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2013 Hring - WTCC and AutoGP


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#1 Forma1

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Posted 06 May 2013 - 17:53

I would like to give you the an insight about what happened at Hungaroring this weekend when the WTCC/EuroSeries/AutoGP gathered for another round. I was sitting at turn one for most of the time cos this is the best place to follow the action. The grandstands opposite the paddock is not bad either you can follow pit lane activities, but if anything happens at the twisty Hungaroring it is always the first corner. I will sum it up in points:

-the Hungarian fans are clearly the most passionate in the world of WTCC, they are all desperately and passionately cheering for local hero, Norbi. As Hungary hasn't got a rich history in motorsport, although it has Gabor Talmacsi, the 2007 125 World Champion, Csaba Kesjár (died in an accident after a promising start to his career), Zsolt Baumgartner. Norbi is the first Hungarian to shine at the highest level in a car, so it doesn't really throw up any suprises he is considered as a local matador.

-Euro Series is a kind of endurance series with cars reminiscent of the cars in WEC. There are only six cars lining up so you can't really expect too much of an action out there.

-Kiss Pál Tamás was dropped from GP3. He outqualified his team mates last year, but he couldn't find enough sponsors so he decided to give it up and fully concentrate on September when the World Series by Renault will visit the Hungarian track. So this weekend it was just a one-round tour at Auto GP, although I wouln't be suprised if he got an offer. He was very fast over one lap, in race one he was driving beautifully until his team failed at his pit stop, in race two he messed it up at the start which was decisive over the outcome.

-Kumho suplies AutoGP, Yokohama supplies WTCC, so some adverstising board had to be rechanged on Sunday between the different races.

-in Auto GP I was impressed by Tamas and Ghirelli. The second man was utterly strong, he was the only one who was able to nurse the tyres over the course of the races. Tamas was very smart, the new tyres were tricky to get up to temperatures cos tyre warmer blankets are banned in Auto GP, so Tamas was very cautious in the practices and the qualy in the first three lap and his third flying lap was the first one when he started pushing.

-in WTCC Norbi was always up there, Muller was a bit faster in qualy and race one, in the second race he was hit by Gabriele so he had to settle in for some points.

-it is quite interesting how tricky the first corner can be. Whatever racing car you have it is very though to find the right braking point coming into the first corner. Drivers usually can choose from two options: you can stick closely to the kerbs, therefore you travel shorter line or you can mess it up on entry, travel a bit longer mid-corner, but then you can focus on accelerating.

-WTCC: Honda was experimenting with some clever engine mappings, I guess. There were some flames coming out of the exhaust pipes under braking, I think they try to make the rear stable under braking.

-The track was cleared after all races on Sunday

-Gabriele' accident was rather heavy, he spent the night at a hospital, he was released this morning

-Honda with the three cars were set to test from Monday till Tuesday but it was cancelled because of Gabriele's injuries and the two factory Hondas need to be rebuilt.

-you can always measure how smart a driver is by the way he can change his driving style and lines according the situations may it be the track conditions or the duels on the track. Coronel and Norbi were the ones I was the most impressed in that respect. Norbi was trying to straighten his entry line into the first corner and carry a bit more speed on the way down to the second corner when he was chasing down Muller. Coronell was doing the same in the second race when he was involved in a load of hard fights.

You can check a couple of pixs on my facebbok site:
http://www.facebook....5...7934&type=3

http://www.facebook....5...7934&type=3

They are not profi photos, but fan-made-photos are always fascinating cos you can explore spectacular views of the track and the surroundigs of it with them.
I hope you like them.

Edited by Forma1, 06 May 2013 - 17:59.


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#2 Risil

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Posted 06 May 2013 - 20:39

Norbi is the first Hungarian to shine at the highest level in a car


Not even László Hartmann? :)

Thanks for the post btw. When I was on holiday in Budapest last year I was surprised to see posters with Kiss's face on them. Bit of a shame that circuit on Lake Balaton never got built in the end.

Edited by Risil, 06 May 2013 - 20:40.


#3 BRG

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Posted 06 May 2013 - 20:48

Not even László Hartmann? :)

Or Attila Ferjáncz in rallying?

#4 scheivlak

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Posted 06 May 2013 - 21:44

Thanks for the report!

From what I've seen, Ghirelli indeed showed a lot of promise and watching Tommie Coronel trying to get everything out of his car is always fun.