Less than one week after the FIA World Touring Car Championship races in Slovakia, Polestar Cyan Racing are set and ready for the third race weekend of 2016 at the Hungaroring in Hungary.
Five fast facts
•Hungaroring is one of the most popular events on the WTCC calendar with packed stands
• Polestar Cyan Racing raced at Hungaroring in 2011 with Robert Dahlgren qualifying 6th
• The circuit has been repaved for 2016 meaning that lap records likely will be broken
• Hungaroring has hosted Formula 1 races since 1986
• The WTCC cars average over 140 km/h at the twisty Hungaroring
Drivers Thed Björk and Fredrik Ekblom had a promising but tough weekend in Slovakia, with Ekblom providing a masterly drive up through the field to finish in the points from the back of the grid.
"We had a strong and valuable weekend in Slovakia despite some issues. I got my car over the finish line in one piece, we got points and a lot of data, strengthening us for what is to come. We still have a lot to improve and it is great to be back behind the wheel this soon again," said Ekblom.
Four-time STCC champion Björk was just 0.059 seconds from making it to the final qualifying session, Q3, for the first time ever in the team's second only WTCC race weekend of 2016.
"It is just awesome to get going again and especially at Hungaroring, a legendary circuit for all racing fans. This circuit is completely different to what we have raced on so far this year, so we will get a lot of new data to continue our journey on," said Björk.
The twisty and technical Hungaroring will provide a completely different challenge compared to the fast and flowing Slovakiaring last weekend, meaning yet a new challenge for the team.
"We are extremely excited to come to Hungaroring, the closest to a world cup football final in terms of atmosphere. This is a circuit where we have raced before, meaning that we have some data to build on compared to the previous races," said Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Head of Motorsport at Polestar.
The WTCC weekend in Hungary starts on Friday with testing, followed by free practice and qualifying on Saturday, with the two races of 16 and 17 laps each on Sunday.
The race weekend is broadcasted live on Eurosport, with inside live commentary from the team on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cyanracing
If you missed the WTCC race in Slovakia, do not miss our quick recap:
WTCC Race of Hungary
Circuit: Hungaroring
Length: 4381 m
Lap record (WTCC): 1:50.119, Muller
Schedule
(Times in CET)
Friday 22/4
12:30 Testing (30 min)
Saturday 23/4
09:45 Free Practice 1 (30 min)
12:15 Free Practice 2 (30 min)
16:00 Qualifying Q1 (20 min)
16:25 Qualifying Q2 (10 min)
16:40 Qualifying Q3 (20 min)
Sunday 24/4
14:15 Race 1 (16 laps)
17:15 Race 2 (17 laps)
Championship standings
Drivers
1 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic 77 pts
2 José María López Citroën C-Elysée 76 (-1)
3 Norbert Michelisz Honda Civic 52 (-25)
4 Rob Huff Honda Civic 49 (-28)
5 Mehdi Bennani Citroën C-Elysée 48 (-29)
…
11 Fredrik Ekblom Volvo S60 7 (-70)
12 Thed Björk Volvo S60 6 (-71)
Manufacturers
1 Honda 167 pts
2 Citroën 164 (-3)
3 Lada 89 (-78)
4 Polestar 30 (-137)
TV Schedule
International: https://www.fiawtcc.com/watch-it-on-tv/
Online: http://www.eurosportplayer.com/
2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship Entry List
No - Driver - Team - Car
2 - Gabriele Tarquini - Lada Sport Rosneft - Lada Vesta WTCC
3 - Tom Chilton - Sébastien Loeb Racing - Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
5 - Norbert Michelisz - Honda Racing Team JAS - Honda Civic WTCC
7 - Hugo Valente - Lada Sport Rosneft - Lada Vesta WTCC
9 - Tom Coronel - ROAL Motorsport - Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1
