2008 MIA 'Business of the Year' Award
Making the Cruze
14/07/2008
LARINI SECOND IN ESTORIL
Nicola Larini and Rob Huff Move Up In Drivers Championship
ESTORIL, 13th July 2008 – The RML Chevrolet WTCC team scored important points in the Portuguese round of the 2008 championship, thanks to a second place by pole sitter Nicola Larini and points finishes by Rob Huff.
In the Drivers World Championship, both Huff and Larini move up a place in the standings, while Chevrolet moves closer to the second place in the Manufacturers' standings.
QUOTES
Nicola Larini (2nd/6th): "I had a good start from pole in the first race, but the SEATs just flew past me like rockets. When Yvan went wide in one corner I could slip past and start chasing Rickard. In the beginning I was struggling a bit, though I was faster than him, especially in the first and third sectors. But coming out of the long right-hander I had to take a slightly less than ideal line in order not to lose downforce at the front so that made it difficult to outbrake him at the end of the straight. So I finished second, again. In the second race I pushed as hard as I could and gained one place but there was nothing more I could have done."
Rob Huff (4th/5th): "I had a good start and was running level with Rickard towards the end of the straight. I then could go only one way, so I thought 'be brave' and went around the outside. Then someone hit Jordi and he tapped me into a half spin and I lost a couple of places. I then sat behind Andy and Jordi for some eight laps at which time I thought it was time to interfere. I had looked after my tyres so I could make two good moves near the end and bring home more points, which was very good. In race two I was following the SEATs when Yvan pushed Jordi out of the way, but he came back on the track and gave a big swipe which bent the steering. From then on it was just matter of saving as many points as I could."
Alain Menu (11th/14th): "The first race was okay. I avoided other drivers' contacts as much as possible which meant I had to brake quite a few times, but 11th was a good result, having started 25th. In the second race I again had a good start and decided to wait a bit to see what would develop ahead of me. Gabriele Tarquini pushed me a lot going into the hairpin and there I lost some places, at the same time damaging something on the car, all I could salvage was 14th. Next race should be better at my adoptive home track of Brands Hatch. I scored Chevrolet's first win there in 2006 and won there again in 2007. A hat trick would be nice, methinks."
ESTORIL RACE 1 RESULTS
1. R Rydell SEAT Leon TDI 12 laps in 22m05s135
2. N Larini RML Chevrolet Lacetti + 0s816
3. Y Muller SEAT Leon TDI + 8s160
4. R Huff RML Chevrolet Lacetti + 10s681
5. J Gené SEAT Leon TDI + 12s316
6. A Priaulx BMW 320si + 12s605
7. T Monteiro SEAY Leon TDI + 13s222
8. F Porteiro BMW 320si + 13s662
11. A Menu RML Chevrolet Lacetti + 23s543
ESTORIL RACE 2 RESULTS
1. T Monteiro SEAT Leon TDI 12 laps in 22m06s495
2. Y Muller SEAT Leon TDI + 2s635
3. A Priaulx BMW 320si + 2s921
4. F Porteiro BMW 320si + 3s578
5. R Huff RML Chevrolet Lacetti + 4s028
6. N Larini RML Chevrolet Lacetti + 4s466
7. J Müller BMW 320si + 6s242
8. R Rydell SEAT Leon TDI + 7s495
14. A Menu RML Chevrolet Lacetti + 15s154
DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 12 OF 24
1. G Tarquini (SEAT), 58 points; 2. Y Muller (SEAT), 55; 3. R Rydell (SEAT), 48; 4. A Priaulx (BMW), 43; 5. R Huff (RML Chevrolet), 36;… 7. N Larini (RML Chevrolet), 30;… 11. A Menu (RML Chevrolet), 23;…
MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 12 OF 24
1. SEAT, 172 points; 2. BMW, 135; 3. RML Chevrolet, 115; 4. Honda, 19.
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.
Chris Burke-Martin, Sales and Marketing Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 1933 402440
Email: chrisbm@rmlmallock.co.uk
