Muller twice 3rd and many points scored allow Chevrolet to retain P1 in both Championships
The Chevrolet team put together another strong performance Sunday at Oschersleben, in the eighth round of the 2010 WTCC, as Alain Menu won race 1, giving the team their first win ever on the German circuit. This is also the fifth win of the Cruze this year and the first for the Swiss driver in 2010. A consistent Yvan Muller finished third on both races, after a somehow disappointing qualifying, thus keeping the lead in the Drivers’ standings, where he is now preceding Andy Priaulx.
Rob Huff had an unluckier week-end. The Brit, who s tarted race 1 from the second spot on the grid, took the lead of the race ahead of Menu but was later stopped by a sanction, which appeared excessive to most observers, following the many contacts occurred in turn one.
In race 2, Rob managed to climb up positions throughout the field to take seventh ahead of Menu.With the many points scored today, Chevrolet is strengthening its leading position in theManufacturers’ standings, ahead of the last European event in Spain and the two Asian rounds.
• QUOTES
Alain Menu (1st / 8th): "It is very nice to be again in the winner’s circle and I am very happy for theteam, who took some heavy points today. In race 1, I took a good start, passing Priaulx andmanaged to come out unscathed from first corner. Then, we were one-two with Rob for a longwhile, before he had to stop because of the sanction he got. The last four laps I stayed veryfocused, trying not to make mistakes, as Farfus was not far behind me. He tried to attack me in thelast corner, but everything went perfectly. In race 2, I had a very good start but had to lift up thethrottle when I saw Yvan getting squeezed by two other cars in front of me. I lost some positions,but was still able to make a good race and take some more points”.
Yvan Muller (3rd / 3rd) “It’s a good week-end with regard to the championship, both for the teamand for myself, especially considering my qualifying wasn’t that great. In race 1, despite startingfrom seventh, I finished third, which is good for the championship, considering also that Tarquiniscored no points. I took a good start and was sixth at the end of lap 1, then passed a couple ofSEATs and inherited a podium finish when Rob had to stop. In race 2, I had a scary moment whenI got squeezed between Monteiro and Farfus. My car was lifted up but luckily, nothing badhappened and in the race I could climb a few positions to take another third. Now Priaulx is myclosest rival in the standings, but Tarquini shouldn’t be forgotten. It’s going to be a tough fight andwe need to stay completely focused on our objectives”.
Rob Huff (18th / 7th) : "Not my best week-end, for sure, and it is unfortunate because I felt both thecar and myself had a very strong pace. At the start of race 1, Farfus accelerated very early thenbraked earlier at turn 1, provoking that all drivers behind him bumped into each other and me onhim., but I emerged from the first couple of corners in first position. I was followed by Alain andeverything seemed OK, but then I was given the drive-through for the contact at turn 1, which Ithink it’s unfair, as that was not more than a race incident. I stayed on the track while the team wasdiscussing with the race direction, but the lap time-frame elapsed and I was black-flagged. In race2, starting from the back, it was difficult to climb positions amid the traffic, especially here whereovertaking is not easy. Still, I managed to finish seventh and took a few points”.
Eric Nève: “Another great week-end for the team and this one is particularly rewarding for tworeasons. First, this is our first victory at Oschersleben, a track that has always been very difficult forfront-wheel drive cars and is the home of our German competitor. Second, after the 5-week breakin racing activity, we have proven we haven’t lost the momentum and the good form. It is veryimportant to start the last and decisive stint of the season keeping the same level of performanceand motivation”.
OSCHERSLEBEN RACE 1 RESULTS1. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze 14 laps in 22m50s4272. A Farfus BMW 320si + 0s4913. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze + 4s7384. T Coronel SEAT León TDI + 6s8355. T Monteiro SEAT León TDI + 7s42818. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze 10 laps (Black flag)
OSCHERSLEBEN RACE 2 RESULTS1. A Priaulx BMW 320si 14 laps in 22m51s4992. A Farfus BMW 320si + 2s7295. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze +0s8374. M Nykjaer SEAT León TDI +10s3045. T Coronel SEAR León TDI +10s9827. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze +16s6918. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze +17s243
DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 16 OF 241. Y Muller (Chevrolet), 229 points; 2. A Priaulx (BMW), 216 ; 3. G Tarquini (SEAT), 196; 4. RHuff (Chevrolet), 173 ; 5. A Menu (Chevrolet), 145; 6. A Farfus (BMW), 145 ; ...19. L Pernía(Chevrolet), 1.
MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 16 OF 241. Chevrolet, 508 points; 2. BMW, 451; 3. SEAT, 449.
NEXT RACE: Round 9, Race of Spain, Valencia, 18-19 September 2010.
