Puebla Report

Boardman continues points-scoring run in Mexico

Tom Boardman is one of only four drivers to have scored points in all four opening rounds of the Independents’ Trophy section in the 2009 FIA World Touring Car Championship, after repeating his Brazilian points double in Mexico last weekend in his SUNRED Engineering-run SEAT Leon TFSi. On his first visit to the difficult 16 turn / 2 mile Autódromo Miguel E. Abed Puebla- Amozoc track, the 25-year old racing driver from Forton in Lancashire finished 5th and 6th in the Independents’ Trophy and now lies 5th in the Drivers’ standings with 17 points after a 100% finishing record.

The demanding Mexican circuit is one of the most difficult to master. Located 2,200m (7,000ft) above sea-level, the track has tricky tight corners and high-speed banked turns, and off-line the surface is dusty and offers very little grip. It’s a circuit where Tom needed as much track time as possible to learn its complex configuration, yet he was only able to complete five laps during Friday’s test session as a fuel system problem stopped the Leon from running. Despite so little track time, Tom was 3rd fastest Independent at the time. Engine mapping issues then continued to restrict Tom’s running during the two 30 minute Free Practice sessions on Saturday.

The problems were fixed in time for qualifying, but this important slot to secure starting grid positions for Race 1 was the first time he’d had a car that he felt was working properly. Although Tom was able to make a big step forward in terms of lap times, the lack of quick laps during the Free Practice sessions made it very difficult for him to find the next few tenths of second he needed. After three good flying laps, Tom eventually qualified 6th Independent (19th overall). Having not completed as many laps as he’d hoped for in the previous two days, Tom entered race day on Sunday on the back foot – yet determined to make the most of his racing ability and try to carve his way forward. He made a good start from the inside of Row 10, only for Marin Colak (SEAT) to spin right in front of him at Turn 1 and forcing Tom to come to a near standstill to avoid a heavy collision. The light contact did damage Tom’s air box at the front of his car, but despite this hampering him in the slower corners he fought his way back into contention, enjoyed a good battle with Japp van Lagen (Lada) to finish 5th Independent (16th overall) – just behind his SUNRED team-mate Tom Coronel (SEAT).

Tom made an excellent start in Race 2 from the inside of Row 8 and with improved pace was soon running a very solid 2nd Independent, ahead of Coronel. However, as half distance approached, Tom was hit by Alain Menu (Chevrolet) and the ensuing puncture forced Tom into the pits. After a pit stop to change a wheel, Tom continued with steering problems to bring his Leon home 6th Independent (21st overall) to score more Championship points.

Tom Boardman said: “It’s been a difficult weekend for me in Mexico. We weren’t able to get the track time we needed before qualifying because of technical problems, yet on race day it looked at one stage as though we would salvage a strong result in the end, but it wasn’t to be. Still it’s a good start to the season with four races and four points finishes from the two early flyaway events. I’d never raced in Brazil and Mexico before, so to come away with a hundred percent finishing record and seventeen points isn’t so bad. “Next stop is a street circuit in Marrakesh which will be new to everyone, and then it’s onto Pau and Valencia – circuits that we know and have been quick at in the past.”

Yokohama Independents’ Trophy (after 4 of 24 races)

1. Félix Porteiro (BMW)...53pts

2. Tom Coronel (SEAT)...30pts

3. Franz Engstler (BMW)...25pts

4. Stefano D’Aste (BMW)...18pts

5. Tom Boardman (SEAT)....17pts