WTCC 2008
Making the Cruze
23/05/2010
Second seasonal win for Muller, two podiums for Huff and heavy points for the team in successful and exciting Italian week-end
MONZA, 23rd May 2010 – In an exciting racing Sunday, where fans could see touring car action at its best, the Chevrolet Cruzes took their second win of the season, thanks to Yvan Muller, and conquered two more podium finishes with Rob Huff. These great results allow the team to leave Monza tonight leading the WTCC overall standings in both the Manufacturers' and the Drivers' championships!
The Monza races, given the track characteristics and the warm weather, were anticipated to be tough on tires and brakes and the show to be exciting. It definitely was so, with a race 1 that lived many coup-de-théatre, including seeing Rob Huff taking the lead from Tarquini in the last chicane and both drivers being pipped in the last straight by a similar problem, a tyre puncture!
Yvan Muller secured good points in Race 1 and drove a very tactical Race 2 to claim a second win with the Cruze, while Rob finished third again. Alain Menu and Leonel Pernia were victims of a race incident and a puncture, respectively, but accomplished a good Race 2 starting from the back, to finish 9th and 10th, collecting some additional points and securing all Cruzes finishing in the top ten.
QUOTES
Yvan Muller (4th/1st): "We knew that the front left tyre could be an issue here, because of the heat, and we checked that closely since Friday. After Rob's problem in race 1, we changed the set-up to be more conservative even if it was against performance. That was the right approach and after scoring good solid points in race 1, I was able to win race 2 when the leading Seat had the same problem. At the start, I noticed that Gabriele Tarquini moved before the signal so I didn't fight with him, knowing he would be penalized. All I had to do was controlling Coronel behind and, one lap from the end, Nykjaer got a puncture and I took the lead. It's good to be leading the championship so early in the season, especially after three races on circuits where we believed we wouldn't be that competitive."
Rob Huff (3rd/3rd): "Another good weekend for Chevrolet as we now leads both championships. In race 1, I was lucky to finish third despite the puncture or unlucky to have one and not win the race! When I overtook Gabriele, I suddenly felt vibration in the left front and I knew it was going to be difficult to finish ahead. P3 was a good result in the circumstances. I had a difficult start in race 2 but I could stay in front of the BMWs and be on the podium again thanks to a less aggressive set-up to take care of the tyres. The team did a terrific job during repair time to allow us to shine in race 2."
Alain Menu (17th/9th): "In race 1, I was in good shape but then I collided with Michelisz at the first chicane. I first though I had braked too late but after checking the data, I braked earlier than in the previous lap, so it was him who was going slowly. With the engine bonnet in front of my windscreen I couldn't see anything and had to stop in the pits. That was it, really. Starting from the back in race 2, I was able to move to 9th place but the others were gone. Another weekend with only two points… Let's hope my turn of bad luck is over and that the rest of the season will be clean from now."
Leonel Pernia (18th/10th): "I had some exciting battles in the middle of the pack in race 1 before suffering a puncture two laps from the end. Starting from the back in race 2, I managed to follow Alain and move ahead of all the privateers to score a world championship point thanks to my top 10 finish. This is the reward to an amazing weekend: I must thank Chevrolet and the entire team for this opportunity. Having had my first run with the car during Friday's testing session, this was the best I could hope for in my first racing experience outside Argentina."
Eric Nève: "Two great drives from Yvan which show that we were right to having him with us when the opportunity arose. He didn't take too many risks in race 1 and was able to nurse the tyres in race 2 to avoid any incident. The victory was unexpected on this fast circuit; it's like the cherry on the cake, really! We are now leading the world championship, both manufacturers and drivers after a brilliant team effort with our four drivers in the top ten of race 2. The Cruze is now competitive on every track and that's promising for the rest of the season. We will be back again with four cars at Zolder, with the objective of maintaining our leading positions".
MONZA RACE 1 RESULTS
1. A Priaulx BMW 320 si 9 laps in 18m32s008
2. A Farfus BMW 320 si +0s248
3. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze +1s653
4. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze +1s820
5. T Coronel SEAT Leon TDI +2s271
17. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze +1 lap
18. L Pernia Chevrolet Cruze +2 laps
MONZA RACE 2 RESULTS
1. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze 9 laps in 18m29s805
2. T Coronel SEAT León TDI +0s512
3. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze +1s001
4. A Farfus BMW 320 si +1s742
5. A Priaulx BMW 320 si +3s495
9. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze +5s099
10. L Pernia Chevrolet Cruze +9s918
DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 6 OF 24
1. Y Muller (Chevrolet), 100 points; 2. G Tarquini (SEAT), 76 ; 3. R Huff (Chevrolet), 76 ; 4. A Priaulx (BMW), 74 ; 5. T Coronel (SEAT), 47; 9. A Menu (Chevrolet), 34; ...14. L Pernia (Chevrolet), 1.
MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 6 OF 24
1. Chevrolet, 193 points; 2. SEAT, 177; 3. BMW, 158.
NEXT RACE: Round 4, Race of Belgium, Zolder, 19-20 June 2010.
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
