FOR THE CRUZE IN PORTO
Thanks to a 2nd and a 6th, Rob Huff Keeps His Championship Chances
One podium finish and 15 points in total: the Chevrolet team can besatisfied with the overall result obtained by the Cruzes in the streets of Porto, in two races (the 99th and 100th of the WTCC) that were closely fought and packed with incidents. Rob Huff finished second in race 1 and sixth in race 2, while Nicola Larini finished fifth in race 1. Nicola was caught in a race incident with Tarquini in the second race, while Alain Menu, at the wheel of the Cruze carrying the 2009 winning livery of the ‘Young? Creative? Chevrolet!” art competition, had a difficult day, as he was involved in incidents during both races. The team is now looking forward to the next event, which will take place near home, in Brands Hatch, a track that has traditionally been very friendly to the Chevrolets.
• QUOTESRob Huff (2nd/6th): “I leave Porto with 11 points, that’s always good, and I was happy to be onthe podium in race 1, in front of Nick Reilly and all the team. But it was a difficult week-end, therewas not much we could do against the SEATs, they seemed to have much more power than allthe other cars. In race 1, so second position behind Tarquini was a good result, and in race 2, Ijust went for some more points”.
Nicola Larini (5th/Ret): “It is almost impossible to overtake on this track, so the races lackedinterest. I managed to finish fifth in race 1 and was in the same position in race 2, when I let Robpass. Tarquini tried to pass at the same time but he had nowhere to brake so he ran into me andwe both went off”.
Alain Menu (21st/Ret): “It was not a good week-end for me. In race 1, Farfus hit me quite heavilyin the back, pushing me off. The boys did a fantastic job first in the pits allowing me to rejoin therace for a couple of laps and then repairing the car fully for race 2, where unfortunately I wasinvolved in another incident, this time with Engstler”.
Mark Busfield: “We had a bit of everything today, but what we have to take-away are the goodpoints we scored and Rob’s great results, which allow him to stay in the race for thechampionship. We also had incidents, but this is unavoidable on track like this, where overtakingis very difficult. Brands Hatch is next and I am confident that we can do something good theretoo”.
Wayne Brannon: “It’s great to come to Portugal and see the interest that Chevrolet gets here,and the amount of Chevrolet fans here at the track today plus all the counties Chevrolet dealerscame out in mass to support us today and experience all the activities going on in the paddockthat blend well with the results Rob brought us today”.
PORTO RACE 1 RESULTS1. G Tarquini SEAT León TDI 12 laps in 1hr04m11s2742. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze +2s9343. Y Muller SEAT León TDI +7s8484. T Monteiro SEAT León TDI +8s4725. N Larini Chevrolet Cruze +15s790N.C. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze +8 laps
PORTO RACE 2 RESULTS1. A Farfus BMW 320si 13 laps in 47m48s3042. Y Muller SEAT León TDI +2s2953. R Rydell SEAT León TDI +2s8104. M Gené SEAT Le´n TDI +3s3855. T Monteiro SEAT León TDI +3s9705. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze +4s219DNF A Menu Chevrolet Cruze Accident damage (9 laps)DNF N Larini Chevrolet Cruze Accident damage (5 laps)
WTCC DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 14 OF 24 :1. Y Muller (SEAT), 80 points; 2. A Farfus (BMW), 66; 3. G Tarquini (SEAT), 65; 4. R Rydell(SEAT), 46; 5. R Huff (Chevrolet), 43; ...12. N Larini (Chevrolet), 18; 13. A Menu (Chevrolet),14; etc.WTCC CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 14 OF 24:1. SEAT, 191 points; 2. BMW, 174; 3. Chevrolet, 121; 4. Lada, 53.
NEXT RACE: Race of United Kingdom, Brands Hatch, 18-19 July 2009.
