three straight races, including wins in the last two races, Watkins Glen & Toronto. That surge has moved Pobst into the championship lead, by 9 points over Andy Pilgrim. Joining Pobst in the K-PAX Porsche team is Michael Galati (4th overall) and Robb Holland. Galati is the only two time winner at Mid-Ohio under the Speed banner.
Leading the manufacturer's championship is Cadillac. The team holds an advantage of 6 points over Porsche. Their drivers, Pilgrim and Lawson Aschenbach are 2nd and 3rd overall in the championship and looking to close ground on the leader.
Chevrolet lies third in the makes race and looks to make up for a zero at Toronto. The only other former winner in the field is Lou Gigliotti. He took his #28 Chevrolet to victory lane last year and currently lies 6th in the championship. His team mate Doug Peterson is in 9th place. This pair is joined by two cars for Marsh Racing, Eric Curran (7th overall) and Sonny Whelen, and the duo from Blackdog Racing, Brian Kubinski and Tony Gaples.
12 Dodge Vipers are on the entry list, headlined by Tommy Archer (5th overall in the championship), Rob Foster (8th overall) & Jeff Courtney (10th overall). James Ducote is making his series debut in the #02. In addition Stu Hayner returns to the series is his #21 Pontiac GTO, teamed with Jason Daskalos.
Click here for complete points standings through 6 rounds. Check out the action from Mid-Ohio at www.world-challenge.com.
28 cars are on the entry list which is headed by the hottest driver in the series, Randy Pobst. The 2003 series champion has been on the podium three straight races, including wins in the last two races, Watkins Glen & Toronto. That surge has moved Pobst into the championship lead, by 9 points over Andy Pilgrim. Joining Pobst in the K-PAX Porsche team is Michael Galati (4th overall) and Robb Holland. Galati is the only two time winner at Mid-Ohio under the Speed banner.
Leading the manufacturer's championship is Cadillac. The team holds an advantage of 6 points over Porsche. Their drivers, Pilgrim and Lawson Aschenbach are 2nd and 3rd overall in the championship and looking to close ground on the leader.
Chevrolet lies third in the makes race and looks to make up for a zero at Toronto. The only other former winner in the field is Lou Gigliotti. He took his #28 Chevrolet to victory lane last year and currently lies 6th in the championship. His team mate Doug Peterson is in 9th place. This pair is joined by two cars for Marsh Racing, Eric Curran (7th overall) and Sonny Whelen, and the duo from Blackdog Racing, Brian Kubinski and Tony Gaples.
12 Dodge Vipers are on the entry list, headlined by Tommy Archer (5th overall in the championship), Rob Foster (8th overall) & Jeff Courtney (10th overall). James Ducote is making his series debut in the #02. In addition Stu Hayner returns to the series is his #21 Pontiac GTO, teamed with Jason Daskalos.
Click here for complete points standings through 6 rounds. Check out the action from Mid-Ohio at www.world-challenge.com.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
DTM Mugello Preview
The German Touring Car Series kicks off its second half this weekend in Italy. The site will be the Circuito de Mugello which winds through Tuscany, and marks the return of the DTM to Italy for the first time since 2004. That year, the series visited Adria Raceway and the winner was current championship contender Mattias Ekström.
Speaking of Ekström he is coming off a 3rd place finish at the Norisring and currently lies just 1.5 points behind championship leader Bernd Schneider. His Audi team mate Martin Tomczyk is third. The points tally of the duo has given Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline a 1.5 point advantage in the Teams Championship.
Their rivals, for both the drivers title and teams title is the Original Teile/DC Bank Mercedes squad of Schneider and Bruno Spengler. At the Norisring, it was a 1-2 finish for the team, with Spengler winning his first race of the year. Those points moved him up to 4th in the championship, but more importantly his team mate took over the lead in the drivers chase. Schneider is looking to pick up his 5th title in the "New" DTM.
Other drivers to watch include 2005 champion Gary Paffett, Mercedes driver Jamie Green and Audi driver Tom Kristensen. The Dane is coming off a 5th place finish at the Norisring, his first race since a big crash in the season opener at Hockenheim. Paul di Resta is looking to get back on track after scoring no points the last two races. Still he sits in 6th overall.
