Tom Coronel has confirmed his participation in the 2016 World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), with the Dutchman remaining at the wheel of a ROAL Motorsport Chevrolet Cruze for the coming season.
Coronel will partner with Italian team ROAL Motorsport for a sixth consecutive season, with the experienced touring car remaining at the wheel of an RML-built Chevrolet Cruze TC1 for a third successive season.
“Never before did it take me so long before I was able to announce my plans in motorsport,” said Coronel, who is entering his 12th straight season in the WTCC. “It was uncertain until the very end and now I feel privileged that I am able to announce a further season in the FIA WTCC.
“I have been racing in this series since it started and many people feel that the FIA WTCC without Tom Coronel is unthinkable of. But all the pieces have to come together for it to happen.
“Earlier this year, I did the Dakar rally and I helped my brother Tim after I had retired. Right after my return, I immediately started working on the WTCC plan again. DHL had informed me that they wanted to support me as the main sponsor for another year and several other regular sponsors also decided for another year as my partners, so that gave me some more certainty.
“I also had to give my word to ROAL Motorsport for the preparation of the car. That has now been taken apart completely and will be rebuilt to the latest specification including modifications to the front and rear wheel suspension and the engine. Thus, the first steps have been made and we can start looking ahead to the things that are coming up.”
Despite the late announcement, with the deadline to submit entries for the season only passing at the end of February, Coronel is confident about getting some mileage under his belt before the season starts in early April.
“It is certain that we will have two days of testing prior to the first race,” added the veteran of 243 WTCC starts. “Next to the sponsors that have remained on board, we were able to add some new ones as well, companies that have chosen the opportunities that the World Touring Car Championship provides. In the process, they are certain of TV exposure, because like last year and during the Dakar Rally, the TomCam will be used again. With my camera, I will document many things and this will be included in the race reports to be broadcast on RTL 7.”
Coronel is also optimistic that the changes in regulations for 2016, including more success ballast for race winners after each event, will help his chances of scoring strong results.
“[Compensation weight] was 60 kilograms in the past, determined after every three events. So now it is done quicker, which certainly enhances our chances as privateer drivers. The reversed grid remains in place, but now for the first race. That is something that is making me happy as well.
“In qualifying, we always aimed at a position somewhere around ninth or tenth place to claim a grid position on the front row for the second race. But then, you always had to survive the first race to be able to take part in the second race without any damage. Now, that has changed too, and that certainly is giving us more chances to score points.”
ROAL Team Principal Robert Ravaglia revealed that he is already targeting more silverware in the newly renamed WTCC Trophy with Coronel in 2016.
“Tom’s team will be identical to last year, so he will continue to work with Pietro [Speronello] as his regular technician,” said Ravaglia. “I am glad that we will be able to compete with Tom as our driver in the FIA WTCC for the sixth year.
“Because of this long co-operation, we know each other well, which is a pleasant thing both for him and for our staff. As a team, you always want to perform at the highest level and that is certainly the case with our participation in the WTCC.
“Last year, ROAL Motorsport managed to win the Privateers’ Cup as a team and repeating that certainly is one of our goals for this year. Moreover, we want to end up as high as possible with Tom in the drivers’ standings. Of course, the privateers’ title would be the most beautiful result.”