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Rounds 11 and 12 of the FIA World Touring Car Championship in Brands Hatch saw Augusto Farfus scoring a total of 12 points. However, the Brazilian was unhappy with the outcome of the season’s sixth event. While the performance of his BMW 320si WTCC was excellent, he couldn’t make the most of his opportunities at the 3.703-kilometre circuit.

“It’s a shame I couldn’t make up more ground in the Drivers’ Championship today,” commented the 26-year-old, who started the first race from ninth on the grid. “In the first race everything went perfectly. My start was good, the performance was there and, without the safety-car phase, I could have made it even further up the field.” After 16 laps he finished sixth, thanks to some impressive overtaking manoeuvres.

Starting from third on the grid put Augusto in a promising position for the second race of the day. “I was also able to push hard again, and the start was great,” he added. He got away to a better start than his team-mate, Andy Priaulx, so took the lead into the first corner. On lap 3, however, things took an unfortunate turn for Augusto. “When Andy tried to pass me, I didn’t want to risk too much. Unfortunately Alain Menu also tried to squeeze through and our cars collided. Even after this incident my car was running well. But eighth was all I could achieve after dropping back to 13th.”

Because of this Augusto was robbed of the chance for his second podium finish of the season. He now has 87 points in the drivers’ classification, which puts him eighth overall.

Next event: Brno ( Czech Republic), 31 July/1 August 2010

Hello everybody,
After the cold stage of Zolder, the WTCC has been back to summer in Portugal, and the weekend was marked by the intense heat of Portimão.
Thermometers have been close to 35 degrees all the time, the intense sun put to hard test the drivers in the cars that have reached over 70 degrees of internal temperature during the race.
Soon we saw on Friday that we would have a more difficult race ahead, because the characteristics of the Portuguese track were not favorable to our car, and above all also for our five-speed gearbox.
Yet in qualifying after a good lap with no errors could set the third time overall, behind only the Chevrolet of Yvan Muller, and poleman Tiago Monteiro Seat with TDI.
The start of the first race on Sunday was very tumultuous and difficult, but I did have a good race pace and fourth place overall was positive, as a function of heat had overheating car engine, which made us lose power during the race and did not allowed me to push further the leaders.
In the second race of the day, starting from fifth place had the chance to take more risks, because the goal was to reach the podium. But when I occupied the fourth position, Rob Huff gave me a push from behind that ended up costing me two positions and the opportunity to fight for the final podium. Due to this hit, which was interpreted by the Marshals as unsporting, Huff was penalized 30 seconds after the final lap, which made me gain a position and finished fifth.
Balance of the weekend was good, unfortunately we had no equipment to a height of our rivals, but the championship is still long. Now the next two stages of Brno and Brands Hatch are favorable to our BMW 320si and certainly have great chances of recovering many points and get back in the fight for the championship.

Keep supporting!

See you in Brands Hatch.
Abraços,

Augusto

Hello folks, some weeks passed since we spoke last time, right?
That was because I had more than 20 days without returning home, I managed the crowded agenda in this last period, many testing sessions, not counting the two races!
First I had the chance to participate to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the longest and hardest traditional endurance race of the world. Dividing the M3 GT2 with Jorg Muller and Uwe Alzen, we had a difficult task, because without experience on the track, and with a car that made its debut at the French circuit had to work hard to suceed.
We started from seventh place in the GT2 category, despite the small problems arising during the race when the sun came up on Sunday morning we were fighting for third place. Unfortunately we suffered a failure to the left axle of the car and had to make a pit stop to change, it cost us several positions and the chance to fight for the podium.
The sixth place finish, tastes as a victory for Team BMW Motorsport, coming to the end of one of the toughest races of all is already a success and, considering that during the race we cover almost 4500km in just 24 hours. Le Mans is a real endurance race for both cars and teams. We learned a lot, certainly in 2011 we will be ready to win!
After Le Mans, went straight to Magny Cours for a test with WTCC before the stage of Zolder, which happened this past weekend on June 19th and June 20th.
The cold and uncertain climate of Belgium were the challenge for all teams. We had good equipment, and our goal was to fight the top five in qualifying. Except that the rain came and ruined our plans just in the final five minutes of session, when we put on new tyres to run the fastest lap, unfortunately we can not complete the lap with the dry for just one minute. The rain meant that I could not go beyond the tenth place for the grid of first race on Sunday.
Starting in tenth, we knew that would be fundamental to fight for eighth place, which guarantees pole position for the second race of the day.
The tough race and a track with few overtaking opportunities not let me reach my goal and I came in ninth.
In the second battery after trying to recover positions, I chose to score points and think about the championship and with it came in eighth place.
The luck was not on our side in Zolder, but the competition continues and we will be ready in Portugal to score and return to fight for the title!

