Norbert Michelisz believes that qualifying will be the key for a successful weekend at the Shanghai Tianma circuit, which makes its debut in the FIA World Touring Car Championship this weekend, 5th/6th November.
Tianma is a late replacement for the Guangdong circuit and it is due to be the longest race of the season, with the race duration at 25 laps per race, and an average speed of around 100kph – the top speed will be around 180kph.
Michelisz said about the trip to Tianma for the penultimate weekend of the season: “The top speed is anticipated to be somewhere between 175 and 180 km/h. The average speed should be around 90-100 km/h so it is likely that it will be the longest race of the season. In order to succeed, it will be necessary to find a very good balance in the slow corners. There is hardly any spot for overtaking on the circuit so the qualification will be decisive again.”
Arriving in China, Michelisz currently sits eighth in the outright drivers’ Championship with 82 points while in the Yokohama Independents, the Zengo-Dension Motorsport driver in second to Kristian Poulsen, with an eleven point gap to make up on his Danish driver. Michelisz has 100 points with sixty six left to race for.
Ahead of the weekend, it was announced that the BMW 320TC which ‘Norbi’ drives will be given an extra 20kgs ballast, as per their performances over the last three weekends. This applies to all the BMW 320TC’s, and the Chevrolet Cruzes remain the heaviest cars.
Weekend Schedule:
Friday, 4 November:
Test: 06.00 – 06.30
Saturday, 5 November:
Practice 1: 01.10 – 01.40
Practice 2: 04.00 – 04.30
Qualifying 1: 07.15 – 07.35
Qualifying 2: 07.40 – 07.50
Sunday, 6 November:
Warm Up: 01.30 – 01.45
Race 1: 06.55 (25 Laps)
Race 2: 08.10 (25 Laps)