The FIA World Touring Car Championship begins its six-event tour of Europe next week (1-3 May) when the Hungaroring hosts the action. With Hungarian driver Norbert Michelisz established as one of the championship frontrunners, a near-capacity crowd is expected for MOL Group WTCC Race of Hungary. This season marks the country’s fifth appearance in the WTCC and coincides with confirmation that two Hungarian free-to-air terrestrial channels will televise both 14-lap races live, in addition to the live coverage on Eurosport and a number of other channels around the world. Reigning champion José María López leads the drivers’ standings by 17 points following wins in Argentina and Morocco. However, the Hungaroring was one of only three venues where López did not triumph during his record-breaking title-winning season in 2014. Nevertheless, his Citroën team was victorious in Hungary last season when Yvan Muller claimed top spot in race one and the four-time title winner arrives in Budapest on the back of winning race two in Morocco earlier this month. Honda will unleash a revamped version of its Civic WTCC in Hungary, where factory driver Tiago Monteiro scored a podium brace in 2014. LADA landed its first points of the season in Marrakech with its all-new Vesta.

Lap distance:     4.381km

Race distance:   2 x 14 laps / 61.33km

Location:          2146 Mogyoród, Versenypálya 0222/2/3/6, Hungary

Press officer:    Anita Toth, hgpmedia@hungaroring.hu, +36309621392

Airports:             Budapest (42km)

Lap records:       Qualifying – 1:48.727s/145.05kph, Yvan Muller (Citroën C-Elysée), 3 May 2014

                           Race – 1:50.119/143.22kph, Yvan Muller (Citroën C-Elysée), 4 May 2014

WTCC RACE OF HUNGARY ROLL OF HONOUR

                Race 1                                                                 Race 2

2011      Alain Menu (Chevrolet Cruze)                  Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze)

2012      Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze)                 Norbert Michelisz (BMW 320)

2013      Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze)                  Rob Huff (SEAT León)

2014      Yvan Muller (Citroën C-Elysée)                 Gianni Morbidelli (Chevrolet Cruze)

DID YOU KNOW? 

6 May 2011 – Norbert Michelisz became a national hero when he won race two in 2011 during the WTCC’s first visit to the Hungaroring.

5 May 2013 – Yvan Muller’s victory in 2013 was his third in a row. And he continued his run of success by making it four wins from four Hungaroring appearances in 2014.

4 May 2014 – Ex-Formula One driver Gianni Morbidelli scored his one and only WTCC win at the Hungaroring when he triumphed in the second race.

WTCC TIMETABLE

Friday 1 May

08.00 – 18.00:    Media accreditation open (circuit entrance)

08.00 – 20.00:    Media Centre open

18.30 – 19.00:    WTCC Shake Down

Saturday 2 May

08.00 – 17.00:    Media accreditation open (circuit entrance)

08.00 – 19.00:    Media Centre open

09.00 – 09.30:    WTCC Free Practice 1

11.30 – 12.00:    WTCC Free Practice 2

14.30 – 14.50:    WTCC Qualifying Q1

14.55 – 15.05:    WTCC Qualifying Q2

15.10:                 WTCC Qualifying Q3

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

17.15 – 18.15:    Happy Hour (WTCC VIP Club)

Sunday 3 May

08.00 – 12.00:    Media accreditation open (circuit entrance)

08.00 – until last journalist leaves:  Media Centre open

13.05:                   Pit lane open

13.15:                   Pit lane closed

13.25:                   Five-minute board displayed

13.30:                   WTCC Race 1 (14 laps)

14.05 (est):           WTCC Race 1 podium ceremony

14.10:                   Refuelling time starts

14.15:                   Repair time starts

14.20:                   Pit lane open

14.30:                   Pit lane closed

14.35:                   Five-minute board displayed

14.40:                   WTCC Race 2 (14 laps)

15.15 (est):           WTCC Race 2 podium ceremony

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

FIA OFFICIALS

Chairman of the Stewards:         Silvia Bellot (ESP)

2nd International Steward:        Tim Mayer (USA)

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.fia.com/events/world-touring-car-championship/season-2015/world-tour...

FIA WTCC RACE OF HUNGARY

Results of each track session will be available at www.fia.com/events/world-touring-car-championship-wtcc/season-2015/2015-...