Munich, 9th June, 2008. This weekend, the BMW national teams have the chance to continue their upward trend in the FIA World Touring Car Championship in Brno (CZ). Following the wins for Augusto Farfus (BR) and Andy Priaulx (GB) in Pau (FR), the quintet of BMW drivers travels to the Czech Republic with a confidence boost. This optimism isn’t by chance. In the past, the “Automotodrom Brno” – built into an impressive landscape – proved to suit BMW well. Last year, the rounds held at the Czech circuit were won by Félix Porteiro (ES) and Jörg Müller (DE), with BMW drivers taking all the other podium places.

However, handicap weight makes a bigger impact at Brno than elsewhere, due to lots of uphill sections. This disadvantage will particularly affect BMW Team UK ace Priaulx and BMW Team Germany’s Farfus. The pairing will have 58 and 46 kilograms respectively on board their cars. Farfus’ team-mate, Müller, will race carrying 20 kilograms, while Porteiro will only have to cope with nine kilos of ballast. The only driver who won’t be hampered by “success ballast” will be Porteiro’s BMW Team Italy-Spain team mate, Alessandro Zanardi (IT).

Andy Priaulx (BMW Team UK):
“Brno is a great circuit and I really love the uphill sections. I won my first race for BMW there in 2003, repeated this in 2004 and last year, despite carrying 60 kilos of ballast, qualified for the front row of the grid. The Pau win was a great confidence boost for all of us in the team.”

Jörg Müller (BMW Team Germany):
“Of all the circuits on the calendar, Brno is my favourite. Its layout lends itself to a flowing style, and basically it has no slow sections. The track follows the contours of its undulating surroundings. Brno provides what I expect from a challenging circuit.”

Augusto Farfus (BMW Team Germany):
“I like the circuit in Brno. Last year I had a good pace there and finished on the podium in race two. That's exactly where I want to end up again this year, in order to reduce the gap to the front-runners. My victory in Pau was a good start, but there still lies a lot work in front of us.”

Félix Porteiro (BMW Team Italy-Spain):
“Obviously, I have a lot of fond memories of Brno. To score pole position, my maiden race win and another podium finish there was a fantastic result in 2007. Once again I won't carry a lot of handicap weight this weekend. So I will give my very best to add some chapters to my personal success story on this circuit.”

Alessandro Zanardi (BMW Team Italy-Spain):
“I'm really pumped up by the fact we now return to a circuit where overtaking is possible. My speed in Pau was okay, but there it's just impossible to gain track positions. In 2007 I made it to the podium in Brno. But the competition is even tougher this year. Points would be a good result for me.”