See you next time,

Abraços a todos,

Augusto

Hello everybody, this month of May the agenda was packed with many races and great results!
Had not time to celebrate a victory in the Nurburgring 24 hours that already had in front another important race, the WTCC in Monza.
Racing in Monza is always very good and with a special taste, because I've won there with all the categories that ran from the F-Renault, F3000 and the WTCC, not counting the support of Italian friends I knew trough my seven years I lived in Italy.
Although not the fastest car on the track, we knew we had a tough weekend ahead and in Monza, with its long straights, the important thing is to have a good strategy for qualifiying and manage to make the most from the slipstream and get a good lap and get in front on Sunday.
And Saturday was all perfect, after an impressive lap without errors marked an unexpected pole position!
From that result we knew the race would be difficult and the first corner would be essential in order to fight for the podium, but with the turbo-diesel cars coming from the back of the grid, we had the consciousness that would be difficult to keep the lead after the rolling the start.
And so it happened, right at the green Seats taken advantage of torque that the turbo engine delivers, took advantage and found myself in the first chicane has braked as third. After that started the confusion, several cars cut the first corner and ended up falling into sixth place.
Yet things were quiet, because I know that my race pace was good and could follow the leaders, and that was my strategy, hence the unexpected happened, the two leaders of the race ended up having problems with the tires on the last lap, and thereby achieve a passing smoothly and came in second.
Depending on the reverse grid for the second round, dropped to seventh place, and made a smart race, taking advantage of the error of my leaders to arrive in fourth place and score important points for the championship.
The balance of the weekend was positive, although not taking the victory home, I managed to score many points, and I know that going forward more technical tracks will come and I will be able to reduce this difference from the leaders. Now I'll take a trip to Brazil but I’ll have to come back soon, because my next challenge will be the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where I'll share the M3 GT2 with Jorg Muller and Uwe Alzen.

See you next time,
Abraços,

Augusto

We won.
Hard to believe, it was the first 24 hours of the new BMW M3 GT2, and also my first time at the Nurburgring with a car capable of fighting for overall victory, but today I can count on this important title in my resume, thanks to a fantastic car, a brilliant staff and great teammates that were fundamental to this victory.
Well, now let me tell you then how were these my last two weeks...
Last week I was in Belgium to compete in the 1000km of Spa Francorchamps also with the M3 GT2, with the goal of preparing the 24 Hours of Le Mans is going to happen next month. The race was great, we were in second place until the final minutes, but a safety car and the rain at the end of the race took our chances for podium and we arrived in fourth place.
After Spa went straight to the Nurburgring with a stop right in the RBM team to review and maintain the focus also on the 320si WTCC.
The rain and cold marked our weekend at the Nurburgring, all seemed to have 24 hours running under water and cold. Saturday dawned with a timid sun that gave a run on dry track with many emotions. After seeing the Audi's and Porsche's dominating qualifying, we knew that the eighth place on grid did not mean much in a race with 24 hours duration in a though and difficult track of more than 25km lenght as Nurburgring.
The start on Saturday and the first round of the race was for my team-mate Jorg Muller, and after a few laps we got confirmation that our team would have to be united and determined and that we would only have chances to win the race by making it balanced and accurate, because especially on such a difficult track and with nearly 200 cars running, the regularity would be the key to success. It was with this strategy that we face the following 24 hours of racing.
I was the fourth driver to jump into the car, still with the light of day we managed to climb up to fifth place, and with the night incoming we were recovering positions, and after 10 hours of racing we were in second place and everything seemed to go as planned. Even when the last lap of the turn of Uwe Alzen a piece of floor lost from a car in the main straight hit our radiator and water got lost from it. For a few moments our chances of victory seemed to be over.
With the car in the pits Schnitzer's team has done a magical and key job for our victory, because the radiator was replaced and so the brakes of the car in just over 11 minutes. And so, when my other team mate Pedro Lamy jumped into the car, from third place we were fallen into sixth position again, we maintain focus and calm to face the night with much vigor.
At the dawn of the day I finished my shift and I handed the car to Jorg Muller back in third place but still had more than 10 hours to go and anything could happen, our M3 was still in great shape and it allowed us to have a strong pace to put pressure on our rivals.
After 20 hours of racing we assume the second position and we were only two minutes from the leaders of the race. During my shift our M3 GT2 lost fourth gear, which made us worried, but the ultimate goal was to take the car to the checkered flag. By returning the car to Jorg things complicated, because the third gear also started to have problems, and that's when we took over the leadership of the race. We still had two hours to the end and the countdown was becoming increasingly difficult as the gear, lap after lap, became more difficult to drive and also more fragile.
We passed the final 30 minutes looking at the clock counting the final minutes and Uwe Alzen brilliantly took the car to the finish line, so finally we could scream and celebrate our victory in the most difficult and exciting 24 hours race that exists in motorsports.
24 hours are difficult, tiring, but wonderful and wanted to leave here my congratulations to the BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer and also, especially to Charly Lamm and my teammates because everyone worked hard with lots of heart all the time. Without this group of fantastic people this victory would not have been possible.
All this will be guarded with great pride in my history and my heart,

