N.Technology Alfa Romeo is aiming for strong results this weekend in Anderstorp, Sweden as the Italian team returns to familiar ground for rounds 13 and 14 of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). The Alfa Romeo 156 has a great track record at the Scandinavian track, having scored several wins on previous visits with the FIA European Touring Car Championship. With the season now halfway through, the N.Technology team is hoping for a repeat of their Spanish success where lead-driver James Thompson scored two stunning wins in one weekend.

Two-time British Touring Car Champion, Thompson is confident he can achieve a top finish despite having never raced at Anderstorp before. “N.Technology have always been very successful in Sweden and I know we can repeat their performance there this year,” said the 33-year-old from Harrogate, England. “We have already shown how well the car performs and I know it has the necessary speed to do well on this track. The track has a very long straight and some great corners which will all go towards producing more overtaking so thankfully there will be no issues with being stuck behind slower cars!”

Team-mate Olivier Tielemans will also be driving at Anderstorp for the first time this weekend but with plenty of experience in learning new circuits this year, the Dutchman is focusing more on a return to permanent race tracks. “Porto was difficult for me and although I enjoy street circuits, I can’t wait to be back on a permanent track,” said the 23-year-old rookie. “I have had to learn some many new tracks this year, I don’t think it will be too much of a problem coming to Sweden with no prior experience. It’s something that I am used to now and I look forward to scoring some points for the team.”
 

Thompson's challenge for a podium finish will be helped by the fact that his 'success ballast' load has now reduced to 20 kg. The heaviest drivers in Sweden this weekend will be the three championship leading BMW pilots, Jörg Müller, Augusto Farfus and reigning champion Andy Prilaux, all of whom are set to be on 60 kg. However BMW's closest competitors in the title race will not be much lighter. SEAT"s Yvan Muller, 4th in the points standings and best of the non-BMW drivers, will have 55 extra kilos onboard just like Nicola Larini of Chevrolet.

A total of 21 drivers will be on ballast at Anderstorp, including Swedish newcomers Rickard Rydell, Fredrik Ekblom, Carl Rosenblad and Robert Dahlgren and the Russians: Lvov and Smestkiy. The ballasted list is: 60 kg Jörg Müller, Augusto Farfus and Andy Priaulx; 55 kg Nicola Larini and Yvan Muller; 45 kg Gabriele Tarquini; 35 kg Alain Menu; 20 kg Félix Porteiro, Robert Huff and James Thompson; 15 kg Tom Coronel; 10 kg Tiago Monteiro, Rickard Rydell, Fredrik Ekblom, Carl Rosenblad, Robert Dahlgren, Alexander Lvov and Andrey Smetskiy; and 5 kg Alessandro Zanardi, Luca Rangoni and Jordi Gene.

Eurosport’s live WTCC coverage from Anderstorp begins Saturday 28 July with qualifying at 15.00 (CET) followed by race one on Sunday at 11.40 (CET) and race two at 14:10 (CET).