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2011 FIA WTCC Race of Italy

The 2011 FIA WTCC Race of Italy was the third round of the 2011 World Touring Car Championship season and the seventh running of the FIA WTCC Race of Italy. It was held on 15 May 2011 at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Monza, Italy.

Italy 2011 FIA WTCC Race of Italy
Race details
Date15 May, 2011
LocationMonza, Italy
CourseAutodromo Nazionale di Monza
5.793 kilometres (3.600 mi)
Race One
Laps 9
Pole position
Driver United Kingdom Robert Huff Chevrolet RML
Time 1:59.034
Podium
First United Kingdom Robert Huff Chevrolet RML
Second France Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML
Third Portugal Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering
Fastest Lap
Driver France Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML
Time 1:59.960
Race Two
Laps 9
Podium
First United Kingdom Robert Huff Chevrolet RML
Second France Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML
Third Denmark Kristian Poulsen Liqui Moly Team Engstler
Fastest Lap
Driver France Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML
Time 1:59.355

Both races were won by Robert Huff of Chevrolet RML. Kristian Poulsen claimed his maiden WTCC podium finish in race two when he finished third.

Background

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After the previous round in Belgium, Huff was leading the drivers' championship by one point over Chevrolet team mate Alain Menu. Poulsen was leading the Yokohama Independents' Trophy.

Turkish driver Ibrahim Okyay returned to championship driving a Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport run naturally aspirated BMW 320si, having last competed in the 2008 season.[1]

Report

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Testing and free practice

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Yvan Muller set the pace in Thursday's opening test session, beating the BMWs of Poulsen and Tom Coronel. SUNRED Engineering did not take part in the session having run their own private test the previous day.[2]

Huff topped the opening free practice session on Saturday morning, a tenth quicker than the SEAT of Gabriele Tarquini. Franz Engstler ended up in the gravel trap at the parabolica during the session.[3]

Muller led a Chevrolet 1–2–3–4 in the final free practice session, leading Huff, Menu and the independent Chevrolet Cruze of Darryl O'Young. Marchy Lee lost control of his DeTeam KK Motorsport BMW 320 TC at Lesmo and collided with the barriers, while Mehdi Bennani spun himself into the gravel at the same corner.[3]

Qualifying

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Huff continued his dominance of qualifying in 2011 to take his third pole position of the season, edging out team–mates Muller and Menu to lead a Chevrolet 1–2–3. Huff set his best lap in Q1 after the checkered flag fell, putting him ninth and into the second session. Tiago Monteiro was tenth in Q1 to take pole position for race two.

Muller set the pace at the start of Q2 but Huff went quickest on his first flying lap. Behind the Chevrolet trio, Michelisz lined up fourth alongside Menu on the second row as the leading independent driver. Monteiro, O'Young, Poulsen, Coronel, Bennani and Tarquini completed the top ten. Tarquini was taken to the medical centre for checks after the session when the left window in his car shattered.[4]

Warm-Up

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Warm–up took place on a damp track on Sunday morning, pole sitter Huff set the fastest time. Some drivers found the conditions tricky and took the first corner escape road, while Monteiro was called to the stewards' office for cutting a corner in sector three on his best lap.[5]

Race One

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Huff had led from pole position and was followed by Muller and Menu. A gap left by Muller towards the end of the first lap allowed Menu to take second place and the Swiss driver then set about catching the leader. Later on in the race, Muller was catching Menu and on the last lap the pair collided. Muller tagged Menu's car sending the second placed car into one of the barriers on the final lap. This left the last podium position open, Michelisz was running third but Monteiro got a better run through the last corner and by the line, Monteiro came out three–hundredths of a second ahead. Huff, Muller and Monteiro filled the podium places with Michelisz fourth as the winning independent and Coronel fifth. Yokohama Trophy leader Poulsen was sixth. The Lukoil-SUNRED pair of Tarquini and Aleksei Dudukalo were the only retirements.[6]

Race Two

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Monteiro started on the reversed grid pole but race one winner Huff passed him at the start to lead into the first corner. He was followed by Muller, who later bumped into the rear of Huff's car under braking for the Parabolica. The contact meant Huff got out of shape but stayed on track. Muller was shown the bad sportsmanship flag after the incident. Huff and Muller made it a Chevrolet 1–2 for both races and Poulsen took third and his first podium finish in the WTCC, Coronel had been in contention for the position until he slowed with a delaminated tyre. Monteiro ended up fourth and Menu was fifth having started the race from the back. Coronel ended the race fifteenth.[7]

After the race, Muller was given a ten–place grid penalty, suspended for two rounds for causing the collision with Huff.[8]

Results

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Qualifying

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Pos. No. Name Team Car C Q1 Q2
1 2   Robert Huff Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 2:00.515 1:59.034
2 1   Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 2:00.382 1:59.131
3 8   Alain Menu Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 2:00.279 1:59.433
4 5   Norbert Michelisz Zengő-Dension Team BMW 320 TC Y 1:59.961 1:59.458
5 18   Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI 2:00.549 1:59.574
6 9   Darryl O'Young bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 2:00.030 1:59.866
7 11   Kristian Poulsen Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 2:00.005 2:00.010
8 15   Tom Coronel ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC 1:59.907 2:00.244
9 25   Mehdi Bennani Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y 2:00.287 2:00.930
10 3   Gabriele Tarquini Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI 2:00.511 2:01.073
11 20   Javier Villa Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y 2:00.803
12 74   Pepe Oriola SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 2:00.861
13 12   Franz Engstler Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 2:00.912
14 17   Michel Nykjær SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 2:00.971
15 10   Yukinori Taniguchi bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 2:01.534
16 30   Robert Dahlgren Polestar Racing Volvo C30 2:01.823
17 7   Fredy Barth SEAT Swiss Racing by SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 2:02.008
18 4   Aleksei Dudukalo Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 2:02.009
19 65   Marchy Lee DeTeam KK Motorsport BMW 320 TC Y 2:04.088
20 35   Urs Sonderegger Wiechers-Sport BMW 320 TC Y 2:04.682
21 13   Ibrahim Okyay Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport BMW 320si Y 2:04.790
22 21   Fabio Fabiani Proteam Racing BMW 320si Y 2:08.789

