Series FIA Gala news

YVAN MULLER CROWNED AT THE FIA GALA

Last night Yvan Muller and Chevrolet were been officially named 2010 FIA World Touring Car champions during the traditional FIA prize giving gala in Monaco.

In the sumptuous setting of the Sporting d'Ete's Salle des Etoiles, the FIA honoured all its champions. In a progression from Karting to Formula One, the FIA World Touring Car Championship's prize giving took place between the FIA GT1's and the World Rally Championship's.

After SR-Sport's Gabriele Tarquini and Muller's team-mate Rob Huff - second and third in the championship respectively - had received the runner up trophies, the curtain rose unveiling Muller and Chevrolet Motorsport director Eric Nève standing on the stage, with the Chevrolet Cruze winning car between them.

Yvan Muller was awarded the Drivers' World Champion's trophy for the second time, after the title he won in 2008 for SEAT, while Nève collected Chevrolet's first Manufacturers' Championship trophy.

GUANGDONG TO HOST WTCC RACE OF CHINA

The first ever FIA WTCC event in Mainland China will take place at the Guangdong International Circuit, on November 6, 2011.

GIC is located between the cities of Zhaoqing and Sanshui, some 40 km North East of Guangzhou, China's third largest city and capital of the Guangdong province.

The circuit was inaugurated in 2009, with modern facilities and a 2.8 km racetrack. Last week it hosted the final meeting of the China Touring Car Championship that in 2011 will share the stage with the FIA World Championship during the WTCC Race of China event.

Marcello Lotti, promoter of the WTCC said: "When we launched the WTCC, reaching the Asian market was one of our priorities. The first step was to include in our calendar a traditional and very popular event like the Macau Grand Prix, then we added Japan and now we are pleased to crown this approach with the further addition of an event in Mainland China. On top of this we are extremely happy to share the event with the China Touring Car Championship. Not only will this enhance the local promotion, but it will also reinforce ours and the Chinese promoter's will to work in a close cooperation in establishing common strategies for the future."

TOURING CAR PROMOTERS MEET IN MONACO

Promoters representing 16 different touring car championships worldwide attended a round table in Monaco on December 8th / 9th and laid the foundations for a Touring Car Promoter Association that would help to establish common strategies for the future.

On the second day the promoters met car manufacturers' representatives for an exhaustive exchange of views on touring car racing.

The round table was organized by Marcello Lotti, promoter of the FIA World Touring Car Championship and European Touring Car Cup: "The aim was to gather information about the current situation in the different series worldwide and identify some common goals and strategies. I am very pleased with the outcome, as all participants expressed the will to work together for globalizing the concept of touring car racing."

The promoters who joined Lotti at the round table, in person or by proxy, represented touring car championships from Asia, Bahrain, Baltic States, Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Thailand.

"Some others were not able to join due to previous commitments or because weather conditions affected their flight schedule. However they have showed strong interest and approved the principles of forming an Association. We have been asked to provide a report of the meeting from promoters of touring car series in Argentina, Belgium, China, Emirates, Japan, Turkey and the United States. This was a starting point and now we are looking forward to fix further meetings. " Lotti concluded.

-source: wtcc