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Temperature drop raises the challenge at WTCC Race of Argentina

Low ambient and track temperatures will add to the challenge facing the FIA World Touring Car Championship drivers at WTCC Race of Argentina this afternoon.

With the ambient temperature 13 degrees centigrade and the track temperature 16 degrees centigrade ahead of the Opening Race at Circuito Termas de Río Hondo, drivers and their engineers have had to make a host of set-up changes.

"The difference is massive," said Tom Chilton, who starts the Opening Race from the front row of the grid alongside Yann Ehrlacher. "I am actually nervous for the first time this year because I really don't know what's going to happen. I feel we're on a bit of a hot set-up but my engineer has assured me it's going to be really good and I'm going to win the race. And I trust him."

Chilton (pictured), who is driving a Citroën C-Elysée WTCC for Sébastien Loeb Racing, said the biggest challenge will be to maintain the pressure and temperature of his Yokohama tyres in the cold conditions.

"It's maintaining the pressure and temperature throughout the race and ultimately about the balance being correct," Chilton explained. "It needs to be the perfect amount of understeer and oversteer on all the corners. You've got such a big temperature shift, 20 degrees cooler track temperature than last year, so it's a big difference. Anything can happen."

The Opening Race begins at 15h00 local time and takes place over 11 laps with extensive live broadcasting around the world and across Argentina and South America.

Zdroj: fiawtcc.com