Belgium To Welcome The Cruzes As WTCC Leaders
For the fifth round of the 2010 season, the WTCC is heading to Belgium, a country with a great touring car tradition but which has beenvisited only once (Spa, in 2005) by the world’s main touring car series. No surprise therefore that fans from Belgium and bordering countries are anxious to be at the gates of the Limburg track!
For the occasion, Chevrolet is entering a fourth RML-run Cruze that will be entrusted to local heroVincent Radermecker, who earned for Chevrolet the German ADAC Procar title in 2006.Having left Monza three weeks ago in the best possible position, as leaders of both the Drivers’and Manufacturers’ provisional standings, the Chevrolet boys are looking forward to furtherincrease their points capital, in a track that should suit well the characteristics of the Cruze.
• QUOTESYvan Muller: “It is going to be a new circuit for most of the drivers. I personally raced only oncein Zolder, but it was a long time ago, in 1987, at an event of the German Supertouringchampionship. Theoretically, Zolder should be a track favourable to the Cruze and I hope we cancontinue scoring big points. We are in a good position in both championships, but it is much tooearly to think about that. We need to continue approaching things race by race, with the aim ofbeing in the top three all the time”.
Rob Huff: “This will be my third time in Belgium in the last six weeks, but it’s a country I like a lot,so I am quite excited. Last week-end, I lived a very nice experience competing in the 12 Hours ofSpa-Francorchamps with Eric van de Poele and Vincent Radermecker, and second place was afantastic result. Now I’m looking forward at being again at the wheel of the Cruze and at being onanother circuit new to the WTCC, which I think is a very good thing for the championship. Afterthe incredible week-end in Monza, I think we can aspire to some more success, in a track thatshould suit us well and where I only raced once, in 2000, with the F.Vauxhall Junior”.
Alain Menu: “After two disappointing week-ends for me in Marrakech and Monza, I am confidentthat the tide will change and I think that being on a new track will help re-starting my season. Iraced there some ten years ago, with the DTM, but the circuit has been modified since, so it isgoing to be something new for almost everybody. It’s a track reputed to be tough on brakes, butthe Cruze should be ok, as it is a very technical and not extremely fast track. Key point will bespeed in exiting the corners, and we can anticipate that our rivals with rear-wheel drive will bevery competitive”.
Vincent Radermecker: “I am approaching this great opportunity with as much calm as I can. Myobjective is to take things step by step, to progress at every session and be in a position to helpthe team during the races, hoping that no problems will alter this plan. It was very useful to bewith the team in Monza, to get to know everybody, participate in the technical briefings and debriefingsand also attend the WTCC drivers’ briefing. This will make the adaptation process mucheasier and quicker in Zolder. Next Monday I should shake-down the car I will be driving, so thiswill be very helpful as well”.
Ron Hartvelt: “We now enter the tightest and most crucial part of the season, with four events inseven weeks. I think we can expect a close and beautiful fight in Zolder, where brakes andcurbing performance will be key. We had a testing session there with the Cruze in August lastyear and the information gathered then will be a very good base to start from. The track shouldbe OK for the Cruze and we will have the advantage to run a fourth car for Vincent. We did sometesting in Pemberey after Monza, and will have a couple of up-dates on the front suspension, butthere is no major modification to the car”.
Eric Nève: “It will be an emotional moment for me to be back in Zolder, a track where my careerin motorsports started... Most of all, it is really a circuit for touring cars, which attracts fans from allthe neighbouring countries, so we can really expect a great week-end. Chevrolet will contributewith over 500 guests from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France, and we will also havethe jury of ‘Young? Creative? Chevrolet!’ meeting and deliberating the winners of the 2010edition of our pan-European contest for young artists. On the track, our objective will be to furtherbuild-up on the excellent start of the season and possibly to remain on top of bothchampionships’ standings”.
ZOLDER SCHEDULE (Local time = CET)
Friday, 18th June 201015:00-15:30 Testing
Saturday, 19th June 201009:15-09:45 Free Practice 111:15-11:45 Free Practice 214:15-14:50 Qualifying 1 & 2
Sunday, 20th June 20100915-09:30 Warm up13:05-13:30 Race 1 (13 laps = 52.078 kms) (Rolling start)15:20-15:45 Race 2 (13 laps = 52.078 kms) (Standing start)
ZOLDER WTCC ON TVIn Europe, qualifying, warm up and the races are be broadcasted live on Eurosport International.