10 - Nicky Catsburg - Lada Sport Rosneft - Lada Vesta WTCC
11 - Grégoire Demoustier - Sébastien Loeb Racing - Citroën C-Elysée
12 - Rob Huff - Honda World Touring Car Team - Honda Civic WTCC
18 - Tiago Monteiro - Honda World Touring Car Team - Honda Civic
25 - Mehdi Bennani - Sébastien Loeb Racing - Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
27 - John Filippi - Campos Racing - Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1
37 - José María López - Citroën Racing - Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
55 - Ferenc Ficza - Zengo Motorsport - Honda Civic WTCC
61 - Fredrik Ekblom - Polestar Cyan Racing - Volvo S60 TC1
62 - Thed Björk - Polestar Cyan Racing - Volvo S60 TC1
68 - Yvan Muller - Citroën Racing - Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
77 - René Münnich - Münnich Motorsport - Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1
89 - John Bryant-Meisner - Nika Racing - Chevrolet Cruze WTCC
99 - Dániel Nagy - Zengo Motorsport - Honda Civic WTCC
FIA World Touring Car Championship 2016 Calendar
1-3 April FIA WTCC Race of France (Circuit Paul Ricard)
15-17 April FIA WTCC Race of Slovakia (Slovakia Ring)
22-24 April FIA WTCC Race of Hungary (Hungaroring)
7-8 May FIA WTCC Race of Morocco (Moulay El Hassan, Marrakech) S
26-28 May FIA WTCC Race of Germany (Nürburgring Nordschleife)
10-12 June FIA WTCC Race of Russia (Moscow Raceway)
24-26 June FIA WTCC Race of Portugal (Circ. Intl. de Vila Real) S
5-7 August FIA WTCC Race of Argentina (Circ. Termas de Río Hondo)
2-4 September FIA WTCC Race of Japan (Twin Ring Motegi)
23-25 September FIA WTCC Race of China (Shanghai Intl. Circuit)
4-6 November FIA WTCC Race of Thailand (Chang International Circuit)
23-25 November FIA WTCC Race of Qatar (Losail International Circuit) N
S = Street race
N = Night Race
Five fast facts
•Hungaroring is one of the most popular events on the WTCC calendar with packed stands
• Polestar Cyan Racing raced at Hungaroring in 2011 with Robert Dahlgren qualifying 6th
• The circuit has been repaved for 2016 meaning that lap records likely will be broken
• Hungaroring has hosted Formula 1 races since 1986
• The WTCC cars average over 140 km/h at the twisty Hungaroring
Drivers Thed Björk and Fredrik Ekblom had a promising but tough weekend in Slovakia, with Ekblom providing a masterly drive up through the field to finish in the points from the back of the grid.
"We had a strong and valuable weekend in Slovakia despite some issues. I got my car over the finish line in one piece, we got points and a lot of data, strengthening us for what is to come. We still have a lot to improve and it is great to be back behind the wheel this soon again," said Ekblom.
Four-time STCC champion Björk was just 0.059 seconds from making it to the final qualifying session, Q3, for the first time ever in the team's second only WTCC race weekend of 2016.
"It is just awesome to get going again and especially at Hungaroring, a legendary circuit for all racing fans. This circuit is completely different to what we have raced on so far this year, so we will get a lot of new data to continue our journey on," said Björk.
The twisty and technical Hungaroring will provide a completely different challenge compared to the fast and flowing Slovakiaring last weekend, meaning yet a new challenge for the team.
"We are extremely excited to come to Hungaroring, the closest to a world cup football final in terms of atmosphere. This is a circuit where we have raced before, meaning that we have some data to build on compared to the previous races," said Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Head of Motorsport at Polestar.
The WTCC weekend in Hungary starts on Friday with testing, followed by free practice and qualifying on Saturday, with the two races of 16 and 17 laps each on Sunday.