There have been 5 winners in five races so far, and 6 drivers within 10 points of the championship leader. Although Mugello is still a relative unknown, we do know that the title chase could receive a serious shakeup in Italy this weekend. Don't forget to check out all the action at www.dtm.de.
Speaking of Ekström he is coming off a 3rd place finish at the Norisring and currently lies just 1.5 points behind championship leader Bernd Schneider. His Audi team mate Martin Tomczyk is third. The points tally of the duo has given Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline a 1.5 point advantage in the Teams Championship.
Their rivals, for both the drivers title and teams title is the Original Teile/DC Bank Mercedes squad of Schneider and Bruno Spengler. At the Norisring, it was a 1-2 finish for the team, with Spengler winning his first race of the year. Those points moved him up to 4th in the championship, but more importantly his team mate took over the lead in the drivers chase. Schneider is looking to pick up his 5th title in the "New" DTM.
Other drivers to watch include 2005 champion Gary Paffett, Mercedes driver Jamie Green and Audi driver Tom Kristensen. The Dane is coming off a 5th place finish at the Norisring, his first race since a big crash in the season opener at Hockenheim. Paul di Resta is looking to get back on track after scoring no points the last two races. Still he sits in 6th overall.
There have been 5 winners in five races so far, and 6 drivers within 10 points of the championship leader. Although Mugello is still a relative unknown, we do know that the title chase could receive a serious shakeup in Italy this weekend. Don't forget to check out all the action at www.dtm.de.
IRC Rally of Russia Preview
Round four of the 2007 Intercontinental Rally Challenge stops in Russia and is the first international rally competition in the country since 1914. The series returns to gravel and the roads are very similar to Finland, tree lined with rolling hills and jumps. Racing takes place July 13th and 14th.
After Ypres' large turnout of Super 2000 cars, there are just 5 in Russia. Drivers' championhip leader, Andrea Navarra has the #1 plate in his Abarth Grande Punto. His team mate Anton Alén is coming off a strong showing in Turkey where he lead the rally after Leg 1 before problems dropped him to 4th overall. The young Finn hopes the conditions, similar to his home country, will favor his driving style.
Peugeot has 3 cars from two teams heading to Russia. Peugeot Sport España has helped put the French marque into the manufacturer's championship lead. However it is by a solitary point, so good results are needed to maintain their advantage. Their drivers are also tracking the drivers championship. Enrique García Ojeda, coming off a second place finish in Belgium, lies 2nd in the chase, 10 points behind Navarra. Nicolas Vouilloz won in Turkey, but retired in Belgium, and sits in 3rd with 10 points. The other Peugeot is driven by Jimmy Joge of Peugeot Team Sweden. Joge debuted the 207 Super 2000 earlier this year on his native Swedish round of the WRC.
Third in the makes chase is Mitsubishi, within 9 points of Peugeot. Renato Travaglia, Marco Caviogli and several experienced local drivers bring their Lancers to the event. Due to the lack of experience on these roads by the international drivers, we could see one of these locals take victory. There are also several Russians in the field driving Subaru Imprezas, most notably Alexander Jeludov & Evgeniy Vertunov. Another WRC experienced driver, Alexandr Nikonenko will be in a Vaz.
Don't forget the Hondas of Daniel Solá & Luca Betti or former ERC champion, Simon Jean-Joseph in his Citroën C2 R2. The provisional entry list has 86 crews. For results and point standings check my Rally of Russia results page after the completion of the rally.
Stay tuned to the Official IRC website or Rally of Russia website for all the action this weekend.
After Ypres' large turnout of Super 2000 cars, there are just 5 in Russia. Drivers' championhip leader, Andrea Navarra has the #1 plate in his Abarth Grande Punto. His team mate Anton Alén is coming off a strong showing in Turkey where he lead the rally after Leg 1 before problems dropped him to 4th overall. The young Finn hopes the conditions, similar to his home country, will favor his driving style.
Peugeot has 3 cars from two teams heading to Russia. Peugeot Sport España has helped put the French marque into the manufacturer's championship lead. However it is by a solitary point, so good results are needed to maintain their advantage. Their drivers are also tracking the drivers championship. Enrique García Ojeda, coming off a second place finish in Belgium, lies 2nd in the chase, 10 points behind Navarra. Nicolas Vouilloz won in Turkey, but retired in Belgium, and sits in 3rd with 10 points. The other Peugeot is driven by Jimmy Joge of Peugeot Team Sweden. Joge debuted the 207 Super 2000 earlier this year on his native Swedish round of the WRC.
