LAST THIRD OF CRUZE’S FIRST WTCC SEASON KICKS OFF AT OSCHERSLEBEN
Recent Tests In Zolder And Magny-Cours Confirmed Cruze’s Progress
The Summer holidays are now over for the World Touring Car Championship, as race activity resumes next week-end with the German round of the series, in Oschersleben, the technical and modern track near Magdeburg. While the last 6 weeks have seen no WTCC races, activity has been intense for the Chevrolet team both on track and at the RML factory.
The work has focused on further fine-tuning the balance and the set-up of the Cruze, and two fruitful testing sessions at Zolder and Magny-Cours have proved that the car keeps progressing.This reinforces the motivation of the entire team ahead of the last two European events and the Asian tour to end the Cruze’s promising first season on a high.
• QUOTES
Rob Huff: “Last year, I went away from Oschersleben with the pole position and two podiumfinishes, so I would be happy repeating that! It’s a circuit I like and where Chevrolet gets a lot ofsupport from local fans, which is always an additional stimulus. I was very happy with theoutcome of the test in Magny-Cours last week and I hope we can put that to a good use inGermany. We are now starting the last third of the season, with only four rounds to go, and it isimportant we keep the momentum and reach our objective, which is to finish in the top three.”Alain Menu: “I am sincerely happy to be racing again: Six weeks is a long break! During theholiday period, I had the opportunity to race again in Argentina with the Chevrolet Elaion team, inthe prestigious 200 km of Buenos Aires, but my team-mate Guillermo Ortelli and me wereunlucky this time, as a plastic bag that blew onto the track fouled up the timing gears and causedthe engine to go into safe mode. So, I am eager to be back behind the wheel of the Cruze. I likeOschersleben, it is a very technical track, where any mistake costs a lot of time. It is probably notthe most favorable track for the Cruze but I am confident we can aim at some good points.”
Nicola Larini: “In the last two rounds, my races were basically ruined by race incidents causedby other drivers, so my first objective in Oschersleben will be to avoid any bad luck and survivethe first corner, which is always a tricky moment in Oschersleben. Otherwise, the car continuesprogressing well, and although we will be at our German competitor’s home circuit, I think we cando well.”Mark Busfield: “The summer break has certainly been well used. The boys could take some timeoff and recharge their batteries, which is always essential, the cars have been thoroughly re-builtand further fine-tuned and, most importantly, we have continued testing and developing theCruze. We are happy with the work done, which should allow us to progress in this last part of theseason. Oschersleben is completely new to the Cruze, so it is difficult to say how well we canperform there, but we have raced and tested in circuits with quite a similar configuration and I feelwe can be competitive.”
Eric Nève: “Going to Germany is always something special. Not only it is the biggest market inEurope, and one where Chevrolet is doing very well, but it is also a country that has a realdevotion for touring car racing and where we have a lot of Chevrolet fans. It’s great to count onsuch a warm support. Oschersleben also marks the beginning of the final stretch of the seasonand we are determined to do our outmost to end on a sweet note. Getting some more goodresults would be nice for the Cruze, which is achieving an excellent first season in the WTCC,and would also be the best way to lay the ground for the future.”.OSCHERSLEBEN RACE SCHEDULE (CET)
Saturday, 5th September 200908.45-09.15 Free Practice 111:00-11:30 Free Practice 215.15-15.50 Qualifying (Q1 20’ + Q2 10’)
Sunday, 6th September 200909.15-09.30 Warm up12.50-13.15 Race 1 (14 laps = 51.744 kms) (Rolling start)15.05-15.30 Race 2 (14 laps = 51.744 kms) (Standing start)
OSCHERSLEBEN WTCC ON TVIn Europe, qualifying, warm up and the races are be broadcasted live on Eurosport International.
WTCC DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 16 OF 24 :1. Y Muller (SEAT), 82 points; 2. G Tarquini (SEAT), 77; A Farfus (BMW), 76; 4. R Rydell(SEAT), 55; 5. R Huff (Chevrolet), 54; ...11. A Menu (Chevrolet), 24 ; 13. N Larini (Chevrolet),18; etc.
WTCC CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 16 OF 24:1. SEAT, 211 points; 2. BMW, 201; 3. Chevrolet, 147; 4. Lada, 59.
