Dutchman Tom Coronel will continue for an 11th successive season in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in 2015, continuing his relationship with ROAL Motorsport that began in 2011.
Coronel has secured additional backing from DHL for the coming season, seeing his Chevrolet Cruze gain additional yellow to replace the outgoing blue colour scheme of the past four seasons.
With 221 race starts in the WTCC and 55 in its predecessor the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC), Coronel is the most experienced racer in the series’ history (although Rob Huff has started more WTCC races due to non-starts for Coronel). The 42-year-old insists he has no intention of stopping.
“I want to add many more races,” said a smiling Coronel, who hopes continuation with ROAL and the TC1 Chevrolet Cruze will lead to success in 2015. “This also gives a lot of confidence for the upcoming season.”
Despite the late announcement, Coronel explains that he has been preparing for the coming year since the end of the previous season, albeit with the additional challenge of competing in the Dakar Rally with his brother Tim in between.
“Preparations for the new year started right after the end of the WTCC season,” explained Coronel. “On the other hand, there was also a trip to the Dakar rally scheduled for the first weeks of January. Meanwhile, everybody knows how that went and I continued to work on my WTCC project as soon as I got back to The Netherlands.
“Being able to race for another season is great and I think I am one of the longest-standing drivers in the series. This will be the fifth year together with ROAL Motorsport, the team owned by Roberto Ravaglia and Aldo Preo. That is giving a lot of confidence and a good feeling.”
Coronel heads into 2015 with continuity on his side, keeping the same team-mate in Tom Chilton and entering his second season with the RML-built Cruze.
“Last year, we took on the adventure with the Cruze together and we had highs and lows. In the process, we have learned a lot, which helps us to get 2015 off to a good start.
“From a technical perspective, the car is almost identical to last year. The most significant difference is that the blue colour is making way for yellow. That, of course, is the result of the partnership with DHL. Parts that were yellow last year, will now turn blue, because McGregor will again be one of my sponsors in 2015 as well. The yellow colour also is visible on my helmet.”
Coronel also jokes that he is changing his catchphrase for 2015 in deference to his sponsors and colour scheme.
“Just like in the Dakar rally, my helmet will be sporting a cheese design with logos of the ERU cheese brand, so it will be ‘Eat my cheese’ instead of ‘Eat my dust’,” he added. “The yellow colour will be very important for me in 2015.”
ROAL Motorsport Team Principal Roberto Ravaglia admits that the team’s target in 2015 is to take victories in the Yokohama Trophy, which has been reopened to drivers and teams competing in the top TC1 class.
“I am pleased to be able to continue the co-operation with Tom Coronel,” said Ravaglia. “We know him very well, he is part of our family. Last year Coronel was one the best drivers of the championship although he was forced to miss two races.
“We want to race at the highest level, but our target will be to compete for victories and titles in the Yokohama Trophy. With Coronel and Chilton we have a very reliable couple of drivers.”
Following the media day in Barcelona this week Coronel will take part in testing at Vallelunga circuit in Italy before the cars are transported to Germany to be shipped to Argentina for the season opener in March.
