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The Algarve Welcomes The Cruzes As Championship Leaders
Portugal’s stunning new circuit brings extra excitement to the WTCC
2010-06-23
ZURICH – WELLINGBOROUGH, 23rd June 2010 – No time to rest for the WTCC contenders: the championship is now in the busiest moment of the year, with an event every other week until the en of July. Following the exciting but cool week-end in Zolder, the team trucks are now heading to the South-West end of the continent, to the Autódromo do Algarve in Portimão, another new entry in the calendar.
No doubt, weather conditions will be different at the Portuguese track, which was inaugurated two years ago. It has become not only one of the favourite spots for winter testing but also one of the European tracks best-liked by drivers because of its wonderful “natural” design, which makes full use of the hilly landscape close to the Atlantic shore.
The Chevrolet team looks forward to the traditionally warm welcome they receive from Portuguese fans and are confident that the RML-prepared Cruze will do well on such a demanding track, where the team tested last winter. The objective is to come home with as many points as possible to keep the advantage in both Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ standings.
- QUOTES
Yvan Muller: “I will not make any prediction, as I haven’t been very good recently at predicting what can happen! My dearest hope is that the weather will be warmer in Portugal; so far we have had quite cool temperatures at all events, and I am convinced that warmer temperatures can have an impact on how the cars function and change a little bit the cards at play. Portimão is definitely a very interesting tracks, hilly and with all kinds of corners, including blind ones, so it will be important to find a set-up that fits all of them”.
Rob Huff: “I was very pleased with the team result in Zolder, which basically left things unchanged in the championship. We have been in Portimão this winter and although the test was disturbed by rain, we gathered a lot of useful data. It is definitely a circuit I like, with a lot of inclinations, steep drops and climbs, and where overtaking is not an issue. I think the Cruze can do well there and that we can aim again at some heavy points”.
Alain Menu: “It is very nice to be again on a new circuit, I think this adds some excitement for everybody: the drivers, teams and fans. It is a driver circuit by all means, so no surprise that we are all thrilled at the prospect of racing there, and Portugal is of course a very nice place. We can expect some high temperatures and I am not sure how this will affect us, but I think it risks to pose some front tire problems in the final laps for those who have front-wheel drive cars, so this will be a parameter to watch closely”.
Ron Hartvelt: “It’s the busiest part of the season for the team, and we had a very short turn-around between Zolder and Portimão. Luckily, there was no major damage in Zolder, so everything is under control. Today we will be shaking-down at MIRA, and Alain will take possession of his new RML-built car, which he will drive in Portugal. We are bringing to the Algarve some further small front suspension up-dates, which should help us finding the right balance in this peculiar track, and help us to stay on top of everything which is thrown at us. Still, it will be a close fight, as I expect our competitors, especially those who are still on a light configuration, to be very competitive”.
Eric Nève: “We always go to Portugal with great pleasure, especially this time that we are arriving there as the championship leaders and are fully determined to leave in the same position! We will have again quite a number of Chevrolet guests, this time from Portugal’s dealerships, and we will also have the visit of the top executives from all the European markets, who will hold their yearly meeting in Portimão. It will be an excellent opportunity to strengthen the ties between the business and the WTCC program”.
ALGARVE SCHEDULE (Local time = CET - 1)
Friday, 2nd July 2010
14:30-15:00 (15:30-16:00) Testing
Saturday, 3rd July 2010
08:30-09:00 (09:30-10:00) Free Practice 1
11:45-12:15 (12:45-13:15) Free Practice 2
17:30-17:50 (18:30-18:50) Qualifying 1 (20’)
17:55-18:05 (18:55-19:05) Qualifying 2 (10’)
Sunday, 4th July 2010
08:30-08:45 (09:30-09:45) Warm up
12:05-12:30 (13:05-13:30) Race 1 (11 laps = 51.194 kms) (Rolling start)
16:50-17:15 (17:50-18:15) Race 2 (11 laps = 51.194 kms) (Standing start)
ALGARVE WTCC ON TV
In Europe, qualifying, warm up and the races are be broadcasted live on Eurosport International.
CHEVROLET RACING AROUND THE GLOBE
In the US, Jimmie Johnson won the last race in Sonoma, with Kevin Harvick finishing third. In the overall standings, the positions are reversed, with Harvick leading, Johnson 2nd and Gordon 5th. More info can be found on www.nascar.com.
In the UK, Jason Plato took two third positions in the last BTCC event in Croft. He still holds the second position in the overall standings ahead of the long summer break, with the other Chevrolet Cruze driver, Alex McDowall, in 13th position. More information can be found on www.btcc.net.
In Argentina, Chevrolet Elation drivers Christian Ledesma and Guillermo Ortelli are respectively 9th and 12th in the standings of the TC2000 ahead of this week-end’s round in Resistencia. More information can be found on www.tc2000.com.ar.
In Scandinavia, Jan Magnussen Magnussen is 6th in the Scandinavian series, with Chevrolet Sweden driver Viktor Hallrup lying in 13th position. In the STCC, Hallrup is 11th. More info on the Scandinavian series can be obtained on www.stcc.se and www.dtc-net.dk.
