WTCC 2007, Round 4 -Pau
Digital Image Recorder
02/03/2008
RML Chevrolet are planning a reversal of fortunes in Mexico next month following a difficult start to the 2008 FIA World Touring Car Championship in Brazil.
A 10th and 12th place finish in race two at Curitiba was scant reward for the Wellingborough-based team's intense preparations for the first rounds of the new season, which saw drivers Alain Menu, Nicola Larini and Rob Huff all the innocent victims of collisions in the first race.
Race two was again one to forget for Rob, as he was forced to retire after being tagged by one of the SEATs early on, but Alain and Nicola were able to charge through the field and show the potential of the 2008 RML Chevrolet Lacetti, despite the pair finishing outside the points-paying positions.
Alain (DNF/10th) said: "Everything was going fine in race one. At the end of the first lap I had noticed Gené broke at least ten metres too early at the end of the straight, so next time round, when he did that again, I dived inside of him since the door was wide open. I was perfectly alongside him and he just deliberately turned in on me. It wasn't a case of closing the door, since we weren't even at the corner yet. Then in the second race I had a perfect start, but Rob got hit by another car and went sideways so I had to come to a near-standstill, losing all the places I had made up. From then on I could only try to limit the damage, but the car worked brilliantly and I finished 10th. Without the first-corner incident I'm sure I would have finished in the points."
Nicola (DNF/12th) said: "In the first race I had a good start and the car felt really strong, but in the braking zone for the final corner I lost the transmission which meant I couldn't slow down fast enough and I hit Rob. It's a shame really because both of us were in a good position to take home some big points. In the second race everything went as well as it should have gone in race one, but Zanardi blocked me for a number of laps, allowing Alain to pass us both."
Rob (DNF/DNF) said: "Unfortunately I have had one of the shortest race weekends of my career. In race one I was the victim of Nic's gearbox issues, which ultimately led to my retirement with a broken suspension. Then in the second Monteiro got alongside me but ran over the kerbs and got launched onto my rear wheel, so I had to three-wheel to pits again. It's a pity because all three of us had a good car and we could have had a really strong start to the season."
Eric Nève, Motorsport Manager of Chevrolet Europe, said: "It's not the weekend we had wished for, as – like so often in the past – we again fell victim of other drivers' behaviour. This time it was even so blatantly obvious that the stewards stepped in with immediate sanctions. It could have been a good weekend for Chevrolet, but the top speed of today's winners is still very much a concern. Let's hope that things can improve on all issues concerned at the next round in Mexico. There are still 22 races left in this year's WTCC, so we'll go to Puebla as prepared and committed as always. "
CURITIBA RACE 1 RESULTS
1. Y Muller SEAT Leon TDI 16 laps in 23m47s024
2. R Rydell SEAT Leon TDI + 0s763
3. A Farfus BMW 320si + 1s234
4. J Müller BMW 320si + 1s512
5. A Priaulx BMW 320si + 6s747
6. G Tarquini SEAT Leon TDI + 8s247
J Gené SEAT Leon TDI + 8s710 (+ 30s penalty)
7. F Porteiro BMW 320si + 15s564
8. T Coronel SEAT Leon + 16s334
DNF R Huff RML Chevrolet Lacetti Accident damage (7 laps)
DNF N Larini RML Chevrolet Lacetti Transmission (2 laps)
DNF A Menu RML Chevrolet Lacetti Accident (2 laps)
CURITIBA RACE 2 RESULTS
1. G Tarquini SEAT Leon TDI 14 laps in 20m06s577
2. A Priaulx BMW 320si + 0s327
3. F Porteiro BMW 320si + 1s202
4. J Müller BMW 320si + 1s745
5. Y Muller SEAT Leon TDI + 5s045
6. A Farfus BMW 320si + 5s360
7. R Rydell SEAT Leon TDI + 6s306
8. J Gené SEAT Leon TDI + 7s637
10. A Menu RML Chevrolet Lacetti + 17s262
12. N Larini RML Chevrolet Lacetti + 17s901
DNF R Huff RML Chevrolet Lacetti Accident (0 laps)
DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 2 OF 24
1. Y Muller (SEAT), 14 points; 2. G Tarquini (SEAT), 13; 3. A Priaulx (BMW), 12; 4. R Rydell (SEAT), 10; 5. J Müller (BMW), 10;...
MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 2 OF 24
1. SEAT, 3 points; 2. BMW, 25; 3. Chevrolet, 3.
Eric Nève at Chevrolet Europe
Tel : +41 79 681 89 76
Fax: +41 44 828 21 23
e-Mail: eric.neve@ch.gm.com
Notes to editors:
RML was founded by Ray Mallock in 1984.
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 full design, development, manufacturing and operational support for automotive engineering projects.
RML has achieved success throughout motorsport categories including GT/sportscars, touring cars, rally cars, single seaters and oval speedway cars. In 2008 RML is again competing in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, the Le Mans 24 Hours, and will defend their LMP2 Le Mans Series title. Last year RML produced the spectacular Mercedes-Benz Mclaren SLR 722 GT.
RML work together with a number of specialist official suppliers and technical partners including Autoglym - www.autoglym.co.uk, Beissbarth UK - www.beissbarth.co.uk, DuPont Refinish - www.dupontrefinish.com and Chicago Pneumatic - www.cp.com.
More information on RML is available at www.rmlmallock.co.uk
For further information please contact RML.
Dan Shires, Marketing/PR Co-ordinator
Tel: +44 (0) 1933 402440
Email: dans@rmlmallock.co.uk