Hugs,
ps: See you in Monza next 22nd and 23rd of May for the next stage of the WTCC!

fiquem com Deus, Augusto

Hello everybody,
since the last race of the WTCC almost two months have passed, where I had an overcrowded schedule, especially driving the new BMW M3 GT2.
Were three races to prepare the 24 hours of Nurburgring that will happen on May 15th and 16th. Not to mention the testing sessions with the 320si.
Our week in Marrakech was not the best, the long straights did not favor our car and we knew this year would be again a difficult one for us.
During the practice we were always in the top 10, but our aim was to be in the top 10 at the end of Q1. We knew it would not be an easy task, but with a good job and a little bit of luck our goal could be achieved.
It was there that during the two fast laps on new tires in Q1 caught two red flags and had to abort two attempts, and the two would have put me in the top 10 of the first stage of qualifying session.
Starting from eleventh in the first race the goal was to arrive in 8th in order to start from pole in the second race of the day. Unfortunately in terms of accidents, had almost the whole race under the safety car which meant that I lost my chances of fighting for eighth place that would put me pole position for second race of the day.
Starting from tenth in race two, I made a great start and jumped into fifth at the first corner but again because of an accident the safety car entered the track, and soon after the re-start had to defend my position and I ended up getting a touch from Alain Menu and suffered a puncture to my right front tire and breaking the steering of the car, with that I lost control of the car, causing my accident and I was forced to abandon the race.
We had chance to have a better outcome, even if we were not the best car on the grid, but I have to say that luck did not showed up in Marrakech, the championship is more to come and we will come back on top at Monza! Until then continue with a busy schedule with the M3 GT2, this week I will attend the 1000km of Spa and next week the traditional 24 hours of Nurburgring.

Cheers,
And thanks for the support!

Augusto

Here I am, back after a long interval between the opening of the WTCC in Curitiba and the next round of Marrakech scheduled for May.
The work continues, the projects parallel to the WTCC are going on with force and hard work as well. Along with the development of the 320si, I participated during last weekend to the opening of the VLN, which for those who do not know is a very traditional tournament that only races on the long track of Nurbugring in Germany. The major German brands are participating to the VLN to prepare for the 24 hours of Nurburgring that will take place on 15th and 16th of May.
So I'm taking the chance to drive the new BMW M3 GT2 in this championship in order to improve the car, and when 15th and 16th of will come, everything goes as we’re planning. We started the year well I can tell, the first race of the VLN M3 GT2 driven by me, Pedro Lamy and Uwe Alzen finished third after starting seventh. We still have much to improve, the engineers are working hard for the new M3, so to continue with the victories that the M3 GTR has achieved in the past.
Ah! Along with the program GT2, the WTCC continues with all gas, we are developing the car for the next steps so we can come back to fight for podiums and wins, ok?
Keep supporting!

See you,

Augusto

Hello everybody,

Finally, after a long break, back to work with the opening of the 2010 WTCC. Start the year in Curitiba is always a great emotion having family, friends and fans around. The beginning of the week was busy, many events with the press and with BMW. Starting on Thursday, work on was on track and only stopped on Sunday night after the second race.
There were big expectations for the weekend, the car had responded well in free practice and our goal was to fight for top positions in qualifying. Unfortunately the reality in the classification was different than expected, without having a car fast enough our best was to mark seventh place on the starting grid for the first race of the weekend.
Sunday was cloudy and rainy, and minutes before the first race of the day, the rain was strong and caused all strategies were changed. Finished in sixth place and everything indicated that in the second race of the day we could have fight for the podium.
Starting in third position, right at the green light the clutch did not react as expected and could not take advantage of the rear wheel of my BMW 320si to overtake Seats that were in front of me. After trying several times to pass the Briton Rob Huff to take the fifth position, I opted to take home a sixth place safe, because the efficiency of our BMW was not enough to complete an overtaking maneuver safely.
Now back home with two sixth places, but aware that our equipment is not good as Chevrolets and Seats. But our goal is always the same ..... that of bringing the title WTCC home at the end of the season, and for this we have to work hard!

