Autosportfoto

The WTCC’s F1 connections

The new FIA Formula One World Championship season began in Australia earlier today. Here are 10 things that link F1 to the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

Expert voices: Watch F1 coverage in Hungary and The Netherlands and you might get to hear Norbert Michelisz and Tom Coronel's expert commentary. The WTCC racers are regulars behind the microphone in their respective countries.

Podium visitor: Honda factory star Tiago Monteiro took part in 37 Formula One grands prix prior to his WTCC switch in 2007. A podium in the 2005 US Grand Prix at Indianapolis proved the highlight for the Portuguese ace.

Brothers in arms: While Tom Chilton was making a name for himself in the WTCC following his step up from the British Touring Car Championship, his younger brother Max was making 35 starts in F1 between 2013-2014.

Great tracks: The current WTCC calendar includes visits to two active F1 venues, Hungaroring and Monza, where the championship is returning following a three-year break.

Son of the famous: WTCC rookie Aurélien Panis is the son of Olivier Panis, famous for his exploits in Formula One - including his victory in the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix - and commentating on Eurosport France's coverage of the WTCC, no less.

Middle East finale: Like F1, the WTCC season concludes in the Middle East with Qatar hosting the WTCC action on 1 December.

When Loeb came close: Back in 2009, world rallying legend Sébastien Loeb was a super licence away from making a shock Formula One debut in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of that year, driving for Toro Rosso in place of compatriot Sébastien Bourdais. Successful tests for Red Bull and Renault was as good as it would get for Loeb, who was a race-winning WTCC driver in 2014 and 2015. He co-owns Sébastien Loeb Racing, which is entering three cars in this year's WTCC.

Racer turned WTCC team boss: While Loeb missed out on racing in Formula One, Adrián Campos is a veteran of 21 grands prix who also co-founded his own F1 team for the 2010 season. His Campos Racing organisation is a mainstay of the WTCC.

Moroccan milestone: This year's FIA WTCC AFRIQUIA coincides with the 60th anniversary of the first Moroccan Formula One grand prix, which took place at Casablanca in 1957.

Thirty years on: Gabriele Tarquini, WTCC champion in 2009, made his F1 debut 30 years ago, racing and retiring for Osella in the 1987 San Marino Grand Prix. He was still going strong in 2016 when he claimed the Opening Race honours for LADA in Qatar.

Zdroj: fiawtcc.com