Imola preview: New drivers to add to the excitement in Italy
The TCR International Series returns to Italy to race at the iconic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola. As well as a very close title challenge, returning drivers Jordi Oriola, Jordi Gené and Alain Menu will add to the excitement ahead of the race weekend, which will be held for the first time in one action-packed single-day schedule.
Imola is a fast and yet technical circuit, with a very long straight going from Rivazza – the last corner – to Tamburello, making power very important. The elevation changes make ballast even more difficult to carry, as Craft-Bamboo Lukoil’s Pepe Oriola (20kg) and Leopard Racing’s Jean-Karl Vernay (10kg) will find out very soon.
The Spaniard goes into the weekend defending the championship lead he took back from Gianni Morbidelli last time out in Belgium. Race winner Aku Pellinen was scheduled to carry 30kg of ballast, but he will be absent from the grid as he is replaced by Alain Menu, with Mikhail Grachev also taking Kevin Gleason’s place at WestCoast Racing.
Pepe Oriola has never raced at Imola before, but his work in the simulator should make up for that. The effects of the ballast are still a question mark: “Let’s see how the 20kg affects us at Imola. I have never raced at this track before but I have been doing a lot of work in the sim to prepare for this weekend so I am hopeful that I will be competitive.”
Gianni Morbidelli goes to his home track ballast-free. The Civic is regarded to have very good power, which may help on the long start/finish straight, but the Italian’s experience at the former venue of the San Marino Formula 1 Grand Prix will also prove crucial. With just four points between Morbidelli and championship leader Oriola, the WestCoast Racing driver will try to take the championship lead back from his rival.
James Nash will also be in the mix though, as the Brit will carry no ballast on the banks of the Santerno river. The Craft-Bamboo Lukoil driver has never been to Imola before, but still has high hopes ahead of the races: “I’ve not raced at the Imola circuit before,” said Nash. “I’ve tried to learn it on the simulator this week and it seems a lot of fun so trying it for real on Sunday is an experience that I’m really looking forward to.”
The ballast should help the Brit to have better control over tyre wear: “I’m not carrying extra success ballast this weekend unlike the last two events. It’s actually only a weight reduction of 20 kilos so I don’t think it’ll make too much difference for qualifying but in the races I hope it will help ease tyre wear and allow me to run faster for longer. My aim for the weekend? Clean races and at least one visit to the top step on the podium.”
After the success enjoyed in Spa-Francorchamps, Leopard Racing will try to make up for some more points as defending champion Stefano Comini is fifth in the standings, 25 points shy of Oriola, despite a driveshaft failure in Race 1. Team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay is close behind the Swiss, 28 points off the lead. The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR scored a 1-2-3 in Belgium, leading several drivers to ask for a revision of the Balance of Performance, but no changes have been made ahead of this weekend for the German cars.
After deciding to withdraw from racing to focus on testing, both Alfa Romeo and Subaru will again be absent from the grid, with the Giulietta TCR and the WRX STi TCR still undergoing development. The cars could show up again in Austria at the Salzburgring in two weeks, while Opel are sure to miss the next event and will re-evaluate the situation ahead of Oschersleben in Germany.
The one-day schedule will feature a one-hour free practice session, starting at 9:00 CET. Qualifying will be held at 11:30 with the usual Q1-Q2 format, with the 13-laps races will be held at 14:15 and 15:30.
2016 TCR International Series Italy Entry List
No – Driver – Nat – Team – Car
1 – Stefano Comini – SUI – Leopard Racing (WRT) – Volkswagen Golf TCR
2 – Jean-Karl Vernay – FRA – Leopard Racing (WRT) – Volkswagen Golf TCR
7 – Davit Kajaia – GEO – Liqui Moly Team Engstler – Volkswagen Golf TCR
8 – Mikhail Grachev – RUS – WestCoast Racing – Honda Civic TCR
9 – Attila Tassi – HUN – B3 Racing – SEAT León TCR
10 – Gianni Morbidelli – ITA – WestCoast Racing – Honda Civic TCR
33 – Jordi Oriola – SPN – Target Competition – Honda Civic TCR
40 – Alain Menu – SWI – WestCoast Racing – Honda Civic TCR
41 – Carlotta Fedeli – ITA – B.D. Racing Motorsport – SEAT León TCR
42 – Diego Romanini – ITA – B.D. Racing Motorsport – SEAT León Racer
52 – Jordi Gené – SPN – Liqui Moly Team Engstler – Volkswagen Golf TCR
54 – James Nash – GBR – Craft-Bamboo Racing – SEAT León TCR
62 – Dusan Borkovic – SER – B3 Racing – SEAT León TCR
70 – Mat’o Homola – SLK – B3 Racing – SEAT León TCR
74 – Pepe Oriola – SPN – Craft-Bamboo Racing – SEAT León TCR
77 – Sergey Afanasyev – RUS – Craft-Bamboo Racing – SEAT León TCR
TCR International Series Italy Timetable
Sunday 22nd May
9:00 – Free Practice
11:30 – Qualifying
14:15 – Race 1 (15 Laps)
15:30 – Race 2 (15 Laps)
