RML Motorsport

25/09/2008

RML and Chevrolet are pleased to announce their driver line-up for the 2009 World Touring Car Championship with Alain Menu, Nicola Larini and Rob Huff signing for a fifth consecutive season.

The team will go to the last European round of the 2008 World Touring Car Championship this weekend at Monza, Italy with the clear mission to further Rob Huff's position in the current point standings. The British driver moved up one place in the championship at the last race in Imola and is now fourth with still six races to be run.

As in Imola, Huff will be able to count on the support of his team mates in qualifying, while all three will try to increase Chevrolet's points tally in the manufacturers' standings. Their motivation will be as big as ever, certainly so now they have all three re-signed with for the 2009 WTCC season, thus marking a unique stability to defend the colours of Chevrolet.

In Monza – and the two Far-Eastern races after that – the three amigos will be joined by Japanese driver, Manabu Orido, who will use the Italian race to get to the grips with the Chevrolet Lacetti and the WTCC before putting his past racing experience at Okayama and Macau to good use for his team mates.

 ·         QUOTES

Rob Huff: "I will go to Monza with the same objective as I did two weeks ago: to score as many points as possible in both races to keep my championship chances afloat. The top three drivers in the standings and I are now on the maximum success ballast, give and take two kilos, so from now until the end of the season we will be on equal footing when it comes to that. Imola went better than I expected so there is no reason why we shouldn't be right up there again in Monza. The Chevrolet Lacetti likes fast tracks, and Monza is definitely one of those. The extra morale booster comes of course from signing with Chevrolet again for 2009. Now all we have to think about is the last three events of this year."

 Alain Menu: "I'm the only one of the three Chevrolet drivers who has dropped weight since last race, so hopefully I can use that to my advantage in qualifying. Both Nic and I will of course help Rob wherever we can, since he is the only one with a real chance at the championship. I personally have always liked Monza and the track suits the Lacetti so we should look good there. I feel that as a team we have grown a lot over the last season, and it is good to know that all of us will be around again next year."

Nicola Larini: "The first objective for the entire team in Monza will be to help Rob move up positions in the overall standings. Therefore, it is difficult to talk about my own expectations for this race. I will help the team with the same enthusiasm and determination as in Imola, even if that implies some small personal sacrifice, especially in qualifying. I am delighted to stay another year with Chevrolet, RML and Rob and Alain. We are a good team and I am sure that we will continue to do excellent work together."

Manabu Orido: "For me the Monza race will be a unique chance to watch and learn from my Chevrolet team mates. In return I hope I can give them a few pointers in Okayama. The World Touring Car Championship is gaining in popularity in Japan, as can be witnessed by the number of Japanese drivers entering in the final two races this year. My target will simply be to finish the Monza races and be as competitive as I can, without taking any unnecessary risks."

Eric Nève: "It is good to be able to announce our drivers for 2009 at this early stage. It shows the confidence we have in their abilities and they have in our engineering strength. In 2009 we will run a new car and it is good to have stability on the drivers' side. Their combined 12 years of experience with the Chevrolet Lacetti will allow us to hit the ground running when we start to prepare for the new season. And while it may sound cliché, there really is no point in changing a winning team. Consistency and a methodical approach have allowed us to be where we are today, and will allow us to go even further in the future."

DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 18 OF 24

1. Y Muller (SEAT), 80 points; 2. G Tarquini (SEAT), 68; 3. R Rydell (SEAT), 62; 4. R Huff (Chevrolet), 61; 5. A Priaulx (BMW), 55;…10. A Menu (Chevrolet), 40; 11. N Larini (Chevrolet), 38;…

MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 18 OF 24

1. SEAT, 241 points; 2. BMW, 207; 3. Chevrolet, 177; 4. Honda, 42.

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