Moscow WTCC, Oulton BTCC, Le Mans test
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Euro RX - Kuovola: Rallycross joins Race Centre Live this weekend, with the series in Finland for its fourth event of 2013.
Championship standings after three of nine rounds:
1 Timur Timerzyanov 67
2 Timmy Hansen 61
3 Davy Jeanney 49
4 Anton Marklund 42
5 Petter Solberg 41
6 Mats Lysen 39
Championship standings after three of nine rounds:
1 Timur Timerzyanov 67
2 Timmy Hansen 61
3 Davy Jeanney 49
4 Anton Marklund 42
5 Petter Solberg 41
6 Mats Lysen 39
Checkered flag
WTCC - Moscow: And that's the session. Muller leads a Chevrolet 1-2-3, with Huff, Coronel and Basseng next up. James Thompson in 10th is the last man within one second of Muller's time. Full report to follow shortly.
WTCC - Moscow: Great save by Rob Huff, who gets it on the grass and then all crossed up at Turn 10.
Matt Neal
BTCC - Oulton Park: The British Touring Car Championship has had a month off since its last round at Thruxton, but resumes at Oulton Park this weekend. AUTOSPORT's Kevin Turner is heading trackside for practice right now.
Matt Neal has a slender early points lead over Andrew Jordan, who has been fastest in two of the season's three qualifying sessions to date, but only converted that pace into one win from the nine races held.
Jason Plato and reigning champion Gordon Shedden are in the thick of it too, as is MG's impressive new recruit Sam Tordoff.
Championship standings after nine of 30 rounds:
1 Matt Neal 137
2 Andrew Jordan 124
3 Jason Plato 121
4 Gordon Shedden 109
5 Sam Tordoff 103
6 Jeff Smith 85
(20 points per race win)
Full season statistics on FORIX
WTCC - Moscow: Coronel and Tarquini make contact (not the first time we've said that) as we head into the final minutes of FP2.
WTCC - Moscow: Muller's lap means it's a Chevrolet 1-2-3, with SEAT (Huff) fourth and BMW (Coronel) fifth.
Interesting track dynamics, with sectors one and two very tight and twisty and the third effectively one long straight with a turn at the end. Something for everyone.
Interesting track dynamics, with sectors one and two very tight and twisty and the third effectively one long straight with a turn at the end. Something for everyone.
WTCC - Moscow: Just as we write that, Muller pops up with a 1m43.267s to go top by 42 hundredths.
WTCC - Moscow: Heading towards the final 10 minutes and there's been precious little change at the top - Nykjaer still leads (effectively with a new lap record) from Muller, Huff, Coronel, Bennani and Chilton.
Plenty of excitement in the media centre though: they've just wheeled out Red Bull and sandwiches (this really can't be underplayed).
Plenty of excitement in the media centre though: they've just wheeled out Red Bull and sandwiches (this really can't be underplayed).
Hotel
Superstars - Slovakiaring: Certainly one of the shortest commutes of the season for the Superstars crew in Slovakia. The hotel is next to the paddock. The media centre is in the hotel lobby. No complaints from us!
WTCC - Moscow: Circuit still very green, as Norbert Michelisz and Stefano D'Aste prove with respective off-track moments. Part of the reason is the recent heavy rains - which at present and forecast to return for qualifying...
WTCC - Moscow: Michel Nykjaer goes fastest after the first exchanges, and straight out the box he sets the fastest time so far at Moscow Raceway, a 1m43.562s. Yvan Muller and Rob Huff are second and third, both within a quarter of a second.
Superstars - Slovakiaring: Dinamic BMW driver Giovanni Berton was cagey when quizzed on his chances by AUTOSPORT this morning over breakfast. Says some parts of the track will suit the M3 (the technical bits), and parts won't (the long straights).
Superstars - Slovakiaring: There was a lot of talk about rain today, but so far it is clear blue skies in Orechova Poton. First practice is in 30 minutes.
Superstars - Slovakiaring: Another series making its debut at a new venue is Superstars, which this weekend is at Slovakia's aptly-named Slovakiaring.
Thomas Biagi leads the way with two wins from the four races held so far - but things would be a lot closer if Tonio Liuzzi hadn't tangled with Francesco Sini in the last race at Brno.
