• Podium finish for Tom Coronel and his 320i in second race of World Touring Car Championship

                    
      		   
      Published on 03-20-2011 07:58 PM
      14 Comments Comments
      Finishing second in the second race, Dutch BMW racing driver Tom Coronel ended up on the podium during the opening weekend of the 2011 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). In the first race in Brazil, Coronel finished fourth. In the second race, he had a great start leading much of the way, but finished second behind Alain Menu. The 38-year old Dutch driver, who had his first races with the BMW 320 TC with the new 1.6 litre turbocharged engine, stated, “These are the results that give ROAL Motorsport, BMW and myself the confidence that we need for the races to come. The next event will be at the circuit of Zolder in Belgium next month. These are my home races in this championship.”





      This article was originally published in forum thread: Podium finish for Tom Coronel and his 320i in second race of World Touring Car Championship started by Sticky View original post
      Comments 14 Comments
      1. inter1032's Avatar
        inter1032 - 03-20-2011, 08:33 PM
        im not too familiar with racing or the 320 but is that the stock engine from the car?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 03-20-2011, 08:35 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by inter1032 Click here to enlarge
        im not too familiar with racing or the 320 but is that the stock engine from the car?
        No, in Europe I believe the 320i comes with a 2.0 liter I4. This motor seems to be specifically for this racing series.
      1. DBFIU's Avatar
        DBFIU - 03-20-2011, 08:55 PM
        I am unfamiliar with this too, what class is it this? Very strange, this is a NA I4? What year car?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 03-20-2011, 08:57 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DBFIU Click here to enlarge
        I am unfamiliar with this too, what class is it this? Very strange, this is a NA I4? What year car?
        It is a 1.6 liter turbo 4 as stated in the OP.

        The car is an E90.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 03-20-2011, 08:58 PM
        I'm looking up the rules now but the interesting thing is Chevrolet Europe is in 1st place for the manufacturers championship.
      1. DBFIU's Avatar
        DBFIU - 03-20-2011, 09:02 PM
        Is this engine in any way related to the N20?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 03-20-2011, 09:12 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DBFIU Click here to enlarge
        Is this engine in any way related to the N20?
        No.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 03-20-2011, 09:15 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DBFIU Click here to enlarge
        Is this engine in any way related to the N20?
        Here:

        ARTICLE 7 : ENGINE

        7.1 Engine

        The nominal cylinder capacity of the car equipped with the kit
        (Super 2000 Kit Variant) is limited to a maximum of 1600 cm
        (turbocharged engine).

        7.1.1 Fuel supply and electronics

        a) Variable geometry intake and exhaust manifolds are
        prohibited. If the series-produced car is equipped with one, it has to be
        deactivated.

        Intake and exhaust manifolds must be homologated.
      1. DBFIU's Avatar
        DBFIU - 03-20-2011, 09:29 PM
        I dunno im a little confused. Didnt know they had a production 320i came with a turbo 4, how many units had to be built for homologation?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 03-20-2011, 09:31 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DBFIU Click here to enlarge
        I dunno im a little confused. Didnt know they had a production 320i came with a turbo 4, how many units had to be built for homologation?
        They don't have a turbo 1.6 in the standard 320i, I think the regulations just require that.

        ARTICLE 2 : HOMOLOGATION

        At least 2500 fully identical units must have been produced in 12
        consecutive months and homologated by the FIA in Touring Cars
        (Group A).

        Supply Variants (VF) homologated in Touring Cars (Group A) are
        also valid in Production Cars (Group N).
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 03-21-2011, 07:32 AM
        Ok, so you you all know Tom Coronel finished 2nd in the second race of the season. What you may not know is the guy is pretty funny and he gives an inside look into what racing in the WTCC is like in this vid. The video is subtitled in English and worth checking out, if only to watch the grid girls in action.

        Click here to enlarge

        <iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/erTehpMZPHQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 03-21-2011, 07:47 AM
        He would have been first if Alain Menu hadn't shoved him aside. After that it was a vere close race between Tom and Alain, but he could not get past him any more.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 03-21-2011, 08:52 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DavidV Click here to enlarge
        He would have been first if Alain Menu hadn't shoved him aside. After that it was a vere close race between Tom and Alain, but he could not get past him any more.
        True, but he had a good attitude about it.
      1. Setra's Avatar
        Setra - 03-22-2011, 04:22 PM
        Great thread! Thank you for posting.