Third in the makes chase is Mitsubishi, within 9 points of Peugeot. Renato Travaglia, Marco Caviogli and several experienced local drivers bring their Lancers to the event. Due to the lack of experience on these roads by the international drivers, we could see one of these locals take victory. There are also several Russians in the field driving Subaru Imprezas, most notably Alexander Jeludov & Evgeniy Vertunov. Another WRC experienced driver, Alexandr Nikonenko will be in a Vaz.
Don't forget the Hondas of Daniel Solá & Luca Betti or former ERC champion, Simon Jean-Joseph in his Citroën C2 R2. The provisional entry list has 86 crews. For results and point standings check my Rally of Russia results page after the completion of the rally.
Stay tuned to the Official IRC website or Rally of Russia website for all the action this weekend.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
SWC Toronto Preview
Speed World Challenge GT series starts the second half of the season this weekend in Toronto. It is the first time the series visits the Toronto Street Course and a field of 22 entrants will battle for victory in Round 6 of the 2007 season.
Cadillac is riding high, leading Chevrolet for the Manufacturer's Championship and Andy Pilgrim leading the drivers' chase. Pilgrim came back from a penalty for jumping the start last time out to finish 4th at Watkins Glen. Teammate and defending series champion Lawson Aschenbach is 3rd in the points and guest driver for the team this weekend will be Canadian hero, Ron Fellows.
Porsche is coming off a victory in the last race, thanks to Randy Pobst. The win vaulted Pobst to second, just 5 points behind Pilgrim. Randy's K-Pax team mate Michael Galati moved up to fourth in the championship chase. He turned the fastest lap in practice on Friday. The duo will be joined by Robb Holland.
Chevrolet is looking to make up their deficit in the manufacturer's championship this weekend. Leading the charge will be Lou Gigliotti, coming off a podium at Watkins Glen to move to 6th overall and the Whelen cars of Eric Curran and Sonny Whelen. Curran was leading at the Glen until mechanical failures gave him his 3rd straight DNF. Whelen is headed in the opposite direction thanks to back to back Top 10 finishes.
In addition there are several Dodge Vipers, notably Tommy Archer (5th overall in the championship), Jeff Courtney (10th overall), Michael McCann and the Team Naykid cars of Cindi Lux and Scotty B. White. Nick Majors will make his SWC debut in the Woodhouse Performance #13 Dodge.
Click here for complete points standings through 5 rounds. Check out the action from Watkins Glen at www.world-challenge.com.
Speed World Challenge GT series starts the second half of the season this weekend in Toronto. It is the first time the series visits the Toronto Street Course and a field of 22 entrants will battle for victory in Round 6 of the 2007 season.
Cadillac is riding high, leading Chevrolet for the Manufacturer's Championship and Andy Pilgrim leading the drivers' chase. Pilgrim came back from a penalty for jumping the start last time out to finish 4th at Watkins Glen. Teammate and defending series champion Lawson Aschenbach is 3rd in the points and guest driver for the team this weekend will be Canadian hero, Ron Fellows.
Porsche is coming off a victory in the last race, thanks to Randy Pobst. The win vaulted Pobst to second, just 5 points behind Pilgrim. Randy's K-Pax team mate Michael Galati moved up to fourth in the championship chase. He turned the fastest lap in practice on Friday. The duo will be joined by Robb Holland.
Chevrolet is looking to make up their deficit in the manufacturer's championship this weekend. Leading the charge will be Lou Gigliotti, coming off a podium at Watkins Glen to move to 6th overall and the Whelen cars of Eric Curran and Sonny Whelen. Curran was leading at the Glen until mechanical failures gave him his 3rd straight DNF. Whelen is headed in the opposite direction thanks to back to back Top 10 finishes.
In addition there are several Dodge Vipers, notably Tommy Archer (5th overall in the championship), Jeff Courtney (10th overall), Michael McCann and the Team Naykid cars of Cindi Lux and Scotty B. White. Nick Majors will make his SWC debut in the Woodhouse Performance #13 Dodge.
Click here for complete points standings through 5 rounds. Check out the action from Watkins Glen at www.world-challenge.com.
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