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The Cruzes Fastest in Testing on the Streets of Porto

Huff, Menu and Muller happy with their working session and changes to the track

2011-07-01

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The Chevrolet Cruzes navigated their way through the streets of Porto, as Huff, and Yvan Muller posted the three fastest lap times in today’s testing session on the Boavista urban track which hosts the WTCC’s Portuguese round every other year.

Despite this being the first time they raced with a turbo engine on the modified Lusitanian track, the Cruzes proved extremely competitive and are in a position to further enrich Chevrolet’s tradition of success on street circuits. Tomorrow, the Cruzes will attempt to qualify at the front of the grid to place themselves in an ideal position for Sunday’s races.

In the meantime, the Cruze has taken its inaugural win in the TC2000, the Argentinean touring car championship and the most competitive series in . Last weekend, Agustín Canapino won the race in Córdoba, with Christian Ledesma third, in what was only the fourth outing with the new Cruze for the Chevrolet TC2000 team.

·         QUOTES

Huff (1^st): “A very good session, I am very happy with the balance of my car, there is basically nothing to change. It’s a pity the session was red flagged before the end because I think I could have further improved my times. I like a lot of the changes made to the circuit, it is much more flowing now, in turns 4 and 5 you now pass in 3^rd gear instead of having to go down to 1^st. The circuit is obviously faster, but I like fast street tracks, it helps in separating the men from the boys!”

(2^nd): “Nothing special to report, it was a good working session. We basically had to learn the circuit again, as there are quite a few differences with respect to last time, one corner and all the chicanes are completely new. For the rest, I would like to have a little bit more grip on the front and reduce the car’s tendency to jump on the kerbs, so that’s what we’ll work on tonight.”

Yvan Muller (3^rd): “The circuit has improved a lot: much pleasant to drive, faster and more opportunities for overtaking. The session went well, we performed all the scheduled work and was about to go out with new tires for my fast lap when the red flag came out.”

TESTING RESULT

1. R Huff               Chevrolet Cruze       2m09s026

2. A Menu             Chevrolet Cruze       + 0s641

3. Y Muller           Chevrolet Cruze       + 0s732

4. N Michelisz        BMW 320 TC              + 1s550

5. S D’Aste            BMW 320 TC              + 1s788