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1. The 2010 WTCC program
In 2010, Chevrolet is participating again (for the sixth season) in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) with a team of three Chevrolet Cruze. This will be the second season for the Cruze, which was introduced in the WTCC in 2009 at the same time the new street model was launched in the market.
The ambitions for this 2010 are high, as Chevrolet will aim at conquering the world title, an achievement that would culminate the steady progression experienced since the racing debut of our brand in 2005.
2010 sees a change in the driver line-up, as French ace Yvan Muller (41), one of the most acclaimed touring car drivers (a WTCC champion in 2008, and a vice-champion in 2007 and 2009) has joined the team, replacing Nicola Larini, who has decided to retire from WTCC racing. Muller will join Alain Menu (Switzerland) and Rob Huff (UK), who are with the Chevrolet team since the beginning of the WTCC program in 2005.
The Cruze WTCC has undergone significant development and testing work during the 2009 season and during the winter break leading towards the 2010 season. British stalwart racing organization Ray Mallock Limited (RML) is in charge of the technical and sports aspects of the Chevrolet racing program since 2005.
2. The Cruze and racing
Not only the WTCC racing program is an integral part of the marketing plan to launch the Cruze at global level; the racing and street versions of the Cruze are even more closely linked than usually is the case.
The 'racing usage' of the Cruze has been one of the parameters since the beginning of the project. The design and development of the new model have been conducted taking into account both the needs and constraints of racing and the lessons learnt from the valuable laboratory that offer motorsports.
3. The WTCC and Chevrolet's racing heritage
"Competition is in our genes" is an expression that is often used at Chevrolet. Since the Swiss-born founder of the brand, Louis Chevrolet, started to race the cars he personally built in the early years of the 20th century, Chevrolet has been present in motorsports, not only to collect numerous and prestigious victories and titles, but also and foremost, to use the extreme conditions of racing as a proving ground for its technologies and innovations.
In 2005, when the Chevrolet brand was re-launched in Europe, Chevrolet embarked in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), one of the only three FIA world Championships, next to Formula One and the World Rally Championship (WRC). This was meant to show our confidence in our products and their qualities to the public, our dealers and employees.
The WTCC features cars close to the regular production products: 'Real cars, real racing' is the championship's tag-line that very appropriately encapsulates both the spirit of the WTCC and Chevrolet. With races taking place in 5 different continents (Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa) and offering a truly global audience, the WTCC was the ideal platform to showcase the Chevrolet Spirit, so well symbolized by Louis Chevrolet's motto: "Never give up!"
Since its WTCC debut in 2005, Chevrolet (first with the Lacetti/Nubira in 2005-08 and then with the Cruze as from 2009) has constantly grown from the indispensible 'learning curve', against fierce and much more experienced competitors.
In its five seasons in the championship, Chevrolet has achieved an impressive record of 20 race wins, 52 podiums, 11 pole positions, 17 fastest laps, 246 laps in the lead and 867 manufacturer points.
About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is General Motors' leading global brand with annual sales of about 3.5 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. It is the fourth biggest global car brand in terms of sales and also one of the fastest growing brands in the world. Chevrolet delivers attractive, distinctive design, practical, economical cars and outstanding value for money. After re-launching the brand in Europe in 2005, Chevrolet more than doubled its sales to over 500,000 in 2008. The new Chevrolet line-up includes the all-new Spark city car, the small Aveo, compact Cruze sedan, Captiva SUV and mid-size Epica. Chevrolet's biggest markets in Europe are Russia, Italy, Germany, France and Spain. Established in the U.S. by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet in 1911, the brand is preparing to celebrate its centenary with the launch of the ground-breaking Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. More information on Chevrolet can be found at http://www.chevroleteurope.com or http://media.chevroleteurope.com.
