2011 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium

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Belgium 2011 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium
Race details
Zolder.svg
Round 2 of 12 in the 2011 World Touring Car Championship at Circuit Zolder in Zolder, Belgium.
Date24 April, 2011
LocationZolder, Belgium
CourseCircuit Zolder
4.011 kilometres (2.492 mi)
Race One
Laps 15
Pole position
Driver United Kingdom Robert Huff Chevrolet RML
Time 1:38.458
Podium
First United Kingdom Robert Huff Chevrolet RML
Second Switzerland Alain Menu Chevrolet RML
Third France Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML
Fastest Lap
Driver United Kingdom Robert Huff Chevrolet RML
Time 1:39.517
Race Two
Laps 13
Podium
First Italy Gabriele Tarquini Lukoil-SUNRED
Second Switzerland Alain Menu Chevrolet RML
Third Portugal Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering
Fastest Lap
Driver Spain Javier Villa Proteam Racing
Time 1:40.063

The 2011 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium (formally the 2011 FIA WTCC Monroe Race of Belgium) was the second round of the 2011 World Touring Car Championship season. It was held at Circuit Zolder on 24 April 2011 and was the third running of the Race of Belgium, which ran at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in 2005 before leaving the calendar for four seasons until returning in the 2010 season at Zolder.

The races were won by Robert Huff of Chevrolet RML and Gabriele Tarquini of Lukoil-SUNRED.

Background[]

After the Race of Brazil, Huff was leading the drivers' championship by four points over Chevrolet teammate Alain Menu. Kristian Poulsen was leading the Yokohama Independents' Trophy.

Chevrolet RML reverted to a three car operation having run guest driver Cacá Bueno in Brazil. bamboo–engineering switched to the Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T, replacing the Chevrolet Lacettis they ran in the opening round.[1] Wiechers-Sport returned to the series with their new driver Urs Sonderegger in a BMW 320 TC.[2] Norbert Michelisz and the Zengő-Dension Team returned with a turbocharged BMW having missed the opening round to test the new car.[3]

Report[]

Testing and free practice[]

The test session on Friday saw Tarquini go fastest, leading Menu and championship leader Huff.[4]

Huff was quickest in the free practice session on Saturday morning with Yvan Muller second making it a Chevrolet 1–2.[5]

Muller led Huff and Menu in the final free practice session with Michel Nykjær the fastest SEAT driver in fourth. Fabio Fabiani missed the breaking point for turn one during the session, he ended up rolling backwards into the car but continued.[6]

Qualifying[]

Chevrolet stayed on top in qualifying with Huff taking his second pole position of the year. Tiago Monteiro had been quickest in Q1 but Brazil podium finisher Tom Coronel failed to get through to the second session and lined up eleventh. Having been fourth in the afternoon practice session, Nykjær ended up 20th having not set a time. He had clipped one of the barriers at the chicane and was unable to continue in the session due to damage. Javier Villa didn't take part in qualifying due to engine issues.

In Q2, Huff set the fastest time to secure pole position and a late lap from Menu made it an all–Chevrolet front row. Tarquini finished third and Muller fourth, having run wide on his final flying lap. Monteiro was fifth and Poulsen in sixth was the leading independent driver. Michelisz was seventh in his first competitive session with the BMW.[7]

Warm-Up[]

Proteam Racing's Villa topped the Sunday morning warm–up session with pole sitter Huff third.[8]

Race One[]

The first race saw many drivers crash out and end their races prematurely. At the beginning Huff had a great get away from pole whilst Tarquini attempted to pass Menu put failed. Coronel had got a great get way but spun on the third lap and was hit by Franz Engstler. The damage was so much that Coronel wouldn't start race two. Meanwhile, further down the order, Aleksei Dudukalo and Yukinori Taniguchi were racing hard until Dudukalo put the Chevrolet into a small spin where Marchy Lee collected Taniguchi. Taniguchi managed to continue on in the race but Lee had to make a retirement. On lap eleven Poulsen and Michelisz were having a door to door battle, while Muller slipped past Tarquini for third. On the final lap Villa (who had started at the back of the grid) passed Darryl O'Young for ninth whilst Huff upfront took his second victory of the season.

Race Two[]

In race two there were new complications with the grid as Fredy Barth who was set for pole position had too much damage to compete along with others. This meant a reshuffle of the grid putting Tarquini on pole. Tarquini kept the three Chevrolets behind him at bay for thirteen laps despite a battle with Huff on lap five where the two made contact that would send Huff down to sixth by the end of the race due to the damage from the collision. O'Young was working his way up the order from ninth and finished the race fourth after Muller started to suffer problems and retired. This left Menu to fight for the win with Tarquini but was not good enough and behind them Monteiro completed the podium positions.

Results[]

Qualifying[]

Pos. No. Name Team Car C Q1 Q2
1 2 United Kingdom Robert Huff Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1:39.373 1:38.458
2 8 Switzerland Alain Menu Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1:39.367 1:38.598
3 3 Italy Gabriele Tarquini Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI 1:39.493 1:38.723
4 1 France Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1:39.365 1:38.738
5 18 Portugal Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI 1:38.952 1:38.907
6 11 Denmark Kristian Poulsen Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 1:39.293 1:39.398
7 5 Hungary Norbert Michelisz Zengő-Dension Team BMW 320 TC Y 1:39.417 1:39.450
8 12 Germany Franz Engstler Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 1:39.583 1:39.962
9 7 Switzerland Fredy Barth SEAT Swiss Racing by SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 1:39.638 1:40.015
10 25 Morocco Mehdi Bennani Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y 1:39.328 1:40.438
11 15 Netherlands Tom Coronel ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC 1:39.680
12 74 Spain Pepe Oriola SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 1:39.780
13 30 Sweden Robert Dahlgren Polestar Racing Volvo C30 1:39.807
14 9 Hong Kong Darryl O'Young bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 1:39.931
15 4 Russia Aleksei Dudukalo Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 1:40.110
16 65 Hong Kong Marchy Lee DeTeam KK Motorsport BMW 320 TC Y 1:40.406
17 10 Japan Yukinori Taniguchi bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 1:41.712
18 35 Switzerland Urs Sonderegger Wiechers-Sport BMW 320 TC Y 1:43.537
19 21 Italy Fabio Fabiani Proteam Racing BMW 320si Y 1:44.820
20 17 Denmark Michel Nykjær SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y no time set
21 20 Spain Javier Villa Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y no time set

