2011 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium

Last updated
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg 2011 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium
Race details
Zolder.svg
Date24 April, 2011
Location Zolder, Belgium
Course Circuit Zolder
4.011 kilometres (2.492 mi)
Race One
Laps 15
Pole position
Driver Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robert Huff Chevrolet RML
Time 1:38.458
Podium
First Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robert Huff Chevrolet RML
Second Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Alain Menu Chevrolet RML
Third Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML
Fastest Lap
Driver Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robert Huff Chevrolet RML
Time 1:39.517
Race Two
Laps 13
Podium
First Flag of Italy.svg Gabriele Tarquini Lukoil-SUNRED
Second Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Alain Menu Chevrolet RML
Third Flag of Portugal (official).svg Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering
Fastest Lap
Driver Flag of Spain.svg 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.

Contents

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.NameTeamCarCQ1Q2
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robert Huff Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1:39.3731:38.458
28 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Alain Menu Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1:39.3671:38.598
33 Flag of Italy.svg Gabriele Tarquini Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI 1:39.4931:38.723
41 Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1:39.3651:38.738
518 Flag of Portugal (official).svg Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI 1:38.9521:38.907
611 Flag of Denmark.svg Kristian Poulsen Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y1:39.2931:39.398
75 Flag of Hungary.svg Norbert Michelisz Zengő-Dension Team BMW 320 TC Y1:39.4171:39.450
812 Flag of Germany.svg Franz Engstler Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y1:39.5831:39.962
97 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Fredy Barth SEAT Swiss Racing by SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y1:39.6381:40.015
1025 Flag of Morocco.svg Mehdi Bennani Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y1:39.3281:40.438
1115 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Coronel ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC 1:39.680
1274 Flag of Spain.svg Pepe Oriola SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y1:39.780
1330 Flag of Sweden.svg Robert Dahlgren Polestar Racing Volvo C30 1:39.807
149 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Darryl O'Young bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y1:39.931
154 Flag of Russia.svg Aleksei Dudukalo Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y1:40.110
1665 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Marchy Lee DeTeam KK Motorsport BMW 320 TC Y1:40.406
1710 Flag of Japan.svg Yukinori Taniguchi bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y1:41.712
1835 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Urs Sonderegger Wiechers-Sport BMW 320 TC Y1:43.537
1921 Flag of Italy.svg Fabio Fabiani Proteam Racing BMW 320si Y1:44.820
2017 Flag of Denmark.svg Michel Nykjær SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Yno time set
2120 Flag of Spain.svg Javier Villa Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Yno time set

Race 1

Pos.No.NameTeamCarCLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robert Huff Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1529:18.807125
28 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Alain Menu Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 15+1.244218
31 Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 15+1.740415
43 Flag of Italy.svg Gabriele Tarquini Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI 15+3.790312
518 Flag of Portugal (official).svg Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI 15+5.102510
611 Flag of Denmark.svg Kristian Poulsen Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y15+8.98768
75 Flag of Hungary.svg Norbert Michelisz Zengő-Dension Team BMW 320 TC Y15+10.87876
817 Flag of Denmark.svg Michel Nykjær SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y15+12.032204
920 Flag of Spain.svg Javier Villa Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y15+12.845212
109 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Darryl O'Young bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y15+12.901141
1174 Flag of Spain.svg Pepe Oriola SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y15+14.65612
124 Flag of Russia.svg Aleksei Dudukalo Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y15+17.53815
1330 Flag of Sweden.svg Robert Dahlgren Polestar Racing Volvo C30 15+18.68713
1410 Flag of Japan.svg Yukinori Taniguchi bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y15+25.86417
1535 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Urs Sonderegger Wiechers-Sport BMW 320 TC Y15+42.23618
1621 Flag of Italy.svg Fabio Fabiani Proteam Racing BMW 320si Y15+1:07.74119
Ret7 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Fredy Barth SEAT Swiss Racing by SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y2Race incident9
Ret15 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Coronel ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC 2Race incident11
Ret25 Flag of Morocco.svg Mehdi Bennani Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y2Race incident10
Ret12 Flag of Germany.svg Franz Engstler Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y2Race incident8
Ret65 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Marchy Lee DeTeam KK Motorsport BMW 320 TC Y2Race incident16

Race 2

Pos.No.NameTeamCarCLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
13 Flag of Italy.svg Gabriele Tarquini Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI 1322:07.752125
28 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Alain Menu Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 13+0.448318
318 Flag of Portugal (official).svg Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI 13+0.886615
49 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Darryl O'Young bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y13+1.614912
517 Flag of Denmark.svg Michel Nykjær SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y13+5.7021310
62 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robert Huff Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 13+5.90128
730 Flag of Sweden.svg Robert Dahlgren Polestar Racing Volvo C30 13+12.35286
85 Flag of Hungary.svg Norbert Michelisz Zengő-Dension Team BMW 320 TC Y13+16.721164
94 Flag of Russia.svg Aleksei Dudukalo Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y13+20.141102
1020 Flag of Spain.svg Javier Villa Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y13+28.827141
1125 Flag of Morocco.svg Mehdi Bennani Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y13+42.06615
1212 Flag of Germany.svg Franz Engstler Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y13+48.23517
1321 Flag of Italy.svg Fabio Fabiani Proteam Racing BMW 320si Y12+1 Lap12
1474 Flag of Spain.svg Pepe Oriola SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y11+2 Laps7
1535 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Urs Sonderegger Wiechers-Sport BMW 320 TC Y9+4 Laps11
Ret1 Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 7Oil radiator4
Ret11 Flag of Denmark.svg Kristian Poulsen Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y0Race incident5
DNS15 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Coronel ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC 0Did not start18
DNS7 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Fredy Barth SEAT Swiss Racing by SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y0Did not start
DNS65 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Marchy Lee DeTeam KK Motorsport BMW 320 TC Y0Did not start19
DSQ10 Flag of Japan.svg Yukinori Taniguchi bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y12Disqualified20

Standings after the event

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.
World Touring Car Championship
Previous race:
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