Three podium finishes for Cruzes strengthens lead in championships
It was an exciting, action packed and emotional day for Chevrolet at the Slovakiaring with a one-two finish in Race 2 as Rob Huff took his much awaited first win of the season ahead of Yvan Muller. In Race 1, Alain Menu collectedanother podium finish, crossing the line in third position.
All three Chevrolet drivers faced some challenging moments during Sunday’s races. In Race 1 Rob Huff was forced off the track, while Yvan Muller was handed a drive through penalty after contact with BMW driver Michelisz. In Race 2, Alain Menu was forced to retire after damage from contact put an end to his race.
Slovak fans came en masse to the first WTCC event in Bratislava and enjoyed a great show on a beautiful sunny day. The Chevrolet team is leaving Bratislava with a consolidated lead in both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ championships and the RML run Cruzes are looking forward to racing at the Hungaroring next weekend.
• QUOTESRob Huff (DNF/1st): “I had a great day and it’s exactly what I needed! I never thought I couldwin Race 2 after the accident in the first race. My car was damaged and repair time wasminimal, but the boys did it once again. It was another great show by Chevrolet and RML. Ileft the pit lane barely seconds before it closed.
“The car was just perfect. I had a great start and kept everything under control. I changed mystanding start compared with what I did in Marrakech and it seems to have worked. In Race1, I was just pushed off the track by one of the BMWs, and then hit by other cars. It resultedin damage to three of the four corners…”
Yvan Muller (11th/2nd): “This was not a great weekend in terms of results, but a goodweekend if we look at the championship. In Race 1, I had minimal contact with Michelisz, buthe kept the throttle down and went off. I was later sanctioned with a drive through, which Ithink was a bit excessive.
“In Race 2, I fought my way up to second position. In the closing laps I was hit by Tarquini; Idon’t know what he was trying to achieve, but luckily I managed to keep the car on the track.”Alain Menu (3rd/DNF): “It was a round of mixed fortunes for me, but these things happen. InRace 1, I was happy to finish third given my position on the grid. I managed a few goodovertakes and benefitted from some race incidents. After that, my main concern was topreserve the front tires.
“In Race 2, I unfortunately lost the advantage of the front row as I had a bad start. I don’tknow if it was me or the clutch, but something did not work. Then, as I was trying to passD’Aste on the inside, he closed on me abruptly and we touched. My wheel was damaged anda couple of laps later I was forced out of the race.”
Eric Nève: “Slovakia was a great experience with such huge and enthusiastic crowds andmany Chevrolet guests from 10 countries. We are delighted with our results and anotherone-two win, but most of all we enjoyed a terrific welcome and look forward to coming backnext year.”
SLOVAKIARING RACE 1 RESULT1. G Tarquini SEAT León WTCC 10 laps in 22m42s2752. A Dudukalo SEAT León WTCC + 2s4843. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze + 4s1944. A Cerqui BMW 320TC + 6s9925. S D’Aste BMW 320TC + 7.97811. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze +21s17417 R Huff Chevrolet Cruze 3 laps
SLOVAKIARING RACE 2 RESULTS1. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze 10 laps in 22m38s1012. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze + 2s0293. G Tarquini SEAT León WTCC + 2s5554. T Coronel BMW 320 TC + 8s8595. P Oriola SEAT León WTCC + 9s352DNF A Menu Chevrolet Cruze
WTCC DRIVERS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 8 OF 241. Muller (Chevrolet), 148; 2. Huff (Chevrolet), 122; 3. Menu (Chevrolet), 121; 4. Coronel(BMW), 93; 5. Tarquini (SEAT), 87…
WTCC MANUFACTURERS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 8 OF 241. Chevrolet, 337 points; 2. SEAT, 219; 3. BMW, 208.
NEXT RACE: Race of Hungary, Budapest, 5-6 May 2012.
