The Cruze Concludes Its First WTCC Season With A Win

The Chevrolet Cruze finished its first racing season in the WTCC conquering the seventh win of its young career, as Rob Huff mastered a flag-to-flag win in race 1 in the last event of the 2009 calendar. The Brit kept his promise of conquering both the pole position and one win in the streets of Macau.

There were many more points for the Chevrolet team in the season’s closing round, as Alain Menu took fourth in the race 1 and Nicola Larini and Rob Huff finished 7th and 8th respectively in race 2. For the Italian driver, this was his last race with the team, as he announced his retirement from WTCC racing last Friday.

QUOTES

Rob Huff (1st/8th): «Today was a ‘perfect-car-perfect-race’ day and I am very happy with the result. Race 1 was very good, it is rather unusual to go round Macau without the slightest mistake, not even scratching a mirror, and I could keep the advantage of the pole. In the first 3-4 laps, Monteiro was pushing very hard behind me but then the gap increased and all went fine. In race 2, I got caught in the typical bottle-neck at the first corner and then fought to re-gain some positions. Finishing 8th I am very happy being 5th in the overall championship and the best Cruze in the championship”.
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Alain Menu (4th/21st): “Ive not much to say about race 1. I climbed to 7th at the beginning and stayed there for the entire race, with no opportunities to overtake. Eventually, I finished 4th because some other drivers pulled back strategically to help with points and the grid in race 2. In the second race, I slightly hit the wall at turn 10 and went sideways hitting the barrier on the other side. I had to stop in the pits for repairs and lost one lap, but I could resume the race. I look forward to 2010, I am sure it will be a much luckier year!”.

Nicola Larini (12th/7th): “Unfortunately, it wasn’t the race I had wanted for my farewell to the WTCC. In race 1, I got stuck in the blockade provoked by the accident between Farfus and Priaulx and lost many positions, then I had to struggle against Coronel and Rydell. In race 2, I took a great start and was fighting with Gené for 6th when Zanardi hit me very hard in the back, leaving my car like a banana! Luckily, the race was red-flagged because of another incident and I could save the 7th position. Now it’s time to say goodbye to all the folks and … en route for new adventures!”

Mark Busfield: “It’s been a great finale to the year here in Macau, with another Macau Chevrolet pole and a Race 1 win, we couldn’t wish for more. The team as always worked brilliantly this weekend to ensure the cars strong on track performance, and they also performed some great pit work in qualifying and the race”.

Eric Nève: “It’s nice to finish the season on a high like this. We are very happy with what the Cruze has shown in this first year of its racing career: 7 wins and 3 poles is really good for a debuting car. Moreover, the Cruze has proven to be the best car on street circuits and grown steadily on all kind of tracks. 2010 is starting now. We are delighted to have Yvan Muller joining our team and preparing a busy work plan for the winter. We really want to be fighting for the title next year!”

MACAU RACE 1 RESULTS

MACAU RACE 2 RESULTS

DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 24 OF 24

1. G Tarquini (SEAT), 127 points; 2. Y Muller (SEAT), 123; 3. A Farfus (BMW), 113; 4. A Priaulx (BMW), 84; 5. R Huff (Chevrolet), 73; … 10. A Menu (Chevrolet), 39; …13. N Larini (Chevrolet), 27; etc…

MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 24 OF 24

1. SEAT, 314 points; 2. BMW, 311; 3. Chevrolet, 215; 4. Lada, 83.

For more information on Chevrolet’s World Touring Car Championship programme, please
contact: Eric Nève at Chevrolet Europe, eric.neve@gm.com
Tel : + 41 79 681 89 76
Web: //media.chevroleteurope.com

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