See you next time, Augusto Farfus

...with it comes my new site, with some news and with updated layout that I hope you like!
This year I will keep a direct and closer contact through my site, telling details of all races of the new season.
The first challenge of 2010 will be in my homeland, the opening of the WTCC, which will debut in the RBM with a new teammate as well, the English World Championship winner, Andy Priaulx.
Along with the WTCC, will race in the main and most traditional races in the world of endurance with the new BMW M3 GT2. I will talk about the M3 GT2 further ahead in the season when the calendar is decided and made official by BMW Motorsport!

I hope you enjoyed the new site, and during the season yet to come!
And who wants to follow me on Twitter has only to look for the @augustofarfus .

See you in Curitiba.

Augusto

The Paranaense Driver Augusto Farfus Jr, won for the second time in Macau, but the title of 2009 went to the Italian Gabriele Tarquini.
The traditional and famous Guia circuit in Macau, was the stage for the final round of the WTCC, between the Frenchman Yvan Muller (SEAT), the Italian Gabriele Tarquini (SEAT) and the Brazilian Augusto Farfus (BMW) in final fight for the title of the 2009 season.
Augusto, who had already won in Macau in its first attempt in 2005, has once again demonstrated his affinity with the Asian circuit, winning again for the sixth time in 2009, but the victory was not enough for the Brazilian to take the title home.
Farfus has always been among the fastest in free practice and marked the third best in qualifying for the first race on Sunday, while his rivals didn’t come over the seventh and eighth on the grid.
“After qualifying, it seemed that things were moving in the right direction, but after the green light the Seats, as always did in 2009, took advantage of a great start and soon launched through the first corner. Almost every Seat passed me easily due to the large torque that diesel engines provide”. Said Augusto at the end of the first race.
The Paranaense, with a slower car, was unable to recover the positions and finished the race in eighth place.
“It was impossible to pass Seats here in Macau, their race pace was slower than ours, but on a road track, where overtaking is almost impossible, and the only point is at the end of the straight, but just at that point the cars of Seat were extremely faster than ours, which made overtaking to became impossible”.
Starting from pole-positon in the second race, Farfus won again, but the victory did not guarantee the title to the Brazilian who finished the season with 6 victories, the best BMW driver and third in the general WTCC classification.
“I am happy to finish the season with a win, but sadly did not take the title, unfortunately we have not had the best car of the season and finishing the year in third is like a victory for me and the team”. Finished Augusto.

Okayama was the venue for the penultimate round of the WTCC, and the rain that arrived on Sunday before the race was the great protagonist, making the fight for the title even more exciting.
Farfus, who in 2008 was on pole-position, knew of the benefit and the possible chance to recover the points lost in the last stage of Imola. In the very first practice Seat showed its strength and put the 5 official cars into first 6.
“Our goal was to arrive in Okayama and go to all-or-nothing, we had the obligation to recover the lost points, but after the first practice our task seemed more difficult than we imagined”. Farfus said on Friday after the first practice.
On Saturday the sun shone strong, but what happened in qualifying at the end of Q2 picked up the Brazilian and BMW Team Germany by surprise when the temperature dropped, and on the fresh track Seat put in all their cars in the 8 first, leaving to Farfus the fifth place on the starting grid for Sunday.
“We were expecting to fight for pole position, but the temperature quickly dropped 5 degrees in the final minutes that didn’t gave us time to set up the car, but even then we knew that our race pace was better than that of Seats”. Stated Augusto after qualifying.
Sunday was cloudy and just before the first race the rain came strong, and all teams had to work to make the car more accurate as possible, as no one had trained in the rain before the race.
The start was made behind the Safety car, according to the extreme weather conditions, but the acqua-planing took many drivers by surprise, including Farfus. After losing 10 positions in the first lap, the Paranaense made a stage of recovery and came in eighth place, scoring a point, and more than that ensuring the top spot for the second race of the day.
“The first lap was very difficult, I just could not see anything, and curve 2 was actually a swimming pool, several cars went right due to acqua-planing, me too also unfortunately, but the car was good and could do a fantastic race of recovery”!
Starting from pole, Augusto maintained the lead until the finish ensuring 10 precious points for the title battle.
“In the second race the rain fell even harder, had much more acqua-planing and it was very difficult to keep the car on track without errors. This victory was important for the championship, and the goal now is to fight until the end of the last stage in Macao”. Concluded Augusto.
The final of the WTCC will take place on November 22nd in the streets of the most spectacular track of the season of the World Touring Car Championship.