Race 1[]

Pos. No. Name Team Car C Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 2 United Kingdom Robert Huff Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 15 29:18.807 1 25
2 8 Switzerland Alain Menu Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 15 +1.244 2 18
3 1 France Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 15 +1.740 4 15
4 3 Italy Gabriele Tarquini Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI 15 +3.790 3 12
5 18 Portugal Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI 15 +5.102 5 10
6 11 Denmark Kristian Poulsen Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 15 +8.987 6 8
7 5 Hungary Norbert Michelisz Zengő-Dension Team BMW 320 TC Y 15 +10.878 7 6
8 17 Denmark Michel Nykjær SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 15 +12.032 20 4
9 20 Spain Javier Villa Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y 15 +12.845 21 2
10 9 Hong Kong Darryl O'Young bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 15 +12.901 14 1
11 74 Spain Pepe Oriola SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 15 +14.656 12
12 4 Russia Aleksei Dudukalo Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 15 +17.538 15
13 30 Sweden Robert Dahlgren Polestar Racing Volvo C30 15 +18.687 13
14 10 Japan Yukinori Taniguchi bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 15 +25.864 17
15 35 Switzerland Urs Sonderegger Wiechers-Sport BMW 320 TC Y 15 +42.236 18
16 21 Italy Fabio Fabiani Proteam Racing BMW 320si Y 15 +1:07.741 19
Ret 7 Switzerland Fredy Barth SEAT Swiss Racing by SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 2 Race incident 9
Ret 15 Netherlands Tom Coronel ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC 2 Race incident 11
Ret 25 Morocco Mehdi Bennani Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y 2 Race incident 10
Ret 12 Germany Franz Engstler Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 2 Race incident 8
Ret 65 Hong Kong Marchy Lee DeTeam KK Motorsport BMW 320 TC Y 2 Race incident 16
  • Bold denotes Fastest lap.

Race 2[]

Pos. No. Name Team Car C Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 3 Italy Gabriele Tarquini Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI 13 22:07.752 1 25
2 8 Switzerland Alain Menu Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 13 +0.448 3 18
3 18 Portugal Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI 13 +0.886 6 15
4 9 Hong Kong Darryl O'Young bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 13 +1.614 9 12
5 17 Denmark Michel Nykjær SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 13 +5.702 13 10
6 2 United Kingdom Robert Huff Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 13 +5.901 2 8
7 30 Sweden Robert Dahlgren Polestar Racing Volvo C30 13 +12.352 8 6
8 5 Hungary Norbert Michelisz Zengő-Dension Team BMW 320 TC Y 13 +16.721 16 4
9 4 Russia Aleksei Dudukalo Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 13 +20.141 10 2
10 20 Spain Javier Villa Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y 13 +28.827 14 1
11 25 Morocco Mehdi Bennani Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y 13 +42.066 15
12 12 Germany Franz Engstler Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 13 +48.235 17
13 21 Italy Fabio Fabiani Proteam Racing BMW 320si Y 12 +1 Lap 12
14 74 Spain Pepe Oriola SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 11 +2 Laps 7
15 35 Switzerland Urs Sonderegger Wiechers-Sport BMW 320 TC Y 9 +4 Laps 11
Ret 1 France Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 7 Oil radiator 4
Ret 11 Denmark Kristian Poulsen Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 0 Race incident 5
DNS 15 Netherlands Tom Coronel ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC 0 Did not start 18
DNS 7 Switzerland Fredy Barth SEAT Swiss Racing by SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 0 Did not start –
DNS 65 Hong Kong Marchy Lee DeTeam KK Motorsport BMW 320 TC Y 0 Did not start 19
DSQ 10 Japan Yukinori Taniguchi bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 12 Disqualified 20
  • Bold denotes Fastest lap.

Standings after the event[]

  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of drivers' standings.

References[]

  1. ^ Allen, Peter (20 April 2011). "Bamboo Make Turbo Cruze Switch For Zolder". The Checkered Flag. BlackEagleMedia Network. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  2. ^ Casillo, Pietro (9 March 2011). "Sonderegger: "I started racing because of WTCC"". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  3. ^ Allen, Peter (23 March 2011). "Michelisz An Interested Spectator Ahead Of BMW Debut". The Checkered Flag. BlackEagleMedia Network. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  4. ^ Hudson, Neil (22 April 2011). "Gabriele Tarquini leads Zolder Friday test". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  5. ^ Glendenning, Mark (23 April 2011). "Huff leads first Zolder practice". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  6. ^ Glendenning, Mark (23 April 2011). "Chevrolet dominates second practice". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  7. ^ Glendenning, Mark (23 April 2011). "Huff takes Zolder WTCC pole". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  8. ^ Hudson, Neil (24 April 2011). "Javier Villa fastest in morning warm-up". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.

External links[]

World Touring Car Championship
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2011 FIA WTCC Race of Brazil 		2011 World Touring Car Championship season Next race:
2011 FIA WTCC Race of Italy
Previous race:
2010 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium 		FIA WTCC Race of Belgium Next race:
2014 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium
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