The race weekend is broadcasted live on Eurosport, with inside live commentary from the team on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cyanracing
If you missed the WTCC race in Slovakia, do not miss our quick recap:
WTCC Race of Hungary
Circuit: Hungaroring
Length: 4381 m
Lap record (WTCC): 1:50.119, Muller
Schedule
(Times in CET)
Friday 22/4
12:30 Testing (30 min)
Saturday 23/4
09:45 Free Practice 1 (30 min)
12:15 Free Practice 2 (30 min)
16:00 Qualifying Q1 (20 min)
16:25 Qualifying Q2 (10 min)
16:40 Qualifying Q3 (20 min)
Sunday 24/4
14:15 Race 1 (16 laps)
17:15 Race 2 (17 laps)
Championship standings
Drivers
1 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic 77 pts
2 José María López Citroën C-Elysée 76 (-1)
3 Norbert Michelisz Honda Civic 52 (-25)
4 Rob Huff Honda Civic 49 (-28)
5 Mehdi Bennani Citroën C-Elysée 48 (-29)
…
11 Fredrik Ekblom Volvo S60 7 (-70)
12 Thed Björk Volvo S60 6 (-71)
Manufacturers
1 Honda 167 pts
2 Citroën 164 (-3)
3 Lada 89 (-78)
4 Polestar 30 (-137)
TV Schedule
International: https://www.fiawtcc.com/watch-it-on-tv/
Online: http://www.eurosportplayer.com/
2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship Entry List
No - Driver - Team - Car
2 - Gabriele Tarquini - Lada Sport Rosneft - Lada Vesta WTCC
3 - Tom Chilton - Sébastien Loeb Racing - Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
5 - Norbert Michelisz - Honda Racing Team JAS - Honda Civic WTCC
7 - Hugo Valente - Lada Sport Rosneft - Lada Vesta WTCC
9 - Tom Coronel - ROAL Motorsport - Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1
10 - Nicky Catsburg - Lada Sport Rosneft - Lada Vesta WTCC
11 - Grégoire Demoustier - Sébastien Loeb Racing - Citroën C-Elysée
12 - Rob Huff - Honda World Touring Car Team - Honda Civic WTCC
18 - Tiago Monteiro - Honda World Touring Car Team - Honda Civic
25 - Mehdi Bennani - Sébastien Loeb Racing - Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
27 - John Filippi - Campos Racing - Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1
37 - José María López - Citroën Racing - Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
55 - Ferenc Ficza - Zengo Motorsport - Honda Civic WTCC
61 - Fredrik Ekblom - Polestar Cyan Racing - Volvo S60 TC1
62 - Thed Björk - Polestar Cyan Racing - Volvo S60 TC1
68 - Yvan Muller - Citroën Racing - Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
77 - René Münnich - Münnich Motorsport - Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1
89 - John Bryant-Meisner - Nika Racing - Chevrolet Cruze WTCC
99 - Dániel Nagy - Zengo Motorsport - Honda Civic WTCC
FIA World Touring Car Championship 2016 Calendar
1-3 April FIA WTCC Race of France (Circuit Paul Ricard)
15-17 April FIA WTCC Race of Slovakia (Slovakia Ring)
22-24 April FIA WTCC Race of Hungary (Hungaroring)
7-8 May FIA WTCC Race of Morocco (Moulay El Hassan, Marrakech) S
26-28 May FIA WTCC Race of Germany (Nürburgring Nordschleife)
10-12 June FIA WTCC Race of Russia (Moscow Raceway)
24-26 June FIA WTCC Race of Portugal (Circ. Intl. de Vila Real) S
5-7 August FIA WTCC Race of Argentina (Circ. Termas de Río Hondo)
2-4 September FIA WTCC Race of Japan (Twin Ring Motegi)
23-25 September FIA WTCC Race of China (Shanghai Intl. Circuit)
4-6 November FIA WTCC Race of Thailand (Chang International Circuit)
23-25 November FIA WTCC Race of Qatar (Losail International Circuit) N
S = Street race
N = Night Race