The last European round of the WTCC was held in Imola, Italy on 19th and 20th of September.
Farfus, who had a nice string of good results - 4 victories in 5 races - had his campaign stopped at the first corner after receiving a touch that broke his rear suspension and causing the Brazilian to abandon the first race of the day.
Knowing the superiority of the Seats on the Italian circuit, BMW's goal was to score as many points as possible to keep Farfus close to the leaders of the championship.
Qualifying was led by the Spanish car brand. Farfus was the best BMW driver and marked the sixth for Sunday's first race.
After the accident that caused the Brazilian to abandon the first race, Augusto showed his fierceness and determination to fight for the title, because after starting twenty-third in the second race had a great recovery and completed the race in eighth place.
“We knew we had a tough weekend ahead in Imola, but we did not expect to lose all the points over the first. I am still the only BMW driver that has a chance to fight for the title of 2009, so we go to Japan and Macao with a lot of guts and determination, and of course I will fight until the end”. Concluded the Brazilian.

BMW overcomes all expectations in his home race winning both races held last Sunday, the 6th of September. The Briton Andy Priaulx won first race and Farfus won second race of the day.
Although European summer is not yet over, rain and cold weather dominated the weekend. Soon after the start of qualifying session the rain started and caused many drivers did not achieve the second part of the session. In the Q2 the track started to dry out and the Brazilian, toghether with Team BMW, decided to keep rain tyres but, were surprised in the final minutes. The cars who risked to go out with dry tyres finally took advantage of fast drying track.
With ninth position on grid, Farfus opted for a defensive strategy with the goal to start in front of the grid of race two but, due to various hits and accidents on first curve, Augusto fell into 13th with his BMW 320si quite damaged by various hits received.
“I knew that car was good but, after first curve I wasn’t sure what to expect for me, then the Team informed me by radio to preserve the car at maximum and try to finish the race”. Commented Augusto after finishing first race in sixth position.
Starting in third, the Brazilian managed to become the leader soon, then winning the fourth race of the season.
Thanks to excellent results obtained in Germany, Farfus is now in second place of the Championship, just one point behind leader, the italian Gabriele Tarquini of Seat.
“Was a very difficult week-end due to fact that weather conditions were changing constantly, we’ve made a fantastic teamwork and now we have to prepare ourselves for the toughest stage of the year, before final round of Macao”.
Augusto is already in Budapest to carry out two days of testing preparing for next race of WTCC in Imola, Italy, that will take place next 19th and 20th of September.

Brands Hatch was the venue of the 7th round of WTCC. The cold and always changeable weather, characteristic of England, was decisive in the success of cars throughout the weekend.
Augusto led the free practice and the first part of qualifying session, but was surprised in the last minutes by Chevrolets Alain Menu and Rob Huff and by the Briton Andy Priaulx.
“Our goal was to fight for pole-position, unfortunately the weather changed and we had not a good lap”. The Brazilian said after having marked the fourth position on the starting grid.
On Sunday morning the day started cloudy with risk of rain. The formation lap for race one was underneath a light rain that turned soon into a pale sun that lasted until the end of the second race. Farfus soon after the first curve was in sixth place when it was touched behind by the championship leader Yvan Muller just doing the Brazilian spun and lose several positions. Augusto rejoined in twenty-fourth positon and made a fantastic recovery finishing the race in eighth place and ensuring the pole-position for the second stage.
“The race was super tense, when I received the touch, I thought the race was over for me, but thank God the car was well and it kept me recover and come in eighth place. It was one of the most difficult races of the season”.
Taking off from pole, Farfus and his BMW 320si made a perfect race, winning from lights to flag and thus reducing the gap to the leader of the championship to 6 points.
“We had a dramatic weekend, and for some time in the first race everything seemed lost, but worked well and fought until the end, and this victory was really key to the championship”! Concluded the Brazilian after the races.
The next stage of the WTCC will be on 5th and 6th of September at Oschersleben in Germany.