Race 1

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Pos. No. Name Team Car C Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 2   Robert Huff Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 9 18:07.398 1 25
2 1   Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 9 +1.291 2 18
3 18   Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI 9 +4.239 5 15
4 5   Norbert Michelisz Zengő-Dension Team BMW 320 TC Y 9 +4.269 4 12
5 15   Tom Coronel ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC 9 +4.499 8 10
6 11   Kristian Poulsen Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 9 +5.509 7 8
7 9   Darryl O'Young bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 9 +10.506 6 6
8 20   Javier Villa Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y 9 +10.798 11 4
9 12   Franz Engstler Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 9 +11.492 13 2
10 7   Fredy Barth SEAT Swiss Racing by SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 9 +15.366 17 1
11 25   Mehdi Bennani Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y 9 +18.439 9
12 17   Michel Nykjær SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 9 +18.873 14
13 10   Yukinori Taniguchi bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 9 +19.286 15
14 74   Pepe Oriola SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 9 +20.070 12
15 30   Robert Dahlgren Polestar Racing Volvo C30 9 +30.709 16
16 13   Ibrahim Okyay Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport BMW 320si Y 9 +58.046 21
17 35   Urs Sonderegger Wiechers-Sport BMW 320 TC Y 9 +59.018 20
18 21   Fabio Fabiani Proteam Racing BMW 320si Y 9 +1:25.422 22
19 8   Alain Menu Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 8 +1 Lap 3
20 65   Marchy Lee DeTeam KK Motorsport BMW 320 TC Y 8 +1 Lap 19
Ret 3   Gabriele Tarquini Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI 5 Race incident 10
Ret 4   Aleksei Dudukalo Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 2 Race incident 18
  • Bold denotes Fastest lap.

Race 2

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Pos. No. Name Team Car C Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 2   Robert Huff Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 9 18:10.032 2 25
2 1   Yvan Muller Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 9 +0.242 4 18
3 11   Kristian Poulsen Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 9 +3.559 8 15
4 18   Tiago Monteiro SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI 9 +6.211 1 12
5 8   Alain Menu Chevrolet RML Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 9 +8.896 6 10
6 9   Darryl O'Young bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 9 +10.089 7 8
7 5   Norbert Michelisz Zengő-Dension Team BMW 320 TC Y 9 +10.780 9 6
8 20   Javier Villa Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y 9 +11.054 11 4
9 12   Franz Engstler Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320 TC Y 9 +11.056 13 2
10 3   Gabriele Tarquini Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI 9 +12.800 3 1
11 10   Yukinori Taniguchi bamboo-engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Y 9 +19.420 15
12 74   Pepe Oriola SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 9 +21.519 12
13 30   Robert Dahlgren Polestar Racing Volvo C30 9 +23.532 16
14 65   Marchy Lee DeTeam KK Motorsport BMW 320 TC Y 9 +27.912 19
15 15   Tom Coronel ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC 9 +28.095 10
16 13   Ibrahim Okyay Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport BMW 320si Y 9 +48.069 21
17 35   Urs Sonderegger Wiechers-Sport BMW 320 TC Y 9 +52.972 20
18 21   Fabio Fabiani Proteam Racing BMW 320si Y 9 +1:27.890 22
19 7   Fredy Barth SEAT Swiss Racing by SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 7 +2 Laps 17
20 25   Mehdi Bennani Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC Y 7 +2 Laps 5
Ret 4   Aleksei Dudukalo Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 1 Race incident 18
DNS 17   Michel Nykjær SUNRED Engineering SEAT León 2.0 TDI Y 0 Did not start 14
  • Bold denotes Fastest lap.

Standings after the event

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  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of drivers' standings.

References

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  1. ^ Hudson, Neil (29 April 2011). "Ibrahim Okyay to join Monza grid". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  2. ^ Hudson, Neil (12 May 2011). "Yvan Muller fastest at Monza test day". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  3. ^ a b Allen, Peter (14 May 2011). "Huff And Muller Top Monza Practice For Chevrolet". The Checkered Flag. BlackEagleMedia Network. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  4. ^ Allen, Peter (14 May 2011). "Huff Continues Pole Streak In Chevrolet 1-2-3 At Monza". The Checkered Flag. BlackEagleMedia Network. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  5. ^ Hudson, Neil (15 May 2011). "Huff leads damp warm-up at damp Monza". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  6. ^ Glendenning, Mark (15 May 2011). "Huff wins thrilling first Monza race". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  7. ^ Glendenning, Mark (15 May 2011). "Huff completes Monza double". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  8. ^ Hudson, Neil (15 May 2011). "Yvan Muller given suspended penalty". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
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World Touring Car Championship
Previous race:
2011 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium
2011 World Touring Car Championship season Next race:
2011 FIA WTCC Race of Hungary
Previous race:
2010 FIA WTCC Race of Italy
FIA WTCC Race of Italy Next race:
2012 FIA WTCC Race of Italy