Elsewhere in the field, Ford are looking to build on their new found reliability having grabbed their first points of the season at
Silverstone, although a best of 17th place shows that further development is still needed. Nevertheless, the distinctively liveried Focus is gradually moving up the field and Hotfiel will be eager to build upon their meagre points tally at Imola, even if a top ten finish is still not just yet expected. The same cannot be said for the JAS Motorsport Honda’s though which have shown impressive mid-field pace. Despite their Japanese car, the team is very much Italian and Imola will be, like Alfa Romeo, another home race for them, with their local drivers Roberto Colciago and Adriano De Micheli determined to get their Accord Euro R into the top ten for the first time this year. Although Silverstone proved a disappointment following a couple of on track skirmishes, JAS have been on the fringes of the top ten all year and hopes are high that they will be able to break their points duck at Imola.
Adding to the already fierce competition, no less than 32 cars are set to line-up on the Imola grid thanks to the addition of the Italian Superturismo Championship with Alessandro Zanardi out to defend his lead. Up against a brace of BMWs, including that of Stefano Valli, plus the Alfa Romeo of Salvatore Tavano and even the SEAT of Alessandro Balzan, Zanardi, who is celebrating after winning the 'Comeback of the Year award' at the Laureus World Sports ceremony, will be under intense pressure to perform against some very strong rivals.
Completing the grid is the equally tough Independents Trophy which continues to be led by Marc Hennerici, the German extending his lead at the expense of Tom Coronel who rather spectacularly caught fire at the end of the second Silverstone race. Having eased to victory in the first race, the reigning Independents champion was heading for a double victory until an engine failure intervened and forced the Dutchman to evacuate his Toledo as soon as he crossed the line. As well as a number of new cars in the shape of the Italian Superturismo competitors, the championship’s continental flavour will be further enhanced by the introduction of Carlos Mastretta who replaces Valle Makela and joins Coronel in the GR Asia SEAT. Hailing from Mexico, the 21 year-old debutant has been championed by
FIA WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti and will be racing at Imola in preparation for his home race at Puebla in a month’s time.