An historical week-end for WTCC was disputed on the streets and near the walls of the Portuguese city of Porto which had 120thousands spectators in Sunday 5th of July. The unstable weather hindered the work of drivers and teams during practices and races. Qualifying session was under intense heat and high temperatures, and Farfus was always into two first positions in free practices. Not getting a good set-up for qualifying, the Paranaense ended up with the seventh time for the first race of Sunday.
“The heat affected us and we could not reach the ideal set-up with new tires, since our goal was to drop between the first 3 positions”. Said the Brazilian after qualifying.
The warmup on Sunday morning was disputed on the heavy rain, leaving the atmosphere even more tense for the two events of the day. The first race ended up having to start with wet track, but all drivers opted for dry tires. At the start Farfus jumped to fifth position and after a hit with Alain Menu, Augusto had to perform a drive-trough penalty, but still managed to set a strong pace and thanks to a great team work, the Brazilian regained the eighth position and thus secured the pole-position for the second race.
“The first race was complicated, we started on wet track with slicks tires and the first laps were difficult for us”. Taking off from pole-position, Farfus maintained the leadership despite the two restarts due to accidents during the race, but managed to impose a good pace annhilating chances for Rickard Rydell and Yvan Muller approaching his BMW 320si and thus winning the historic race number 100 of the WTCC.
“This victory is not only mine, but of all BMW Motorsport who have supported me over the weekend and made all this possible, and certainly can not forget my BMW Team Germany that gave me a fantastic car”! Augusto concluded after the race.
The next stage of the WTCC will be at Brands Hatch, in the UK, the next July 18th and 19th.

The fast circuit of Brno in the Czech Republic hosted the 6th stage of the WTCC in the last weekend, 20th and 21st of June.
Farfus Jr, who arrived in Brno with high expectations for the race because of the past success of the BMW in the Czech track and knowing the characteristics of the circuit also favorable to the German manufacturer.
In qualifying session the Brazilian recorded his 3rd pole of the season, followed by Andy Priaulx and by the Italian Alex Zanardi in third position.
“The qualifying was difficult because the two preceding sessions were on the wet track and hindered our set-up”.
Taking off from the pole, Farfus held the lead until the first curve, when tried to make the trajectory, just where Andy Priaulx was, nearby the rear right side of Augusto’s BMW 320si.
“What happened was really sad, I was left to take a better trajectory and did not see the nose of Andy's car was there. He was just into “blind side” of my rearview mirror and just touched him, making the race end as for me than for him”. The Paranaense said after the first race.
Starting from 20th position in the second stage, the Brazilian made through and at the first turn was already in 12th but, at the braking for curve 5 he received a hit and once again was forced to leave the race.
“It is very sad, Brno was an important opportunity for us, our goal was coming out as Championship Leader and not to go home with two zeros. It was frustrating for me and for all BMW”. Augusto finalized.
The next stage of the WTCC will happen in the coming days 4th and 5th of July in Portugal, on the street track of Porto.

The fifth round of WTCC was held at the Valencia circuit in Spain this past weekend. The Seats were running at home and began the weekend dominating the free practice and also the qualifications. The high heat and low grip of the Spanish circuit were decisive for the set-up of cars.
Farfus Jr, who had won in 2006 driving an Alfa Romeo, repeated the dose. After a total dominance of the diesel cars in qualifying, the Brazilian scored the 5th best for the start of the first race on Sunday.
“Qualifying was complicated, as the heat took the temperature of asphalt to 50 degrees, which hampered our set-up, but still managed to do a good one”. Farfus commented after the qualifying session of Saturday.
Starting form fifth, Augusto received a tap on the first turn and dropped to 11th position in the first lap but after a good recovery, closed the race one in fourth place.
“We saw that in warm-up had a good pace to race, thanks to that I could recover after losing several positions in the first curve”.
For race two starting position was from fourth, the Brazilian had a good start and soon took the second place, in the third lap overtook his team mate Jorg Muller and take the lead until the end of the stage.
“The second race was perfect, I had a good start and the car was well balanced, able to control the entire race and I share this result with my team that worked very well throughout the weekend”. Ended the Brazilian.
After 15 points marked in the Spanish stage, Farfus decreased the difference to 3 points from the French Yvan Muller, current leader of the championship.
The next round of WTCC will be next June 20th and 21st in Brno, in the Czech Republic.

Augusto Farfus Jr got once again the opportunity to dispute the traditional 24 hours of Nurburgring. The Brazilian who participated last year with a BMW 320D and won its category, this year had the chance to drive the BMW Z4 M GT3, with the German Dirk Muller, Claudia Hurtgen and the Swedish Stian Sorlie. The event is the largest of its kind in Germany with more than 200 thousand attendances. The goal of the team of fighting for the podium dropped just after 6 hours of racing, when the team was in 5th overall, the oil pump broke and the engine suddenly broke too, taking away the chances of the team to continue the race.
“We knew that we were not the fastest car on the track, but our goal was to increase the pace early before dawn and fight for top positions” concluded Augusto.
The Brazilian follows up its agenda, and this Thursday embarks for Spain to dispute the fifth stage of the WTCC at Valencia in the next May 30th and 31st.

