Real Cars. Real Racing. - WTCC

10
BMW
Faithful to its tradition of exploiting motor sport programmes to
promote its road cars, BMW confirmed its presence in WTCC in which
it clinched the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles three consecutive
years, from 2005 to 2007.
In order to support the customer teams, BMW Motorsport developed
a kit to update the 320si cars to 320 TC, including the 1.6-litre turbo
engine.
Italy-based ROAL Motorsport, directed by the 1987 WTCC champion Roberto Ravaglia, is the reference team
and field two BMW 320 TC car for Dutch race winner Tom Coronel and for young Italian ace Alberto Cerqui.
Other teams representing BMW are Liqui Moly Team Engstler and Proteam Racing with two cars each, Zengö
Motorsport and Wiechers-Sport with one car each.
HOnDA
The Japanese car maker announced they will take part in the last
three events of the 2012 WTCC in view of joining the Championship
for the full season from 2013.
Honda will enter the new Civic 5-door car, built at Honda’s British
plant in Swindon.
Italian outfit J.A.S. Motorsport will run the programme, while Mugen is
in charge to build and develop the new 1.6-litre turbo engine designed
by Honda R&D.
This is Honda’s first works car racing programme since the brand pulled out of Formula One.
lADA
Avtovaz, Russia’s first car manufacturer announced that the LADA
Sport team will take part in two events of the 2012 WTCC at Hungaroring
and Estoril, with a Granta Sport car developed for WTCC on the basis
of the car built for the Russian Granta Cup.
The aim is to launch a three-year works programme in WTCC from
2013; they had already competed in the world championship in 2008
and 2009.
LADA Sport have already signed British Touring Car ace James Thompson for testing and racing in 2012.