The FIA World Touring Car Championship will resume next week-end after a one-month Summer break, when rounds 17 and 18 take place at Sonoma, California.
This will be the world championship’s second visit to the track located in the Sonoma Valley and to the United States.
Just like in 2012, WTCC competitors will race on Sonoma Raceway’s full road course that includes the Carousel chicane (turn 7a), the motorcycling chicane (turn 9a) and the final hairpin (turn 11), for a total lap distance of 4.032 metres. This will result in two races of 13 laps.
One of the circuit’s main features is the 50-metre elevation change between its highest point at Turn 3a (53 metres) and its lowest point at Turn 10 (4 metres).
Last year Chevrolet drivers monopolized victories: Yvan Muller and Rob Huff finished one-two in the first race, while in the second Huff beat Norbert Michelisz’s BMW and Gabriele Tarquini’s SEAT. The Briton profited from a drive through penalty inflicted to Muller for making contact with Franz Engstler, and joined his rival on top of the standings on his way to be sacred World Champion.