Alex MacDowall is ready for his first flyaway event of the 2012 World Touring Car Championship as the series reconvenes in Curitiba, Brazil for the second half of the season.
The trip to Brazil for the resumption of the WTCC will see MacDowall visit four different airports while the cars have had a 13 day sea crossing.
“It’s going to be about a 17 hour journey over there – we’ve got to fly from Newcastle to Heathrow, then from Heathrow to Rio and then Rio to Curitiba”, he added, “Thankfully we’ve got a night flight so hopefully it shouldn’t be too bad…it’s definitely the longest journey to a race I’ll have ever had!”
Rounds 15 and 16 of the season take place after a six week break – Portimao in Portugal played host to the last rounds at the beginning of June and MacDowall is looking to replicate his Austrian results in Brazil.
After 14 races to date, the Cumbrian racer has secured a total of four Yokohama Independent podium finishes as the British Touring Car Championship graduate has shown his speed and potential at the wheel of the #11 bamboo engineering Chevrolet Cruze.
His Championship position doesn’t reflect the speed and promise he has shown – some unfortunate retirements mean that the British youngster is fifth in the Yokohama Independent standings.
Heading to Curitiba, MacDowall has his aims set high, as the circuit is likely to suit the Chevrolet Cruze.
“I’d like to try and get another Independents win next weekend but my main aim in Brazil is to try and finish on the outright podium”, commented the Cumbrian, “With a good reverse grid slot for race two I think we could translate that into a top three finish overall.
“Obviously it’ll be tough, we’ll have to wait and see how it goes, and it is another brand new track for me. I’ve done a few hours on the sim though and I’ve got another session this weekend to try and prepare as well as possible. I think the track should suit us, the Chevy should be strong there.”
MacDowall’s first experience of the Curitiba circuit will come on Friday, 20 July with a practice session ahead of two further sessions on Saturday, 21 July. Qualifying ahead of rounds 15 and 16 will take place at 8pm UK time Saturday. Rounds 15 and 16 will be shown on Eurosport and Eurosport Player on Sunday, 22 July with the first race due to start at 7.05pm and the second race at 8.20pm UK time.