The team leaves Portugal with the maximum tally of points
Chevrolet and the RML team made it another triumphant day todayin the Race of Portugal which marked the end of the first half of the 2011 WTCC season. A1-2-3 in Race 1, won by Alain Menu, and 1-2 in Race 2, with Rob Huff in the top position,mean Chevrolet has won 11 out of 12 races this year and has a very comfortable lead inboth championships.
In Race 1, Alain Menu made perfect use of the pole position and pulled away to take a flagto flag win whilst Yvan Muller and Rob Huff put on a show with their fight for second. Race 2was definitely more lively, with Muller and Huff battling for victory. Contact could not beavoided when the Brit overtook the Frenchman at mid distance of the race, but the stewardssaw no reason to launch any investigation on what can be seen as a normal racing incidentthat sometimes happens when two great drivers are fighting for the championship. AlainMenu finished 6th.
The Cruzes are now heading back to the UK, for what can be considered their home race,as the next round will take place in Donington, not far from RML’s base in Wellingborough.
• QUOTESRob Huff (3rd / 1st ): “A very good weekend for Chevrolet and for myself and a result that isthe best reward for my crew, that has done an exceptional job. I enjoyed fighting with Yvan inRace 1, it was hard because I was so close to him that I could hardly see anything else thanthe back of his car, which led me to make a couple of mistakes. Eventually, I preferred not totake any risk and stay with third, which means good points for the championship. In Race 2,the car was really awesome and I could take the lead and win the race. It’s a shame, ofcourse, that there was contact with Yvan when fighting for the lead, but I don’t think therewas anything wrong by either me or him. This is racing and these things can happen. ”
Alain Menu (1st / 6th ): “A very positive weekend for Chevrolet and for myself. Race 1 was ajob well done, there is little more to say: I had a good start and could build quickly a good gapover Yvan, which was useful, as I could concentrate on my driving without having to look atthe mirrors too much. I only slowed a bit the pace in the last three laps. In Race 2, I avoidedDahlgren when he stalled at the start, but touched slightly the wall, then I had a couple ofcontacts with Tarquini. Eventually, I could pass him, with a nice overtaking, although hedoesn’t seem to see it the same way. I fought also with Coronel, but didn’t want to take anyrisks with him. In such a track, sixth is not a bad result when you start 9th.””
Yvan Muller (2nd / 2nd ): “I am not entirely happy with my weekend. Although two seconds isnot necessarily a bad result, I leave with the impression of having lost an opportunity. InRace 1, there was nothing I could do to keep the pace of Alain, I did not have the speed, so Ifocused on defending second from Rob, which was tough, but I succeeded. In Race 2, therewas this contact with Rob, the only thing I can say is that I was holding my line going throughthe chicane and Rob gained the position cutting the chicane...”
Eric Nève: “Once again we go home with a double win and the maximum of points for theManufacturers’ championship, so it’s another great weekend. We have seen some goodracing here in Porto, and also some close fighting, but it can’t be otherwise at this level ofcompetition. Now, we need to focus on Donington, which is around the corner and animportant event for the team.”
PORTO RACE 1 RESULT1. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze 11 laps in 22m22s7632. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze + 1s2623. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze + 1s5194. T Monteiro SEAT SR León 1.6T + 5s7105. G Tarquini SEAT SR León 1.6T + 10s457PORTO RACE 2 RESULT1. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze 11 laps in 3m24s5332. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze + 1s7973. T Monteiro SEAT SR León 1.6T + 8s7284. N Michelisz BMW 320TC + 9s7525. T Coronel BMW 320 TC +10s0596. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze +11s114DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 12 OF 24:1. R Huff (Chevrolet), 227 points; 2. Y Muller (Chevrolet), 198; 3. A Menu (Chevrolet),167; 4. T Monteiro (SEAT), 101; 5. T Coronel (BMW),100; ... 10. D O’Young (Chevrolet),39;12. C Bueno (Chevrolet), 25; etc.MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 12 OF 24:1. Chevrolet, 491 points; 2. BMW, 279; 3. SEAT SR, 276; 4. Volvo, 76.NEXT RACE: Round 7, Race of the United Kingdom, Donington, 16-17 July 2011.
