Chevrolet Starts The Season As Championship Leader!
Tuesday 9th March 2010, 12:55pm
CURITIBA, 7th March 2010 – It has been the sweetest possible start of the 2010 WTCC season for Chevrolet: a triple win in race 1, another podium in race 2 and six finishes in the points in total have put the team in the lead of the Manufacturers’ standings, while Yvan Muller tops, together with Tarquini, the Drivers’ ranking.
Race 1 in a rain-soaked track in Curitiba was a Chevrolet show, with the three Cruzes of Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu dominating from the start and signing an impressive triple victory. In race 2, despite the reversed grid, the Cruzes were again able to repeat a trio, this time in 3rd, 4th and 5th positions, with a different order: Menu, Muller and Huff, respectively.
Curitiba marked a great team achievement, with the Cruze impressing both for its performance level and its reliability. The team is leaving Brazil as leader in both championships, a position which is both the best reward for the hard work done by the entire team and a wonderful start to 2010.
QUOTESYvan Muller (1st/4th): “What can I say? I couldn’t have dreamt of a better start for the season, both for the team and myself. Race 1 was just perfect, from start to finish, but it wasn’t as easy as it would seem, as staying on the track was really a challenge. In the early laps, you needed really to break at the right place, and not half a meter further, as Gené, our closest rival discovered. Then, it was a matter of choosing carefully the right line and staying completely concentrated on the driving. In race 2, I went for some good points. Towards the end, when Alain slowed a bit, I thought he may have some problems and I was ready to pass him, but then he pulled away again and we finished maintaining our positions”.
Alain Menu (3rd/3rd): “It was a great weekend for Chevrolet and I have achieved two podium finishes, which was my objective before the race. In race 1, I took a good start, then went a little bit straight at first braking, losing one position to Rob. I had done few set-up changes to the car with respect to set-up for the dry, so I knew I could not keep the pace of Yvan and Rob and focused on securing third place, which was a great result anyway. In race 2, once I took the third position in lap 3, everything went smoothly. My pace declined a bit in the final laps, and maybe Yvan thought I was having some problems, but I could find again a good rhythm and stay in front of him ”.
Rob Huff (2nd/5th): “It has been a terrific start of the season for the entire team and we are all very happy. Race 1 was a fantastic race for the team. I took a good start and took 2nd after corner 2. Four or five laps into the race, my pace improved and I was really close to Yvan, but there was no point in attacking him, so I pulled off and just stay behind to make sure we brought home the brilliant result we did. In race 2, I had again a good start and took
third position behind the two leading SEATs, but then had to let Alain and Yvan pass because my oil temperature was rising. It was important to finish the race and score some good points, and I am happy I could defend the 5th position from Farfus’ attacks”.
Eric Nève: “We are of course delighted with today’s results. This is the best way to start the season and we are delighted to be leading both championships for the first time since we are competing in the WTCC. RML has done a terrific job throughout the last months and the three drivers have put together today a perfect team effort in both races”.
CURITIBA RACE 1 RESULTS
1.Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze 16 laps in 26m57s181 2. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze +1s053 3. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze +5s582 4. G Tarquini SEAT León TDI +7s136 5. A Priaulx BMW 320si +11s625CURITIBA RACE 2 RESULTS
1. G Tarquini SEAT León TDI 14 laps in 20m13s311 2. G Gené SEAT León TDI +1s276 3. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze +5s407 4. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze +5s985 5. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze +8s295DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 2 OF 24
1. Y Muller (Chevrolet) and G. Tarquini (SEAT), 37 points; 3. A Menu (Chevrolet), 30 ; 4. R Huff (Chevrolet), 28 ; 5. J Gené (SEAT), 24; 6. A Farfus (BMW), 16; etc
MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 2 OF 24
1. Chevrolet, 70 points; 2. SEAT, 66; 3. BMW, 40.
About RML
The RML Group comprises six divisions; Motorsport, Automotive, Engines, Historic, Events and X-Pro. Based in Northamptonshire, England the company’s 4,300 square metre facility includes design, development, manufacturing and operational support for international race/rally programmes and automotive engineering projects including performance engine development.
Since its formation in 1984 RML has achieved success in a diverse range of motorsport categories including GT/sportscars, touring cars, rally cars, single seaters and oval speedway cars. In 2010 RML teams will compete in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, the British Touring Car Championship, the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Le Mans Series.
RML work together with a number of specialist official suppliers and technical partners including www.autoglym.co.uk, www.beissbarth.co.uk, www.ompracing.it, www.mobil.com and ATS Wheels – www.uniwheels.com. RML also support Spinal Research as their chosen charity – www.spinal-research.org.
More information on RML is available at www.rmlmallock.co.uk
For more information on Chevrolet’s World Touring Car Championship programme, please contact:
Michell Seaman
Tel: +44 (0) 1933 402 440
Email: michells@rmlmallock.co.uk