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The Cruzes Eager to Shine in Last European Round in Valencia
New engines for the three cars and one goal: securing the Manufacturers’ title
2011-08-26
ZURICH / WELLINGBOROUGH – With the end of the summer break, the WTCC resumes activity and heads to Spain for the last stop of the European campaign. As customary, it will be the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana ‘Ricardo Tormo’ near Valencia hosting the Race of Spain in a warm Mediterranean atmosphere. It will be a key event for Chevrolet, as the brand could be crowned as World Champions in Spain. Securing the second consecutive WTCC Manufacturers’ title ahead of the final Asian tour is therefore the objective for Chevrolet and the RML team in this Spanish outing.
The situation is completely different in the Drivers’ Championship, where the only certainty is that the title cannot elude one of the Chevy boys, but the outcome is as open as ever, with Rob Huff and Yvan Muller separated by 6 points only and Alain Menu third in the role of the outsider.
As always, the twisty Valencia track, especially in the likely case of warm weather, is expected to be extremely challenging on cars and tyres. An additional question mark could come from the engines, as cars powered by the 1.6 turbo engine will be able to fit a new engine as from this event, this being the only engine change allowed during the season by the FIA. Still, the Chevrolet team are confident that the Cruzes will continue to be as competitive as in the previous rounds.
- QUOTES
Rob Huff: “I’m anxious to be at the wheel again of the Cruze after four weeks. In the meantime, I had the opportunity to drive the Argentine Cruze that races in the TC2000. Competing in the 200 kms of Buenos Aires is always a very enjoyable experience, although my team mate Agustín Canapino and I were pretty unlucky. Something broke in the rear suspension during formation lap and we had to start from the pits. We managed to pass half of the field but an oil leak stopped us. Back to the WTCC now! Any race is now key with regard to the championship and I am looking forward to be in the battle again! I certainly enjoy Valencia and we had some good results there in the past, although it’s not an easy track for front wheel drive cars and the surface is very abrasive. The key will be to find a good set up for the races.”
Yvan Muller: “The last couple of weeks have been pretty busy. I tested mid August at Rockingham and then participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans … for bicycles. My team completed 176 laps of the Bugatti circuit, equal to 757 km, at an average of 32 km/h, which is quite a good result, although I can tell you that I never thought that a circuit lap could prove so long… Now, the focus is back onto the WTCC and the battle for the title, for which I am more determined than ever. Valencia is a great circuit, especially for spectators, who can see the entire lap from any of the grandstands. I like it, although it is always challenging, especially for front wheel drive cars, as front tyres are under extraordinary constraints, especially with warm weather, which is often the case there at this time of the year.”
Alain Menu: “I am just back from Argentina, where I took part to the 200 kms of Buenos Aires, with the TC2000 Cruze. It was the sixth time I was competing in the event and I really love it and love the country. I was sharing the wheel with my friend Christian Ledesma but unfortunately, this time things did not go very well, as we had to retire a few laps from the end while we were fighting in the top five. Valencia is the top priority now, it is clear that if I want to keep some chances for the title, I have to be in front of my two team mates and try to win at least one of the races. We’ll see how it goes, but I really like the circuit, which is quite technical and one where if you want to be quick, you have to really attack and drive as clean as possible at the same time.”
Ron Hartvelt, WTCC Project Manager: “We really didn’t feel it was the summer break, as work has continued full speed. We tested at Rockingham and Pembrey, mainly to check a few up dates in view of the future, and achieved a lot of logistics work ahead of the Asian tour. With the cars leaving for Asia soon after Valencia and three races over there, there was a lot of planning and preparation to do. We are shaking down the cars this Friday at Sywell with the three drivers, and then off to Valencia, where the key challenge will be to preserve the front tyres. We are staying over after the races on Sunday and will be testing on Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Arnaud Martin, Engine Chief Engineer: “The new FIA rules allow only one engine change this season, after the eighth event. This moment is now and we have opted for using the engine change possibility not because the engines were tired, on the contrary they are probably performing better now than at the beginning of the season, but because we wanted to be able to look into them, check the engine wear and gather useful information for next season, when no engine changes will be allowed and each engine will need to have a life cycle of 5000 kms, the average distance of a full season. I must say we have been extremely happy with what we have seen and checked, and with the reliability of our new 1.6 turbo engine. As per the new regulation, FIA inspectors were present and also doing their verifications and we were given full clearance on all aspects checked.”
Eric Nève: “Valencia is always among the favorite events, because of the warm welcome of Spanish fans and the nice surroundings, but this time we’ll have an additional stimulus, as we can clinch the Manufacturers' title already there. If we leave Spain with 258 points of advantage on our nearest rival, we will have the mathematical certainty of the title. At the moment, we are 267 points ahead, so it is absolutely crucial that we keep this margin.”
VALENCIA RACE SCHEDULE (Local time = CET -1)
Saturday, 3rd September 2011
09:00-09:30 Free Practice 1
11:30-12:00 Free Practice 2
14:30-14:50 Qualifying 1
14:55-15:05 Qualifying 2
Sunday, 4th September 2011
09:00-09:15 Warm up
13:35-14:00 Race 1 (13 laps = 52,065 kms) (Rolling start)
15:05-15:30 Race 2 (13 laps = 52,065 kms) (Standing start)
VALENCIA WTCC ON TV
In Europe, qualifying, warm up and the races are be broadcasted live on Eurosport International.
DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 16 OF 24:
1. R Huff (Chevrolet), 289 points; 2. Y Muller (Chevrolet), 283; 3. A Menu (Chevrolet), 220; 4. G Tarquini (SEAT), 145 ; 5. T Coronel (BMW), 137 ; ... 12. D O’Young (Chevrolet), 43; 14. C Bueno (Chevrolet), 25; etc.
MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 16 OF 24:
1. Chevrolet, 648 points; 2. BMW, 381; 3. SEAT SR, 357; 4. Volvo, 112.
CHEVROLET RACING AROUND THE GLOBE
In the US, following the suller races, Jimmie Johnson is now second in the overall standings of the NASCAR Sprint Cup, only 10 points from the lead. Five other Chevy boys are in the top ten: Harvick (3rd), Gordon (6th), Newman (7th), Earnhardt Jr. (9th) and Stewart (10th). More information can be found on www.nascar.com.
In the UK, the BTCC resumed in a lively manner at Snetterton, with RML driver Jason Plato taking the pole, one win and one third, while both Alex McDowall and Paul O’Neill (on the GoMobileUK Cruze) took a second as best result. Ahead of the next round in Knockhill on 4th September, Plato is 4th in the standings, with McDowall 7th and O’Neill 10th. More info can be found on www.btcc.net.
In Argentina, after the unlucky outing at the 200 Kms of Buenos Aires, Equipo Oficial Chevrolet’s drivers Christian Ledesma and Agustín Canapino lie 10th and 13th, respectively, in the standings of the TC2000, whose next round will take place in Trelew on 19 September. More info on www.tc2000.com.ar
In Scandinavia, Chevrolet Motorsport Sweden’s Rickard Rydell took a 4th and a 5th in the round of the STCC held in Karlskoga, Sweden, strengthening his second position in the standings. Next round is this coming weekend at Jyllandsringen, Denmark. More info can be found on www.stcc.se.
