Janák with Alfa among the first twenty drivers |
- 2. 4. 2006, Monza, Italy -Czech driver of the Internet Expres Prima Team, Jiří Janák, made his debut in the FIA WTCC (World Touring Car Championship) at the Monza circuit on Sunday. He did not fall behind in the races contested by 35 drivers, and was even among the first twenty in the second race. After the race, Jiří Janák said: 'We had to face a problem with the brakes, and so I was not able to keep pace with factory cars and even with some drivers of private teams. We must work on it. The fact is that the result is not bad, but I thought that I would do better in my debut in the World Championship.' And, the head of the team, Stanislav Matějovský, added: 'Jirka was driving the car version of the year 2003, while his rivals had at their disposal this year's cars. The difference of slightly more than a second and half between Jirka and Farfus is not so high, but the work on the car must go on. However, the two fifth places that Jirka took in the open Italian Championship are valuable.' The victory in the first, eleven-lap race held in sunny weather, was won by the winner of the last year of this series, Andy Priaulx, of England, with a BMW. There were several collisions on the track, and even the safety car had to intervene. But Janák did not take the unnecessary risk, and moved from the thirtieth position on the starting grid up to the twenty-first place. The second race, with 9 laps, was even more dramatic. Front-runner Priaulx did not finish the race after being forced out of the track by his compatriot Thompson with a Seat. Janák, a private team driver, was doing even better in that race, and fought his way to the eighteenth place, which does him credit: the race was contested by several F1 drivers and by factory teams. The victory was taken by Farfus, of Brazil, with an Alfa. Muller came second twice, which means that he is in the lead of the overall standings after the first of the ten double-race events of the series; the seventh event is held in Brno, on 3 September. The Lada 21 106 cars, which had been advised of, did not take part in the race. They should start participating in the series approximately in the middle of the season Results, Race I: Priaulx (GB/BMW 320si), 1st; Muller (France/SEAT León), 2nd; Thompson (GB/SEAT León), 3rd;... Janák (CZ/Alfa Romeo 156), 21st; Race II: Farfus (Brazil/Alfa Romeo 156), 1st; Muller, 2nd; Manu (Switzerland/Chevrolet Lacetti), 3rd;... Janák, 18th |
| Schedule: • race 1 • • race 2 • • points • |
