Youngest driver of the WTCC will compete in 24H BARCELONA
Youngest driver ever in the series of the World Touring Car ChampionshipMore than 200 different drivers will each have their time on the track of Circuit de Catalunya in the 24H BARCELONA. It is already
known that there is a mixture of culture within these teams but WHO are these drivers?
This story will tell you something about the youngest driver to race in the World Touring Car Championship when he competed the season in 2011.
Josep "Pepe" Oriola Vila is driving this weekend at the 24H BARCELONA within the Sunred team. As he was born in Barcelona, we are racing on his known grounds.
Oriola began his career in karting in 2004 at the age of nine. When he competed in the final round of the SEAT León Supercopa, finishing on the podium he switched to touring cars at the age of 15. In 2010 he competed in full seasons of both the Spanish Supercopa and SEAT León Eurocup with the Monlau Competition team. He took his first victory at the second Eurocup race at Brands Hatch. He then took a double victory at the season finale at Valencia to move up to fourth in the final Eurocup standings.
In 2011 Oriola raced a SEAT León in the World Touring Car Championship for Sunred Engineering. He became the youngest driver ever in the series when he made his debut. He was 16 years, 8 months and 11 days old at the 2011 FIA WTCC Race of Brazil (born 9 July 1994). Oriola will continue in the WTCC in 2012, staying with Sunred.
Oriola: “My goal of 2012 is to fight for the Yokohama Trophy. I can count on the advice of my manager Sergio Hernandez, who won the rankings twice. “
This weekend he can be found on the track of Circuit de Catalunya at the 24H BARCELONA. He will race within the Sunred team, along with his brother who is even younger!
“The 24 hour race is very good and moreover I drive this year with Ferran and his father and with my brother. We never drove together before and as a team we all aim for the same objective. I’ve never won a 24 hours and we expect to be able to win in our category this year and be in the top 5 of the scratch.”
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