FIA WTCC NEWS and          AMENDED CALENDAR FOR THE 2006 FIA WTCC

02 April ITA Monza

30 April FRA Magny-Cours

21 May GBR Brands Hatch

04 June GER Oschersleben

02 July BRA * Curitiba**

30 July MEX Puebla***

03 September CZE Brno

24 September TUR Istanbul

08 October ESP Valencia

19 November CHN Macau

* Subject to the ASN’s approval
** Subject to the FIA homologation of the circuit.
*** Subject to the completion of the modifications required by the safety commission

Moto GP ace Loris Capirossi drove the FIA WTCC SEAT León at the Bologna Motor Show. The Italian rider, at the wheel of an FIA WTCC car for the first time, joined the SEAT Sport team to take part in the Bomb Boogie Eurotouring race.

In front of a huge crowd, experienced FIA WTCC independent driver Adriano De Micheli –at the wheel of an Antonelli Sport Alfa Romeo 156 – eliminated Capirossi in the quarterfinals.

In the semi-finals De Micheli prevailed over team-mate Marco Antonelli and eventually beat Stefano Valli’s Zerocinque Motorsport BMW 320i in the final.

After having been voted British Competition Driver of the Year at the 2004 Autosport Awards for his victory in the FIA European Touring Car Championship, Andy Priaulx was again included in the nominations this year thanks to his FIA WTCC title.

However on Sunday night in London the award went to Dan Wheldon, winner of the Indy 500 and the IRL championship. Other nominees were Formula 1 drivers Jenson Button and David Coulthard, DTM Champion Gary Paffet and BTCC Champion Matt Neal. On Monday in Silverstone, Priaulx, Wheldon and Paffet were also awarded with the prestigious BRDC Gold Star.

Last Saturday BMW Motorsport celebrated the end of the 2005 season with a party in the Austrian town of Seefeld.

BMW Board Member Burkhard Göschel and BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen paid tribute to Andy Priaulx’s triumphs in the World Touring Car Championship.

The BMW Sports Trophy – with its prize money of euro 35,000 – was won by Franz Engstler (winner of the Asian Touring Car Championship) from Richard Göransson, (winner of the FIA European Touring Car Cup) and Marc Hennerici (winner of the FIA WTCC Michelin Independents’ Trophy).

MURRAY: Irish youngster Eoin Murray might join the FIA WTCC next year. For his victory in the 2005 European Alfa Challenge, Murray has been awarded a S2000 Alfa Romeo 156 racing car.

MADENO RACING: Another team who took part in the 2005 European Alfa Challenge is working on an FIA WTCC project. Netherlands-based Madeno Raging would like to enter a couple of Alfa Romeo 156 cars for Mikko Heino from Finland and José João Magalhaes from Portugal.

Alfa Romeo Brand Manager Antonio Baravalle, during a press conference at the Bologna Motor Show: "Alfa Romeo will support the participation of independent teams in the next year’s World Touring Car Championship, and at the same time we will be working on the plan to return in official form in 2007. Because sporting activities are an important part of the make’s identity."

COUNTDOWN: - 96 DAYS to the 2006 FIA WTCC test and media days – 21st/22nd March, in Monza

- Fabio RAVAIOLI, FIA -