In the last 17th and 18th, the WTCC returned to Europe, after the first 3 events in Brazil, Mexico and Morocco. Augusto Farfus Jr has a strong history in Pau where in 2007 rolled his BMW 320si during qualifying and after won the race on Sunday. In 2008 repeated the dose, but this time starting from pole and winning from point to point.
This year, even if Farfus did not win, marked two second places important for the championship, and now took the second position overall, just behind Frenchman Yvan Muller. The end of the week was very confused due to the new interpretation of the regulation made by the FIA, which says that the 4 cylinder petrol cars can not pass the 8500rpm at any time of the event.
“It was the most difficult task of the weekend managing reductions below 8500rpm” said Augusto referring to downshifts, because with touring cars use of the motor brake is essential. After marking the second best in qualifying, Farfus inherited the pole position on the grid by Andy Priaulx since FIA canceled all times from Briton in terms of having exceeded the allowed 8500rpm during the decisive qualifying stage. Taking off from pole, Augusto was surprised by a spot of oil in curve 3 during second lap while leading the race. Losing control of his BMW, Rob Huff took the time and passed the Brazilian, who tried to recover the lead, all during the 17 laps, but the characteristics of the French track did not allow overtaking manoeuvres.
“The departure was very good; unfortunately the oil spot was not well signaled and almost hit the barriers and cost me the victory of stage. Then throughout the race tried to pass Huff, but a breach would only be possible if I risk too much, and 8 points in the first race were fundamental for the championship”.
In race two, Augusto started from seventh place, and soon after the first curve has occupied the fourth position. The race was interrupted after the accident between Frank Englster and the safety car at the end of the first lap. After the restart Farfus took the second place and pressed throughout the race the Swiss Alain Menu, but as in the first battery, the Brazilian completed the final stage in second.
“To mark 16 points has taste of victory. We knew that Pau was a favorable track for us and our goal was to achieve a great result. Now we have to focus to the next stage in Valencia to try to continue the fight for the championship” finished the Paranaense which has a full agenda in May.
This Tuesday will take part to the charity football match with Michael Schumacher in Monaco between the Drivers’ Team Vs Stars’ Team of Prince Albert. Already this Wednesday Augusto embarks for Germany to compete again on Sunday in the Nurburgring 24 hours with the BMW Z4 M Coupe. The team will be composed by Augusto, Dirk Muller, Claudia Hurtgen and Stian Srolie.
The next stage of the WTCC will be at Valencia in Spain next 30th and 31st of May.

Marrakech on 1st, 2nd and 3rd May received the third stage of the WTCC and can see close up for the first time over 20 cars participating to the World Touring Car Championship. The strong heat and the high-speed track did not favor BMWs. Even so the Brazilian managed to mark 3 important points to continue his fight for the Title. The training began on Friday and had the front-wheel traction cars were advantaged. Even after practice and after having tested various solutions by BMWs, the first three rows of the starting grid were occupied by the Seats and the Chevrolets. The end of the week began so difficult for Augusto that during the qualifying got the accelerator pedal broken and ended up with a 13th position on the grid. Knowing that the chances were few for BMWs, the Brazilian struggled with the objective of scoring, but received a hit from Alessandro Zanardi who was victim of the unsuccessful overtaking attempt of the Swedish Rydell; Augusto got the geometry of its 320si compromised and was unable to go beyond the 12th position.
"The first race was unfortunately very difficult, after the hit received, the car was bent and had to take care to get to the end of the race" Augusto said.
Farfus after a great start in the second race finished in sixth place final.
"The second race was good, we knew our limits and start from 12th and arrive in 6th on a track where overtaking is nearly impossible was almost a victory" concluded the Brazilian.
The next stage of the WTCC will be on 16th and 17th of May in the street circuit of Pau in France.

The Brazilian driver was in Germany for 4 days of last week. The objective was to carry out in Munich the shakedown of BMW 320si for the next round in Marrakech in the coming May 2nd and 3rd. From Munich directly to the famous Nurburgring track in Germany, to receive the best sellers of BMW and Castrol (one of the official partners of BMW Motorsport); there he was able to show a little of his work and also to share the excitement of more than 24km of the difficult and fascinating track in the world.
This Tuesday Farfus boards to Morocco where will be disputed the third round of the WTCC. The cars will enter the track for the first free practice this Friday and will race on Sunday; race start is scheduled for 13 hours (local time).

