Augusto FARFUS "It is a very important victory for BMW here as it is their home race. Augusto FARFUS
"It is a very important victory for BMW here as it is their home race. We knew that the pace was good as the practices showed. In qualifying we had a few problems which stopped me being able to brake properly so we did the best we could. I had a great start, managed to avoid the clashes and I was lucky.
The SEAT of Tarquini blocked the Chevrolet drivers for a few laps and so I was able to build up a gap. When Rob (Huff) had passed him, there was a bit of a gap between us so I was able to keep pushing, but it was very hard to keep my focus as I was out there alone."
Félix PORTEIRO
"It was a not an easy race for me today as Tom Coronel was pushing all the way through. It has been a perfect day for me. The car was perfect and everything went really well.
The others caught me when I had a problem at the second corner, there was a lot of oil and debris on the track and I had to go to the outside and I lost a couple of seconds… but I still won so that is what matters.
Maybe if I had not made the mistake then I would not have had Coronel following me so closely."
Robert HUFF
"I needed to make up for the loss at Brands Hatch, it just makes you wonder if we had won Brands Hatch and had the fantastic weekend here too then we'd be third in the Championship.
That's motor sport! I took advantage at the start in this race, where I lost out in the first race I gained in the second. I came through the first corner in fourth, and then saw D'Aste come from nowhere and managed to get past Gené."
Tom CORONEL
"We are a new team, and I am very happy with them as they are very professional. At the start I didn't know what to expect but we have all worked very well together and I knew that this circuit would be suitable for the car. I thought we might do well but never thought we could get on the podium, especially after the qualifying.
My start wasn't brilliant in the first race, I just stayed out of trouble and everything happened in front of me. things happened that I'd never seen before. In the second race I didn't have a great start, but I came round the corner and kept tight.
And then I tried to close the gap to Félix. I was hoping he would make a mistake, but there wasn't enough for me to get through. I saw Huff coming, and I knew he would be nice to me! So I knew I would be second."
Alain MENU
"From eighth position I didn't expected to finish on the podium, but it is all down to the first two corners. Last year I got pushed out of second place, and this year I went through the pack, and had to back off to not hit Rob Huff into turn two.
I knew that during the race I couldn't catch Rob so I ran my own race, and had problems with tyres on the last laps so backed off a bit. For me it was a very good result."
Stefano D'ASTE
"It is a very good start for us to win this first race. I got a very good start, but it was hard on the first lap because there was so much traffic. After a couple of laps I built up a good gap over some of the drivers behind me and when I saw Corthals had problems I was able to overtake him."
Sergio HERNÁNDEZ
"It was a tough race, I don't know how but managed to be fourth into the first corner. I just tried hard to stay on the track and wait for something to happen ahead of me, and am happy with seventh overall.
D'Aste and I are always close. We are trying to be well positioned to go to Macau, with the issue of the double points in those races. We hope to get there in at least second position and then we can really fight."
- Fabio Ravaioli, photos Marco Knisse automobilsport.com
photos on automobilsport.com under PHOTOS - FIA WTCC
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