WTCC champ visits Sacramento

By Keri Luiz

Assistant Editor

(NOTE: this is a 'reprint' of the WTCC story I wrote which ran in the sports section of the Benicia Herald July 17, 2012). Running it here since most of the motorsports stories are in the Sports section, and do not get posted on the Herald's web site. 

Three time WTCC Champion Yvan Muller and the Chevy Cruze on the steps of the California State Capitol. Photo by Keri Luiz.

Yvan Muller looks ahead to September debut

The FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) is bringing its intense, paint-swapping, fender-banging style to the raceway in Sonoma in September — the first time the event will take place on American soil.

Three-time and current WTCC champion Yvan Muller joined track president and General Manager Steve Page Monday in on the steps outside the state Capitol in Sacramento, and Muller's car — a Chevy Cruze — was on hand for fans to view.

"We're always looking for new forms of quality racing that we can bring out to Sonoma," Page said. "We have such an incredible, loyal fan base that supports everything else we do … NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA, which is coming up soon.

"We look globally to see what other kinds of events that would be appropriate for our track, and would be entertaining for our fans."

Page observed that the WTCC's "no kid gloves approach" to racing is likely something Sonoma's fans will enjoy. "There does not appear to be any aversion to contact," he said. "For those of you that are familiar with our NASCAR event, it was a very familiar look and feel.

"We think our fans are going to respond to it. We are excited to host this series. We think it's going to be great for the track, it's going to be wonderful for our fans."

Clint Bowyer Wins at Sonoma

NOTE: this is a 'reprint' of the preview story I wrote for the sports section of the Benicia Herald June 26, 2012, with the extended edits. Re-publishing it here since most of the NASCAR stories are in the Sports section, and do not get posted on the Herald's web site.


By Keri Luiz and Donna Beth Weilenman
Herald Staff

Photo by Donna Beth Weilenman

A late-race, multiple-car crash in the Toyota-Save Mart 350 meant Clint Bowyer’s short lead over past winners Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch had vanished. Bowyer would later say he was feeling pressure from the two aggressive drivers in Sunday’s race at the raceway in Sonoma.

But Bowyer would defend his top spot long enough to take the checkered flag, his first win on the road course.

“You know, the two guys behind me were champions of this sport, and that’s big, to be able to hold them guys off,” Bowyer said after the race.

It wasn’t the only racing Bowyer did Sunday. Stuck in traffic for two hours on California Highway 37 — clogged as thousands of fans headed toward the track — Bowyer had to abandon his ride and sprint on foot to make it in time for the pre-race driver’s meeting. If he hadn’t made it to the meeting in time, he would have been penalized, and would have had to start the race at the back of the field.

Sonoma adds WTCC to list of events

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

(NOTE: this is a 'reprint' of the WTCC story I wrote for the sports section of the Benicia Herald July 5, 2012). Running it here since most of the motorsports stories are in the Sports section, and do not get posted on the Herald's web site. 

At a news conference at Sonoma on June 24, WTCC representatives laid out a plan to bring the racing event to the U.S. for the first time. Left to right are Steve Page, president and general manager of Sonoma; driver James Nash of the United Kingdom; driver Gabriele Tarquini, Italy; driver Tiago Monteiro, Portugal; and Fabio Ravaioli, FIA WTCC media delegate. Photo by Keri Luiz

The FIA World Touring Car Championship will make its first-ever United States appearance at the raceway in Sonoma this September.

"We always have our eye out for new events that we can bring in that really fit the profile that we think our fans will respond to," said Steve Page, president and general manager of the raceway, formerly known as Infineon. "Looking internationally, the FIA World Touring Car Championship is one we've always had our eye on."

The WTCC, one of four World Championships under the umbrella of the Fédèration International de l'Automobile, features touring car racing with manufacturers BMW, Chevrolet, SEAT and Ford. It announced in February it has signed a three-year agreement with Sonoma through 2014.