Muller, twice 2nd, keeps control in Drivers’ standings; another podium and more points from Huff and Menu consolidate Manufacturers’ lead
Chevrolet is leaving Europe and going into the two final rounds of the WTCC as the consolidated leader of the two championships, after another successful week-end in Valencia. Yvan Muller finished second twice, while Rob Huff took another podium finish and collected, together with Alain Menu, some more valuable points.
The last European round was a challenging day for both machines and drivers, as the technical difficulties of the Spanish track were accentuated by the hot weather, but the Chevrolet team could collect another good result thanks to excellent team effort.
As cars and equipment are being packed in the Valencia paddock and be readied to start the long journey by sea to Japan and China, the Chevrolet team is heading back to the RML factory and will have some weeks to focus exclusively on the development of the 2011 Cruze and the new 1.6 turbo petrol engine. Track tests are scheduled as from next week and intense work will go on during the forthcoming weeks.
Quotes
Yvan Muller (2nd/2nd): "After Oschersleben, another double podium finish. I am very happy with the result and we just have to continue like that up to the end of the season. Today, track conditions weren’t easy at all; it’s already a difficult track, and when the weather gets so hot, it gets slippery and very treacherous for the tires, accentuating the under-steering of the car. It was not easy to keep a good pace and avoid mistakes, but everything went well and now we can face the last two rounds with the right spirit”.
Rob Huff (3rd/6th) : "It was a very tough day in the car, very warm, I feel like I’ve spent a day in the office without air conditioning! More seriously, I am very happy with today’s result: it’s another excellent week-end for the team, we scored some heavy points, everybody has done a great job and our position in both championships is consolidated. For me, personally, not a bad day, with some more good points in both races”.
Alain Menu (8th/11th): "It’s a good week-end again for the team, and that’s the most important take-away. In race 1, I had a good start, then tried to protect Yvan in first few corners. Unfortunately, I had strange vibrations soon after, especially when breaking heavily in tight corners, and lost ground progressively. In race 2, I was taken by surprise at the start. Odily enough, here in Valencia, you have a very bad sight on the lights when you sit in pole position. I almost stalled the engine and lost many positions, then Priaulx touched me in a corner and my race was basically finished.”
Eric Nève: “We can be very happy with today’s results. It was important to finish the European season keeping our leadingposition in both championships, so I feel pretty relieved. Now we can concentrate on the two Asian rounds and on finishing the job. Yvan has increased our advantage over Priaulx and lost very little to Tarquini, so we are completely satisfied”.
VALENCIA RACE 1 RESULTS
1. G Tarquini SEAT León TDI 13 laps in 23m11s24
2. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze + 0s513
3. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze + 6s318
4. J Gené SEAT León TDI + 9s949
5. A Priaulx BMW 320si +10s544
8. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze + 14s521
VALENCIA RACE 2 RESULTS
1. T Monteiro SEAT León TDI 13 laps in 23m29s770
2. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze + 0s837
3. G Tarquini SEAT León TDI + 3s455
3. A Priaulx BMW 320si + 3s785
5. J Gené SEAT León TDI + 4s183
6. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze + 4s982
11. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze +13s356
