ANOTHER FIRST FOR CHEVROLET: VICTORY IN BOTH RACES IN ANDERSTORP!

The Lacettis Dominate in Wet and Dry Weather in Sweden: Huff Takes Race 1 and Rydell, Larini and Menu Make Another 1-2-3 in Race 2

ANDERSTORP (ROUND 13 & 14), 29 July 2007 – Chevrolet lived another unforgettable day today in Sweden, winning both races of the seventh event of the 2007 World Touring Car Championship. Rob Huff achieved a light-to-flag victory in Race 1, while local hero Rickard Rydell, racing exceptionally this week-end in a fourth Lacetti, claimed victory in Race 2, ahead of Nicola Larini and Alain Menu, in what is the second one-two-three of the season for Chevrolet. With these two new victories, the Lacettis now total five successes this season. In the Drivers Championship standings, Nicola Larini is now fourth (and first among front-wheel drive cars) table with 48 points, having reduced to 10 his gap with respect to the lead.

The two Anderstorp races were influenced by the fast-changing weather conditions and difficult choices in terms of tyres and set-up. Both races started with a wet track that would then dry up quickly during the course of the 13 laps. Race 1 saw Rob Huff literally flying away from the rest of the group in the wet. The Brit kept perfectly cool when the track dried, clinching a well-deserved second WTCC victory. In Race 2, Larini and Menu started from the first row, on rain tyres, and led almost until the end, but could not resist to the come-back of Rickard Rydell, who was on slicks and much faster in the closing laps.

• QUOTESRob Huff (1st/11th): “I am of course absolutely delighted with the win in Race 1. It was really the perfect race. Yesterday I said I wanted something in the middle between a wet and a dry race, and that’s exactly what we got. At the start, Monteiro went wide to fight with Nic, clearing the way for me. It was easy to pull away, as the car was handling perfectly in the wet. I just tried to stay focused and not to overdrive in order to preserve the tyres, as I knew I would need them when the track would start drying. The 6-second gap I could build up was clearly useful at the end of the race, but except for the three final corners, I did not feel much pressure from behind. In Race 2, I had a good start, could pass a couple of cars and run sixth for a while, but then my tyres got really bad and I simply tried to hold the guys behind me as much as I could to help my team-mates in front”.

Nicola Larini (7th/2nd): “I took a good start in Race 1, but lost the advantage of being in the first row when Monteiro pushed me almost off the track in the first corner, which left me in seventh position. Afterwards, it was difficult to maintain the pace, also because the tyres were not that great. I ran together with Rickard for most of the race, but in the closing laps it was difficult to resist to the Seats and the Alfa. In Race 2, starting from the first row with Alain, I was able to take the lead and keep it almost until the end, although I really struggled not to destroy the rain tyres in the dry track. I could hold Alain, but not Rickard, who was on slicks”. ”Alain Menu (8th/3rd): “Given my position on the grid for Race 1, I took the risk of putting slicks on. It was hell for two thirds of the race, very very slippery, but with the track dry I could go pretty fast, gaining ten seconds with respect to the gap I had after lap 1 and scoring also the fastest lap. Eighth position was a nice reward for the effort. In Race 2, I realized since the formation lap that it was a mistake to race on wet tyres. But all in all, I am satisfied with my results and it is an incredible week-end for the team.”

Rickard Rydell (9th/1st): “The two races were completely different for me. It was a little bit frustrating for me to finish ninth in Race 1. I think I could have gone for Monteiro in the early laps, but I didn’t want to push too hard. Race 2 was a different story. It paid off to take the risk of putting slicks on. In the early laps I was able not to loose too much time with respects to the guys on rain tyres, I think that is where I won the race. I am really happy to win at home and I thank Chevrolet and Eurosport for this great opportunity”.

Eric Nève: “This is really a wonderful day for Chevrolet and the whole team. For the first time, we have won the two races, showing we are extremely competitive in terms of performance in all situations: Qualifying, Race 1 and Race 2. I find also very meaningful that the Lacetti has so far won in all circuits new to the Championship: Zandvoort, Pau, Porto and Anderstorp. Today’s result also shows how important it can be to have an additional car in the grid. We can only be very happy for the team and our brand”.

ANDERSTORP RACE 1 RESULTS1. R Huff Chevrolet Lacetti 13 laps in 23m51s708 (at 131.35 kph)2. T Monteiro Seat León + 0s7293. J Thompson Alfa Romeo 156 +12s5014. T Coronel Seat León +18s4655. G Tarquini Seat León +20s8587. N Larini (Chevrolet Lacetti) +25s8218. A Menu (Chevrolet Lacetti) +25s8929. R Rydell (Chevrolet Lacetti) +26s437

ANDERSTORP RACE 2 RESULTS1. R Rydell Chevrolet Lacetti 13 laps in 23m41s120 (at 132.33 kph)2. N Larini Chevrolet Lacetti +1s6083. A Menu Chevrolet Lacetti +1s8564. T Coronel Seat León +5s1575. J Thompson Alfa Romeo 156 +6s07011. R Huff Chevrolet Lacetti +10s455

DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 14 OF 221. J Müller (BMW), 58 pts; 2. A Farfus (BMW), 57; 3. A Priaulx (BMW) 56; 4. N Larini (Chevrolet) 48; 5. A Menu (Chevrolet), 45 ...9. R Huff (Chevrolet), 32, ...16. R Rydell (Chevrolet) 10, etc

MANUFACTURERS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 14 OF 221. BMW, 177 pts; 2. Seat, 147; 3. Chevrolet, 143; 4. Alfa Romeo, 70.