After seven years the curb-jumping cars of the FIA World Touring Car Championship land on the shores of North America. Alain Menu took the very first pole position in Sonoma with a flying last lap in his Chevrolet Cruze. Second place went to Gabriele Tarquini in a SEAT and third went to points-leader Yvan Muller, also in a Chevy Cruze.
This was my first time shooting the WTCC, so I am very excited to try to bring you guys the best coverage possible.
It’s also nice to be able to come back to Sonoma Raceway (formerly Infineon Raceway, and previously to that known as Sears Point). I used to make at least one trip every year following the Formula Drift series, but since they stopped going there in 2010 I’ve found myself only seeing it in my favorite racing simulator.
The WTCC season has 12 events in countries across four different continents.
It’s a novelty for me, because I normally don’t get to see SEAT race-cars – or even street-cars for that matter.
I usually get to shoot them at Pikes Peak, but it is a real treat to be able to see them battle it out at one of my local tracks (a seven-hour drive from my house).
I will be following former Formula Drift driver Charles Ng around as he is finishing up his debut season racing in the WTCC.
Stay tuned for an in-depth interview with the native Hong Kong race-car driver as he talks about what it is like to race touring cars versus going sideways in his RX-7.
He will be driving the #7 E90 BMW 320TC.
Coming into this weekend I did not know much about this series, but it is evident why it is so popular in Europe.
These guys really push it. Even during practice they are going ten-tenths. These cars run 1.6-liter turbocharged engines putting out around 300bhp.
It is just crazy to me how much they jump the curb. They pretty much cut every corner as much as they possibly can.
Like in many wheel-to-wheel racing series the winning cars have to add ballast to even the field out. That makes for some incredibly close racing.
Yvan Muller is the current points leader in the Chevrolet Cruze. He is definitely the favorite to take his third consecutive championship.
So if you happen to be in the San Francisco Bay Area you should try to come along and check out the two WTCC races as well as the support series.
Stay tuned for more coverage from WTCC Round 9 in Sonoma, but for now you can enjoy some desktops from practice and qualifying.
Larry
larry@dev.speedhunters.com
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that one shot looks like its was from pikes peak!! (the BMW's arse....!)
that one shot looks like its was from pikes peak!! (the BMW's arse....!)
So bummed I couldn't make it!!!
So bummed I couldn't make it!!!
Excited for the race tomorrow. Definitely glad they brought it to Sonoma raceway. Its a great track and deserves more series like this. Plus I live like half an hour away haha
Excited for the race tomorrow. Definitely glad they brought it to Sonoma raceway. Its a great track and deserves more series like this. Plus I live like half an hour away haha
Hard track is this. Good luck for Michelisz.
Hard track is this. Good luck for Michelisz.
Hard track is this. Good luck for Michelisz.
I think the the cars are not 1.6 litres as said above, but 2.0. Great pics though..
2.0 is the former spec, last year they were changed to 1.6 turbos just like in the WRC @Antonis_K
Hoping there will be more people in the grandstands for the races, because I've had a soft spot for Sears Point for a while now.
Formula D memories...
So glad the WTCC finally hit US shores! I hope the series gains in popularity here, and of course Sonoma is a fantastic circuit! Keep coverign this series when you can guys =]
Lets not forget that rubbing is racing in touring cars. So expect some mayhem.
However, I maintain that the BTCC is better. Speedhunters needs more BTCC coverage!
I live close, unfortunately I was unable to attend. Always used to watch wtcc and btcc and WRC on speed before they took it off
Was a great day, and an awesome venue. Got to walk right up to the garages, and watch them work. Hope there were enough attendees for them to bring it back again.
@bakayaru Agreed. The racing was very close. I loved it.
@sean klingelhoefer Next year!
@Nikhil_P That is what I was going for
the WTCC was a very good event. not only the touring cars that raced, plus the Auto GP race cars and Trofeo Maserati challenge was there as well. very good pix by Larry as always. and I do have a nice pix of Larry, taking a pix of Charles at the pit garage. lol! I'll post that on my FB soon. anywayz, as for the event attendance. there were a lot more people who went on Sunday, compare to the Saturday race. almost filled the grandstands but not as many people as NASCAR or IndyCar. it'll take time but at least America finally got the taste of WTCC!
@KBR i'm scared.
I been waiting a while for this glad they committed to 2 more years, best part everything and being able to experience it again through these pics thanks to Larry Chen.. til next year!!!
@Larry Chen
I think I caught a picture of you speedhunting at the purple booth. I'll send it to you.
I don't think most people can appreciate how fast these cars are on a technical circuit till they see it live. Really stunning what very restrictive chassis rules and 300ish hp can do when developed as a package by top grade expert teams. They turned stunning times last year, can't wait till this year!
@Robert Sothmann It also amazes me how little aero they are running. I guess that may be why they are bouncing around all over the place.
@Robert Sothmann It also amazes me how little aero they are running. I guess that may be why they are bouncing around all over the place.
@Robert Sothmann It also amazes me how little aero they are running. I guess that may be why they are bouncing around all over the place.
@bakayaru @Larry Awesome, thanks!
@bakayaru @Larry Awesome, thanks!
@bakayaru @Larry Awesome, thanks!
Funny enough, we have the USTCC currently ongoing, but they cannot get more than 20 spectators to show up and not a whiff of any coverage in any print, digital or video media in Ajmerica. Way to support!!!!
Great to see WTCC come through and show us what real race cars look like and the highest level. Let's hope we get regular visits in the future and please, support US Touring Cars Championship!
Funny enough, we have the USTCC currently ongoing, but they cannot get more than 20 spectators to show up and not a whiff of any coverage in any print, digital or video media in Ajmerica. Way to support!!!!
Great to see WTCC come through and show us what real race cars look like and the highest level. Let's hope we get regular visits in the future and please, support US Touring Cars Championship!
Funny enough, we have the USTCC currently ongoing, but they cannot get more than 20 spectators to show up and not a whiff of any coverage in any print, digital or video media in Ajmerica. Way to support!!!!
Great to see WTCC come through and show us what real race cars look like and the highest level. Let's hope we get regular visits in the future and please, support US Touring Cars Championship!
I was there on Sunday ! WTCC is sick. USTCC was very cool too. I loved the grassroots feel to USTCC and feel they deserve more coverage.
I was there on Sunday ! WTCC is sick. USTCC was very cool too. I loved the grassroots feel to USTCC and feel they deserve more coverage.
I was there on Sunday ! WTCC is sick. USTCC was very cool too. I loved the grassroots feel to USTCC and feel they deserve more coverage.
@D1RGE EXE I would like to respond to this. IMO, nobody even knew that USTCC will also be racing as well. WTCC paid the track and for the advertisement to promote their event. USTCC did not. so I think theres a reason behind why theres no coverage. but I highly doubt that. I even took a bunch of USTCC cars on the paddock. so to say nobody took notice to USTCC is not really true, of course IMO.
@ApexHunter
On the note of the USTCC, looks like they are getting a bit of a boost. http://www.fiawtcc.com/news/detail/id/318
Fantastic shots of one of my favorite racing series, hope to see a nice blog from you.
@KBR From what I could gather, the USTCC is FIA also. Wierd, it would be fantastic if our own series got bigger
Nice to see more Touring Car and GT coverage in speedhunters