Yesterday saw the start of the 2007 FIA World Touring Car Championship season and fans watching the opening round in Brazil can expect many changes from the championship and N.Technology Alfa Romeo.

The meeting in Curitiba started yesterday with an extra practice session to allow the drivers and teams to acclimatise themselves to the Brazilian circuit. Cars from four different manufacturers were classified in the top-five fastest positions in the session, while the thirteen fastest drivers were covered by one only second. The session was red flagged with three minutes remaining due to a serious crash between Michel Jourdain and Roberto Colciago. BMW Team Germany drivers occupied the top positions for much of the session with Farfus beating Müller to the top spot by just 0.003 of a second. Tom Coronel completed the best three and headed the SEAT drivers with a time of 1:26.219. Chevrolet had their spell as fastest courtesy of Alain Menu but his best lap of 1:26.392 eventually placed him fourth. James Thompson, on his return to the N.Technology team, meanwhile ensured Alfa Romeo were also represented at the top as he set the fifth quickest time. In the independents category Luca Rangoni headed the field at the wheel of his Proteam Motorsport BMW.

With an all-new driver line-up for this season, including two-time British Touring Car Champion James Thompson and Dutch rookie Olivier Tielemans, the N.Technology Alfa Romeo team is looking forward to bettering last year’s second and third finishes at the Curitiba circuit. “I know how successful N.Technology has been so far,” said Thompson last week, “so I hope I can add to the trophy cabinet! Curibita was ok for me last year but I can definitely do better. I’m looking forward to racing again after the winter break and scoring as many points as possible for the team,” he added.
 

There has also been changes made to the FIA WTCC race format with the introduction of a rolling start to race one. The format, commonly used in GT racing, is a first for the FIA WTCC and will see the cars driving in formation during their warm-up lap until crossing the start line when the racing will begin. Race two will use the traditional standing start and reverse grid.

Last year saw N.Technology Alfa Romeo finishing third in both drivers' and manufacturers' championships and Team Principal, Mauro Sipsz believes this season can be as successful. “Last year we were very competitive in Curibita,” said Sipsz. “We got pole position as well as finishing second and third so I think that we should do well. We will have to find out exactly where our competitors are before knowing for sure.”

Both drivers are looking forward to the season start, especially 22-year-old Tielemans, as today was his first time ever at the Brazilian track. “It’s a really big deal for me to race here, somewhere I haven’t been before and with my new team,” said Tielemans. “I will be doing my best to score points and make them proud. I’ve spent the last few days here to make sure that I am over the jet-lag by the time the racing weekend start.”