Excitement ahead of Monza
07 Mar 2012

The FIA World Touring Car Championship 2012 season which starts this weekend at the historical Monza race track promises to be full of excitement.  However the nerves of steel that make champions allowed the top two drivers from last season, Muller and Huff to take some time off to check out the latest in the automotive world at the Geneva Motor Show and visit YOKOHAMA’s newly designed booth only days away from the beginning of the season. World Champion Yvan Muller and runner-up Rob Huff were able to see at first hand the latest products from YOKOHAMA’s range of BluEarth, ADVAN and GEOLANDAR tyres as well as having the opportunity to meet Miss Yokohama Switzerland 2011/12 Miss Deborah Vanzin.

For its part, Japanese Tyre manufacturer YOKOHAMA continues its exclusive partnership with the FIA WTCC organisation to supply the official tyres of this world class event, which is growing in prestige and popularity and the number of car manufacturers expressing interest in participating.   

In addition to Ford Team Aon, who joins with a full team for the whole season, Lada Sport will take part in two races, Hungaroring and Estoril and the Honda Team has confirmed its participation in some of the Asian races towards the end of the season, as part of its exploratory programme to join the championship with a full team possibly in 2013.

The new season will also see the maximum distance of the races being increased to 60km, as opposed to 50km as in previous years.  This factor may prove decisive too in the teams planning and race strategy with the YOKOHAMA Tyres becoming even more influential in these longer races.

Current Champion Yvan Muller, will need to be at his best to fend off strong opposition particularly from his Chevrolet team mate and runner-up at last year’s championship, Rob Huff.  However it will not only be Huff who will aim high during the season as plenty of young blood has also joined the Championship with young British drivers, Tom Chilton and James Nash who following successful campaigns in the British Touring Car Championship now jump to the big boys league well supported by the Ford Team Aon and its new specification Ford Focus race cars.  Sparks will fly as they compete against the other youngsters from Spain, Villa and Oriola who experienced WTCC last year and are also promising talents, without forgetting the Italian newcomer Cerqui.  The battle, particularly for top places within the YOKOHAMA Trophy competition promises to be fierce.

Experienced drivers and former Champions such as Tarquini and Menu, as well as Coronel, Mischelisz and Dudukalo are also certain to make an impression during the 24 races that make up the 2012 WTCC season. This year competitors travel from Europe, Africa, then to South America and the US before heading to Asia for the final races ending in the ever exciting Macau urban track in China.  

For the first time too, the FIA ETCC European Touring Car Championship of which YOKOHAMA is also the official Tyre partner, will also be hosted at 3 WTCC events in Monza, Slovakia ring and Salzburg with the final race being held in Imola, Italy.