Championship standings after four of 16 rounds:
1 Thomas Biagi 73
2 Tonio Liuzzi 52
3 Giovanni Berton 46
4 Luigi Ferrara 44
5 Gianni Morbidelli 39
6 Andrea Bacci 28
Full season statistics on FORIX
Thomas Biagi leads the way with two wins from the four races held so far - but things would be a lot closer if Tonio Liuzzi hadn't tangled with Francesco Sini in the last race at Brno.
Championship standings after four of 16 rounds:
1 Thomas Biagi 73
2 Tonio Liuzzi 52
3 Giovanni Berton 46
4 Luigi Ferrara 44
5 Gianni Morbidelli 39
6 Andrea Bacci 28
Full season statistics on FORIX
Green flag
WTCC - Moscow: Green light, and second practice is underway. Stefano D'Aste - who earlier said the marshals were a tad over-zealous in dealing with his FP1 off - leads the field out.
WTCC - Moscow: Meanwhile Russia has clearly woken up - we were the media centre's sole occupant for FP1, but its now packed. We're even having to queue for tea.
WTCC - Moscow: Just before the start of second practice, we've had our first penalty of the weekend - Charles Ng has been fined 1000 Euros for breaking his turbo seal without prior permission.
WTCC - Moscow: On track it's been a close-run battle between the Chevrolets, Hondas and top SEAT independents so far this year, with Coronel sneaking a win for BMW too.
But although seven different drivers have won during the 10 rounds already held, Yvan Muller's constant presence at the front is building him a commanding championship lead.
Championship standings after 10 of 24 rounds:
1 Yvan Muller 198
2 Gabriele Tarquini 118
3 James Nash 108
4 Michel Nykjaer 96
5 Rob Huff 77
6 Tom Chilton 77
Full season statistics on FORIX
But although seven different drivers have won during the 10 rounds already held, Yvan Muller's constant presence at the front is building him a commanding championship lead.
Championship standings after 10 of 24 rounds:
1 Yvan Muller 198
2 Gabriele Tarquini 118
3 James Nash 108
4 Michel Nykjaer 96
5 Rob Huff 77
6 Tom Chilton 77
Full season statistics on FORIX
James Thompson
WTCC - Moscow: WTCC teams have already had two sessions to get to grips with the Russian venue, which is making its series debut.
Championship leader Yvan Muller was fastest in Friday's test, while Tom Coronel set the pace in his ROAL BMW earlier this morning in practice one.
Race Centre Live is about to resume for a touring car-themed day of action. Here's the full Saturday schedule:
Saturday June 8 - all times GMT (BST -1)
8:00: WTCC Moscow practice two
8:30: Superstars Slovakiaring practice on
8:35: BTCC Oulton Park practice one
10:30: WTCC Moscow qualifying
11:00: Superstars Slovakiaring practice two
11:45: BTCC Oulton Park practice two
14:15: BTCC Oulton Park qualifying
15:00: Superstars Slovakiaring qualifying
Plus European Rallycross updates from Kuovola
Saturday June 8 - all times GMT (BST -1)
8:00: WTCC Moscow practice two
8:30: Superstars Slovakiaring practice on
8:35: BTCC Oulton Park practice one
10:30: WTCC Moscow qualifying
11:00: Superstars Slovakiaring practice two
11:45: BTCC Oulton Park practice two
14:15: BTCC Oulton Park qualifying
15:00: Superstars Slovakiaring qualifying
Plus European Rallycross updates from Kuovola
Will Power - pole for Texas
That's it for Race Centre Live today.
Be sure to set your alarms for 07:45 tomorrow morning as things kick-off once again with WTCC practice from Moscow, before we bring you the latest Superstars, BTCC, EuroRX and IndyCar updates throughout the day.
And speaking of IndyCar, here is the qualifying report from earlier on this evening.
Checkered flag
IndyCar - Texas - qualifying results: 1 Will Power; 2 Marco Andretti; 3 Ryan Hunter-Reay; 4 Dario Franchitti; 5 EJ Viso; 6 Helio Castroneves.
Power topped the session with a two-lap average of 219.182mph, with practice pacesetter Andretti managing 217.553mph.
Power topped the session with a two-lap average of 219.182mph, with practice pacesetter Andretti managing 217.553mph.
IndyCar - Texas: Dario Franchitti has just become the quickest Honda-powered driver. His 217.504mph puts him in fourth position.
