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The New Cruze 1.6 Turbo Off To A Good Start In Brazil

Huff and Muller in the top 3, Bueno 6th and Menu 12th in first testing session

2011-03-18

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A new era in WTCC’s history was inaugurated today, as cars equipped with the 1.6 turbo petrol engines hit the track for the first time, during the two testing sessions ahead of the 2011 season-opener in . The new Chevrolet Cruze 1.6 turbo had a positive debut, with Rob Huff signing the second-fastest time, a few tenths ahead of team-mate and World Champion Yvan Muller. Local hero Cacá Bueno was an excellent sixth-fastest and Alain Menu was 12^th, after devoting the 30-minute afternoon session to working on race set-ups.

The new Cruzes experienced no problems and had already been in P2 (Menu) and P3 (Muller) in the longer morning shake-down, which had to be red-flagged 20 minutes from the end because of an accident. Humid and hot weather is forecasted also for tomorrow’s qualifying session, which will deliver the first ‘serious’ verdict of the season.

·     QUOTES

Rob Huff (2^nd): “I am pleased with the times today, although one always wonders if we couldn’t have done a little bit better, but we are definitely in the top end of the grid and the Cruze has shown solid performance and nice power. It seems that we have good pace but this will have to be double-checked tomorrow in qualifying.”  

Yvan Muller (3^rd): “I am satisfied with this first working session with the new Cruze. All the parameters have changed, not only because of the new engine but also because the track has been resurfaced, so there are still a lot of things we have to understand and work on, but the first impression is positive.”   

Cacá Bueno (6^th): “I am delighted of being again at the wheel of the Cruze, and in front of my home crowd! Of course, this is a circuit I know well and this helps. Today’s sixth best time is a very good start, but this is going to be a tough weekend for me, as I am also competing in the Brazilian stock-car race and I will be jumping from one car to the other!”

Alain Menu (12^th): “Nothing special to report, it was a good working session and I am happy we could complete with no hiccups the program we had planned. I have been on a race set-up this afternoon and the car feels quite nice”.                     

CURITIBA TESTING RESULTS

1. T Coronel                BMW 320TC                           1m23s090

2. R Huff                   Chevrolet Cruze                   + 0s623

3. Y Muller                 Chevrolet Cruze                   + 0s706

4. F Barth                   SEAT León TDI                       + 0s774

5. G Tarquini               SEAT  León TDI                      + 0s913

6. C Bueno                Chevrolet Cruze                    + 1s248

12. A Menu               Chevrolet Cruze                   + 1s601