FIA WTCC at the Nordschleife – “Fan-tastic”
18 May 2015

Thousands of motorsport fans, celebrated the special race weekend at the Nurburgring’s Nordschleife.

Both the FIA World Touring Car Championship as well as the ADAC 24hr race took place in the incomparable motor racing legendary track.

Months of preparation, tests, discussions, organisation and plenty more were fine-tuned to guarantee the safety of the drivers and general public as well as to ensure the spectacular racing which brings together so many people to the sport. The FIA WTCC returned to Germany in full force, after a spell of several years, no other setting could have been better prepared or as exciting to welcome the Championship which boasts the Japanese Tyre Manufacturer YOKOHAMA as its exclusive tyre supplier. 

The biggest winners in terms of the competition was Citroen with 2 wins, one by López in race 1, and a win by Muller in race 2, who had to work hard throughout the race to keep the Honda cars at bay. However this was not all the excitement the race brought, there was also drama and some cars having to abandon the race early due to collisions and mechanical issues, namely Hugo Valente who was very promising until he was forced to retire. Race 1 was a lights to flag victory for “Lightning López” who was in fantastic form and had started from pole position and never looked back. During the weekend he also amassed the YOKOHAMA performer honour, with the fastest lap.

Race 2 had Yvan Muller setting up his car for speed at the Nordschleife and although in full control and eventual winner suffered a little on the corners towards the end of the race. López, once again fiercely competitive came from a 10th starting position to achieve an incredible 2nd, in the home straight in the last lap. The last few metres of race 2 must have been agony to all Honda fans who saw how López overtook their heroes. However Thiago Monteiro who had fought bravely against the powerful Citroens, managed to finish in a meritorious third place just ahead of Honda team mate Gabrielle Tarquini.

The Race of Germany at the Nordschleife was very special. So much so, YOKOHAMA had also obtained special dispensation from the FIA to design a new softer compound tyre for the race, to enable the highest level of performance and safety as it is renowned for. “The Nurburgring is a special place with the potential for sudden changes in track and weather conditions, particularly rain,” said Yokohama Europe Communications Manager David Oliva. “We wanted to provide a tyre to the drivers that is suitable for these variations and ensures both the safety and high performance required. The drivers and teams have been very thankful for this option we offered.”

Before the race there were also additional opportunities to see and take photographs with the drivers and obtain some autographs. A driver’s parade was re-introduced at the Nurburgring, days prior to the race and a specially branded open truck, also celebrating YOKOHAMA’s tenth anniversary as tyre supplier of the Championship, delighted the many members of the public who visited the special race weekend.

López leads the Championship with a commanding advantage of 50 points over second qualified, Sebastien Loeb and Yvan Muller in third.

The Championship resumes from 5^th -7^th June with the race of Russia.