Norbert Michelisz heads back to the scene of his only FIA World Touring Car Championship victory as the 2011 campaign draws to a close on the streets of Macau, looking to secure the Yokohama Independents title and improve on his eighth place in the overall drivers’ Championship.
“I have far the loveliest memories from this circuit,” said Michelisz, the victor of the final race of the 2010 campaign. He also secured the 2010 Rookie Challenge crown at Macau.
“I like the layout so much and it is so close to my driving style. The atmosphere, the experiences, the layout, the challenge of driving on the streets are all combining in one venue and all of this happening at the last race of the season when you are exaggerated anyway. It is like Monza, this place is in my heart and I will always love to come here to race. Macau is absolutely the non plus ultra,” ‘Norbi’ added.
Arriving at the former Portuguese enclave, Michelisz is still in contention for the Yokohama Independents title, where he currently has 104 points and sits second overall – with a maximum of forty three points up for grabs as Macau offers double points to the Independent runners.
Macau is the second street circuit of the season in the WTCC – after Porto – and in the last twelve races around the Guia circuit, BMW drivers have tasted victory five times and this weekend will see the BMW 320TC’s running twenty kilograms heavier after their lap times from the last three race weekends, Valencia, Suzuka and Tianma, were within 0.3s of the Chevrolet times.
The weekend’s action starts a day early as Thursday sees a thirty minute test ahead of Friday’s two practice sessions and forty five minutes qualifying session – as it is a street circuit, the WTCC allow more time in qualifying.
It is a circuit he enjoys and speaking about the circuit in general, he said: “Despite Macau being a typical street circuit, it is possible to overtake on it and this guarantees that it will be one of the highlights of the season from both the drivers’ and spectators’ perspective. It poses a challenge because the length of a lap is approx. one and a half longer and features twice as many turns than other circuits in the calendar. Putting together a good laptime on qualification requires unbelievably strong nerves and mental preparations.”