Event details

The 2015 FIA World Touring Car Championship gets underway with the WTCC Race of Argentina from 6-8 March when a packed grid of TC1 cars will compete for honours in front of an estimated 50,000 fans. Local hero and reigning champion José María López has won three of the four WTCC races held at Autódromo Termas De Río Hondo and will be among the favourites for victory in the two races, which will be televised live around the world. The Argentine is one of five drivers representing Citroën where his team-mates include four-time WTCC champion Yvan Muller and Sébastien Loeb, world rally champion on nine occasions. Honda’s factory team consists of Tiago Monteiro and Gabriele Tarquini, while Rob Huff and James Thompson will give LADA’s all-new Vesta TC1 its WTCC debut. Several privateer drivers will compete for the Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy, while a total of 12 nations will be represented.

Lap distance:	4.806km
Race distance:	2 x 13 laps / 62.478km
Location:	Termas De Río Hondo, Santiago Del Estero, Argentina
Press officer:	Juan Cruz Mathus – tel. +54 935 16781332, email: mathus@proclamation.com.ar
Airports:	Tucuman (87km); Santiago Del Estero (65km)
Lap records:	Qualifying – 1:43.766/168.73kph, José María López (Citroën C-Elysée), 2 August 2014 Race – 1:45.926/163.34kph, José María López (Citroën C-Elysée), 3 August 2014

WTCC RACE OF ARGENTINA ROLL OF HONOUR

	Race 1	Race 2
2013	Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze)	José María López (BMW 320 TC)
2014	José María López (Citroën C-Elysée)	José María López (Citroën C-Elysée)

DID YOU KNOW?

11 May 2008 – Following its build in 2007, the first race takes place at Autódromo Termas De Río Hondo. Four years later the circuit will undergo a complete overhaul under the gaze of Italian track designer Jarno Zaffelli.

4 August 2013 – The WTCC visits Termas De Río Hondo for the first time and Argentine José María López makes a huge impact on a one-off WTCC appearance by winning the second of two races. His performance would earn him a drive with the factory Citroën team for 2014.

3 August 2014 – Former WTCC champion Rob Huff makes history for LADA by leading race two for eight laps before going on to take the make’s first WTCC podium in second place behind local hero José María López, who wins both races for Citroën.

WTCC TIMETABLE

Thursday 5 March

17.00 – 17.30: Family photograph with all WTCC cars and drivers (start/finish straight)

Friday 6 March

08.00 – 18.00: Media accreditation open (accreditation tent)

08.00 – 19.00: Media Centre open

10.00 – 10.30: Testing

15.30 – 16.30: Happy Hour (WTCC VIP Club)

Saturday 7 March

08.00 – 17.00: Media accreditation open (accreditation tent)

08.00 – 20.00: Media Centre open

08.45 – 09.15: Free Practice 1

11.00 – 11.30: Free Practice 2

15.00 – 15.20: Qualifying Q1

15.05 – 15.20: Qualifying Q2

15.40 – 16.00: Qualifying Q3

16.10 (est): Post-qualifying press conference (Media Centre)

Sunday, 11 May

08.00 – 12.00: Media accreditation open (accreditation tent)

08.00 – until last journalist leaves: Media Centre open

10.30: FIA Action for Road Safety WTCC drivers photo (start/finish straight)

14.50: Pit lane open

15.00: Pit lane closed

15.10: Five-minute board displayed

15.15: Race 1 (13 laps)

15.55: Race 1 podium ceremony

16.00: Refuelling time starts

16.05: Repair time starts

16.10: Pit lane open

16.20: Pit lane closed

16.25: Five-minute board displayed

16.30: Race 2 (13 laps)

17.10: Race 2 podium ceremony

17.20 (est): Post-race press conference (Media Centre)

FIA OFFICIALS

Chairman of the Stewards:	Silvia Bellot (ESP)
2nd International Steward:	Rod Parkin (GBR)
Race Director:	Miroslav Bartos (CZE)
Assistant to the Race Director:	Rui Marques (PRT)
Medical Delegate:	Alain Chantegret (FRA)
Technical Delegate:	Manuel Leal (ESP)
Press Delegate:	Richard Rodgers (GBR)
Chief Timekeeper:	Sébastien Mascret (FRA)
Incident Camera Delegate:	Lionel Bérard (FRA)
Safety Car Driver:	Bruno Correia (PRT)
FIA Coordinator:	Olivier Steveny (BEL)

FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

The provisional classification will be available at www.fiawtcc.com

FIA WTCC RACE OF ARGENTINA

Results of each track session will be available at www.fiawtcc.com