IndyCar - Texas: Ryan Hunter-Reay has just been out for two tours of the Texas circuit. The reigning champion clocked in an average speed of 217.524mph to go provisional third.
IndyCar - Texas: We're now 30 minutes into this session, so let's take stock of who sits where at the moment:
1 Will Power; 2 Marco Andretti; 3 EJ Viso; 4 Helio Castroneves; 5 Josef Newgarden; 6 Charlie Kimball.
1 Will Power; 2 Marco Andretti; 3 EJ Viso; 4 Helio Castroneves; 5 Josef Newgarden; 6 Charlie Kimball.
IndyCar - Texas: And would you look at that: Will Power's just gone quickest with 219.182mph!
IndyCar - Texas: Helio Castroneves regularly runs well at Texas and he's just averaged 217.100mph to go third, behind Marco Andretti and EJ Viso.
IndyCar - Texas: Surprise of the session so far is Tony Kanaan who achieved 215.474mph, considerably slower than his practice pace of 217.577mph. He's chosen not to speak to any of the media...
Quote
IndyCar - Texas: Marco doesn't sound too confident with that run: "It wasn't as good as practice - I was on the rev limiter and will have to sit and watch what happens."
IndyCar - Texas: ...and he's claimed provisional pole with an average speed of 217.553mph.
IndyCar - Texas: Marco Andretti is now out on track, let's see what he can do...
IndyCar - Texas: Qualifying takes the traditional IndyCar format of a two-lap speed trial for each competitor in turn. EJ Viso has set an early benchmark with an average speed of 217.244mph and a total time of 48.222s.
IndyCar - Texas: Not long to go now until qualifying proceeds at the Texas Motor Speedway. Marco Andretti led practice earlier on, but will he be able to clinch pole today?
IndyCar - Texas: Word trickling in from Schmidt Peterson Motorsport is that Tristan Vautier has changed engines, so will face a 10-place penalty. Consequently, he's not going to bother to make a qualifying run - there's too little to gain, and starting grid positions are less critical here than at most other tracks.
Keselowski shotting range
NASCAR - Pocono: Now seems an opportune moment to remind ourselves of what's recently happened in the world of stock car racing.
Points leader Jimmie Johnson is pretty annoyed with Juan Pablo Montoya - and still was in today's press conference - after picking up a penalty in last week's race.
And reigning champion Brad Keselowski has received his second penalty of the season for failing a post-race inspection.
Oh, and here he is taking his frustrations out on the shooting range.
Twitter
IndyCar - Texas: While Panther's former driver is using Twitter to revisit the past, team boss John Barnes is more concerned about what lies ahead:
@Jbindy4 Practice in Texas 100 pounds less downforce than last year. Harder tire. Some drivers can only run 1 lap then loss of control. Interesting!
@Jbindy4 Practice in Texas 100 pounds less downforce than last year. Harder tire. Some drivers can only run 1 lap then loss of control. Interesting!
NASCAR - Pocono: While the teams lost out on 90 minutes of practice today, they have two hours set aside for tomorrow. And of course, there's Sunday's race to look forward to, which will be covered on Race Centre Live.
Twitter
IndyCar - Texas: We don't have JR Hildebrand in the field for Texas this year, but he's been onto Twitter to reminisce about his visit last year:
@JRHildebrand For sure I wasn't the only one that was loose last year at TX, but it's no joke! #indycar…
@JRHildebrand For sure I wasn't the only one that was loose last year at TX, but it's no joke! #indycar…
NASCAR - Pocono: Qualifying for this weekend's race at Pocono should have got underway right about now, but Mother Nature has intervened and the session has been rained off. With no track activity at all today, the field has been decided by owner points.
A full list of who starts where can be found in the (non) qualifying report.
A full list of who starts where can be found in the (non) qualifying report.
Takuma Sato
IndyCar - Texas: Qualifying takes place at 3.30pm local time, which is 8.30pm GMT and 9.30pm BST. Race Centre Live will carry full coverage.
By: Matt Beer, Mark Glendenning, Dan Cross, Sam Tremayne, Andrew van Leeuwen, Kevin Turner, Pablo Elizalde, Gary Watkins, Charles Bradley, Connell Sanders Jr, Peter Mills, Andrew van de Burgt
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