Last 14th, 15th and 16th BMW Motorsport was in Budapest at the Hungaroring circuit to test the aerodynamics of the new BMW 320si which will debut in the next stage of the WTCC in Marrakech, Morocco. During the 3 days of training, the sun prevailed and were simulated various solutions for qualifying and also for the race, mainly to improve the pace of the car.
''We’ve concentrated our energies to better prepare the new aerodynamics and also work with the balance of the car.'' Augusto said.
The training was essential for preparation of 3 races to come, Marrakesh, Valencia and Pau. Due to the schedule, testing won’t be possible between these races.
"We are satisfied, the results were positive and the car reacted well. Now we look forward to Morocco and we’ll try to find a good set up for the track that is new in the 2009 calendar but, for sure we are ready for the next 3 stages of the championship.'' Augusto finalized.

In this last weekend was disputed the second stage of the WTCC in Puebla, Mexico. The strong heat, the altitude and dry weather hampered the lives of drivers and teams during the whole weekend.
After 4 years where BMW did not mark significant steps in Mexico, Augusto showed that the story would be different yet in free practice where was always on top positions, but confirmation came in qualifying where Farfus marked the pole-position and also setted the new record of the track.
“The session was perfect, the car was well balanced, because we worked hard for it, and pole-positon was the result of our work”, said Augusto after qualifying session.
In race one Augusto made a start trying to defend the first position, but just before the first turn the Swedish of the Seat, Rydell was superior at the beginning of the stage and the Brazilian lost the lead, but Farfus showed a strong race pace and pressure on the Swedish throughout the race but the diesel engines were more efficient in acceleration and straight in Puebla, not allowing the Brazilian to recover the lead. Starting from seventh position in the second race, Farfus set the strategy to mark important points and come in fourth place and well out of Puebla in third position overall in the championship.
''I can say that the weekend was perfect because we marked important points, and with our dedication and effort we have shown competitiveness and determination.'' Augusto concluded.

The Brazilian arrived in Puebla on Tuesday to dispute the second stage of the WTCC to be held the next 21st and 22nd of March.
After a difficult opening in Curitiba where the Seat had total field, Augusto expects a recover from BMW for Mexican round.
''We know that is probably the most difficult stage of the entire season as the Seat in 2008 won both races. Unfortunately we had not much time to improve the equipment, but we are confident to mark some points and remain close to Seats''. Augusto finalized.
The cars will enter the track this Friday at 15:00 hours local time for the first free practice, the qualifying session will be on Saturday at 16.00 hours with a duration of 30 minutes. The two races will be on Sunday and will have 16 laps each.

Question: Augusto, like Sergio Hernández you are just 25 years old – despite this, you are one of the longest serving drivers in the World Championship. Are you still learning?

Augusto Farfus: “Absolutely. A racing driver never stops learning, right the way through his career. It is always important to improve with every lap and every test. We want to improve constantly. Last year I didn’t have a good season. In too many situations I failed to convert my performance into points. That hurt, and I am absolutely determined to do better in 2009.”

Question: As a younger driver, are you accepted by the older competitors in the field?

Farfus: “I have a very good relationship with most drivers. So far I have always been fortunate enough to work with very experienced team-mates in the World Touring Car Championship, as is the case now with Jörg Müller. That helps me tremendously to develop further. Age plays less of a role in our championship than in other series. If you stay concentrated and work hard, you can enjoy a long and successful spell in the World Touring Car Championship.”

In this last weekend the opening round of the WTCC was held in Curitiba. The 24 cars, 4 different brands (BMW, Seat, Chevrolet and Lada), marked a beginning of season where the Seat TDI prevailed and eventually dominating the week-end in the capital of Parana. Updates to the BMW 320si were not sufficient, and since free testing the Spanish mark demonstrated was predominant.
In qualifying session, Farfus was the seventh best time and once again the Seat TDI showed its power occupying the first five places on the grid.
In race one Augusto had a fast pace, which meant that he monitored the leaders closely taking the checkered flag end in sixth, but after the decision of Stewards to penalize the Italian Nicola Larini, Augusto was promoted in fifth position.
Already a heavy rain was the great protagonist of the second race, falling a few minutes before start, led the teams and drivers to a change of strategy for the race. The Brazilian has opted for a dry set-up, because even with the rain, the temperature of the asphalt was still very high. Farfus finished the race in sixth position, after Seat dominance.
"Unfortunately, we do not expect such a big dominance of Seat has happened we trained quite a lot during pre-season. The altitude of Curitiba (900mts) did not help to perform to the maximum, and even if I was the best BMW driver of the weekend, our performance was well below the expected. Now we have to work hard because we know that in Mexico the Seat is still the favorite." Augusto finalized.

The next stage of the WTCC will be the next 21 and March 22 in Puebla, Mexico.