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Two More Wins For The Cruzes In Hungary!

Menu wins Race 1, Muller and Huff make it 1-2 in Race 2

2011-06-05

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The RML Chevrolet Cruzes brought home two more wins, as they dominated both races in , where the WTCC raced for the first time in front of an impressive and enthusiastic crowd. took a flag to flag win in Race 1, while and Rob Huff scored a 1-2 in the second race. With these results, both Chevrolet and Rob Huff stay firmly in command of the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ overall standings.

In Race 1, starting from the pole, produced a flawless drive to take a flag to flag win, while Huff and Muller finished 4^th and 5^th, respectively. Race 2 was much more chaotic,  because of a torrential downpour and the Race Director red flagged the race for half an hour. At the re-start, Yvan Muller took the lead of the race to record his first win of the season while Rob Huff drove to a sensational second place, ending the weekend in the best way possible after only qualifying in 12^th . Unfortunately recorded a DNF due to a collision with Tom Coronel on lap 4 after looking good for another good haul of points.

·         QUOTES

Yvan Muller (5^th / 1^st): “I am of course very happy after taking my first win of the season, it was about time, but not entirely satisfied with the overall result this week end. In Race 1, I was hit from the back at the start, losing many positions. Something got bent in the incident and the car wasn’t running that well. I could climb some positions but got passed by Rob at the end, when Villa and Tarquini clashed. In Race 2, on the contrary, I did benefit from the first lap incident and after the storm, I could control everything and cruise to victory.”

Alain Menu (1^st/ Ret): “I have some mixed feelings at the end of this weekend. Clearly, it was very nice to win Race 1. I had a good start and tried to spare the tyres in the first part of the race, and although Michelisz was right behind me and pushing a little bit, I had things under control. Then I could pull away and it was done. Race 2, of course, is a source of regret, as Coronel put me out of the track in turn 3, when I had already passed him. It’s frustrating to lose a good result like that, but that’s racing, I guess.”

Rob Huff (4^th / 2^nd): “I am of course delighted with today’s results, after the disaster I made for myself in qualifying. Yesterday evening, I would never have thought that I would leave with a 4^th and a 2^nd, and with a 31 point lead in the championship. In Race 1, I had a good start, did some overtaking and could find an opportunity to pass Yvan when Villa and Tarquini got tangled. In Race 2, the rain came hard and fast, it was impossible to stay on the track. We changed something in the set-up while sitting on the grid and that proved effective, as the car was just perfect. I could climb up to 2^nd and then stayed quiet behind Yvan as it made no sense to push with rain tires on a drying track.”

Eric Nève: “The best thing of the weekend is certainly the immense and cheerful crowd we have seen in this first WTCC event in . One would have thought that we were in a stadium for a football World Cup final! It is really heart warming to see such an atmosphere and a marvelous feeling to win both races in front of such a crowd. I think the many Chevrolet dealers from the region who visited us are delighted and couldn’t hope for a better christening for the new Aveo, which is being launched here as from tonight!”

RACE 1 RESULT

1. A Menu             Chevrolet Cruze       12 laps in 23m45s874

2.         BMW 320 TC              + 1s047

3. J Villa                 BMW 320 TC              + 17s383

4. R Huff               Chevrolet Cruze       + 17s983

5. Y Muller           Chevrolet Cruze       + 18s365

RACE 2 RESULT

1. Y Muller           Chevrolet Cruze       14 laps in 59m02s507

2. R Huff               Chevrolet Cruze       + 3s631

3. G Tarquini         SEAT León TDI           +10s106

4. T Coronel          BMW 320 TC              +11s699

5. T Monteiro         SEAT León TDI           +22s995

8. D O’Young        Chevrolet Cruze          +31s267

DNF A Menu        Chevrolet Cruze       4 laps (accident)

DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 8 OF 24:

1. R Huff (Chevrolet), 150 points; 2. Y Muller (Chevrolet), 119; 3. A Menu (Chevrolet), 104; 4. G Tarquini (SEAT), 75; 5. T Monteiro (SEAT), 74; ... 10. D O’Young (Chevrolet), 31; 11. C Bueno (Chevrolet), 25; etc.

MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 8 OF 24:

1. Chevrolet, 322 points; 2. SEAT, 193; 3. BMW, 185; 4. Volvo, 46.