TC2000 Vice-Champion To Make His Debut In The WTCC

Chevrolet will enter a fourth Chevrolet Cruze in the WTCC Round of Italy, to be hold on 21-23 May in Monza, alongside the regular cars of Rob Huff, Alain Menu and Yvan Muller. This fourth Chevrolet Cruze will be driven by Argentinean star Leonel Pernía.

The 34-year old driver from Tandil (Buenos Aires) is a confirmed touring car specialist, having raced in the highly-competitive TC2000 Championship in Argentina since 2006. Last year, he was Vice-Champion of the series and came 3rd in the TC2000 Copa Endurance. He also has experience in the Turismo Carretera, the oldest among Argentinean touring car categories.

• QUOTES

Leonel Pernía: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to race in the world’s top championship fortouring cars and with a front-running team like Chevrolet. This is an unexpected and wonderfulchance for me and I hope to contribute to team’s success in Monza. I know the level in the WTCCis very high but I am confident that my TC2000 experience will be very useful”.

Eric Nève: “It is a privilege for us to have Leonel with us at such a key event as Monza. In ourstrategy towards conquering the WTCC title this year, it is very useful to have the possibility to entera fourth car in selected events and to entrust them to drivers such as Pernía, who has a provenpedigree in touring car racing. Moreover, the presence of Leonel can only be beneficial for thevisibility of the WTCC in South America and for the image of Chevrolet in a key market likeArgentina”.

Marcello Lotti, CEO of KSO (WTCC Promoter): “It is great news to see Chevrolet strengtheningits commitment to the WTCC by entering a fourth works car in selected events, and to see that adriver of the caliber of Pernía will be driving it in Monza. This can only foster the rising interest forthe WTCC existing in South America and in Argentina in particular and serves well our plans to tryto have a WTCC event in Argentina as from next year.”