ETCC: Euro STC to visit Ljubljana

After many negotiations with the race organizers, International Sport Communication finally postponed the meeting scheduled in Ljubljana on September 2 and 3. This decision has been taken due to the technical problems faced by Walter Wolf Racing in building a new race track in the outskirts of the Slovenian capital city.

Thus, the meeting will be the final one of the Euro STC's season and will take place on October 7 and 8 at a racetrack under construction in Novo Mesto, a place located some 70 km from Ljubljana, towards Zagreb and the Croatian border. Further details about the track will be released soon.

Euro STC's two other race meetings will take place as scheduled, in Brno (Czech Republic), on September 16 and 17, and Vallelunga (Italy), on September 23 and 24.

VALLELUNGA GETS READY FOR THE "WORLD CUP"

The Euro STC's meeting in Vallelunga, promises to revive the glorious days of the Super Touring World Cup, raced over three years, between 1993 and 1995.

ISC has already received requests for a possible participation, from some of the most important teams racing in the Super Touring championships of Great Britain, Sweden and France.

From the BTCC, information have been required by Prodrive Ltd., that lines-up the works Ford Mondeos, Triple Eight Race Engineering Ltd., representing Vauxhall, and Team Dynamics, that runs the "super privateer" Matthew Neal's Nissan Primera.

Among the Swedish STCC's squads, Crawford Nissan Racing-Elgh Motorsport with two Primeras, and Volvo Racing Team Sweden with two S40s, are definitely interested to race in Vallelunga.

From France, there is interest from the Gémo Sport team, that takes part in the national championship with two Peugeot 406s.

WEIGHT HANDICAPS FOR THE NEW-COMERS

In order to assure the Euro STC will have a troubleless conclusion and to be sure that competitors' performances will stay balanced, ISC has decided to apply the following weight handicaps in the three final race meetings of the season: Brno (September 16 and 17), Vallelunga (September 23 and 24), Ljubljana (October 7 and 8).

A 30-kg handicap will be imposed to those competitors who will enter the series for the first time in the three final meetings, or even in only one of them. Moreover, these competitor will not be eligible to score points in the classifications for the drivers and teams titles.

A further 30-kg handicap will be imposed to those competitors who will take part in the three final meetings, or even in only one of them, with cars having parts homologated after December 31, 1999.

This decision has been taken in order not to penalize the regular competitors taking part in the Euro STC, who, according to paragraph 34.2.1.b of the sporting regulations, are submitted to weight handicaps imposed to the first four drivers classified in the previous meeting.

For instance, here is an hypotetical weight distribution for the meeting in Vallelunga:
- new competitors with 2000 cars 60-kg handicap
- driver 1st classified in Brno 40-kg handicap
- new competitors with 1999 cars 30-kg handicap
- driver 2nd classified in Brno 30-kg handicap
- driver 3rd classified in Brno 20-kg handicap
- driver 4th classified in Brno 10 kg-handicap

Should a team, that took part in all the Euro STC's rounds already run, wish to enter an additional car of the same type of those lined-up, this car will be eligible to score points; on its first participation it will carry the 30-kg ballast for a new-comer, while in the following it will be submitted only to weight handicaps fixed by paragraph 34.2.1.b of the sporting regulations.

KOX AND SARDELLI SHINES IN SPA 24-HOURS

Peter Kox and Sandro Sardelli, regular competitors in the Euro STC, played great preformances on the occasion of their participations in the 24-Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

In the Belgian enduro race for Touring cars, the Dutchman came very close to step on the podium. At the wheel of a BPR Honda Integra, shared with countrymen Cor Euser and Bert Ploeg, Kox maintained 3rd position overall until the final 45 minutes. Then, a gearbox breakdown, forced him to slip down to 4th. Anyway, the Dutch Honda eventually obtained 3rd place in the Super Production category.

As to Sardelli, he starred driving a Max Team BMW M3. In the first three hours of the race, the Italian was even capable to keep 2nd position overall, that meant the lead in Group N. Then, a series of technical problems, pushed the BMW (also driven by Paolo Zadra and Walter Meloni) down to 32nd. Troubles solved, Sardelli led his teammates to a great recovery, up to the 7th position overall, 3rd in Group N, at the end of the 16th hour. Alas, at 8.00 in the morning, the engine blew, forcing the brave driver from Tuscany and his teammates to a sad withdrawal.