RML Motorsport

31/10/2009

OKAYAMA, 31^st October 2009 – The three Chevrolet Cruzes are well-placed for Race 2 in tomorrow's Race of Japan, the penultimate round of the 2009 WTCC, as Rob Huff and Alain Menu finished 9^th and 10^th respectively in today's qualifying, while Nicola Larini is 12^th.  

The Chevrolet team missed closely putting all three Cruzes in Q-2, a good result for the new Cruze, for which it was the debut in Okayama, a demanding track that is particularly well-suited for rear wheel-drive cars and turbo diesels.  

• QUOTES 

Rob Huff (9^th): "I am happy with the balance of the car and didn't make significant changes to the set-up after the free practice sessions. I managed to do a good lap time in qualifying and I am hopeful for tomorrow, although I must say this circuit does not suit us at the moment".  

Alain Menu (10^th): "I am happy with the car and the times I did in qualifying session 1, with the first set of new tires, I had some understeer, and the boys were quick to change the front springs which improved the car. In Q2, unfortunately, I couldn't repeat the same lap times. The track had much less grip".  

Nicola Larini (12^th): "It is disappointing to have missed the Top 10 for so little. I was really convinced I could make it, but the car did not feel very good with the second set of new tyres. I lost the back at turn 2 and after that, the car was slower".  

Mark Busfield:  "Today has been a challenge we have improved the car during the sessions, and initially in Q1 things looked good but the rear wheel drive cars and turbo diesels seemed to have more performance. The guys worked well to make some changes in the sessions to gain some more time but it wasn't enough. Tomorrow we need to aim for some points in race 1 and hopefully a good grid place for race 2 and some further good points". 

OKAYAMA QUALIFYING RESULTS  

1. G Tarquini             SEAT León                            1m37s666

2. A Priaulx                  BMW 320si                             +0s050

3. J Müller                    BMW 320si                             +0s060

4. R Rydell                  SEAT León TDI                       +0s133

5. A Farfus                  BMW 320si                             +0s160

9. R Huff                     Chevrolet Cruze                   +0s954

10. A Menu                 Chevrolet Cruze                   +1s384

12. N Larini                Chevrolet Cruze                   1m39s126 (Q-1) 

For more information on Chevrolet's World Touring Car Championship programme, please contact: 

Michell Seaman

Email: michells@rmlmallock.co.uk

Tel:  +44 (0) 1933 402 440  +44 (0) 1933 402 440

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