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| BACK TO WORK AFTER HISTORIC VICTORY CELEBRATIONS | |
| Chevrolet Starts Four-Race “World Tour” In Germany | |
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ZÜRICH / WELLINGBOROUGH, May 26th, 2006 — After the historic first WTCC win for Chevrolet at the last round in Brands Hatch, team and drivers are eager to prove that the bad British weather was a factor they mastered rather than a factor that helped them win. Next up on the calendar is the twisty track of Oschersleben in Germany, another circuit that should suit the characteristics of the Chevrolet Lacetti WTC.
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Earlier this year, a privateer Lacetti WTC finished on the podium in the German Touring Car Championship at the same track. But the German race should probably see stronger competition for the Chevrolets than at Brands Hatch, as Team Manager, Mark Busfield explained. “We will use our set-up from last year as a base and then add everything we have learned throughout this year with the new car,” he said. “It will be a tougher weekend than at Brands, as our competitors have tested there this year and traditionally perform very well at Oschersleben. Plus Alain will carry a lot of success ballast.”
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RML had a test scheduled at Pembrey for this week, but the weather forecast was showing more rain, so the team cancelled the test. “We feel we've amassed enough wet weather data last weekend!” Busfield said. “And with a four-race marathon coming up we are not exactly not short of work either.”
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Indeed, the Race of Germany in Oschersleben marks the last European round before the World Touring Car Championship sets off to South America for the races in Brazil and Mexico. “Actually, we are now packing cars and equipment for four races,” Busfield continued. “From Oschersleben everything will be packed in containers and sent to Brazil. After that race, everything goes on to Mexico and from there straight to Brno for the next European race in early September. This means that the cars will not be back at the workshops for more than three months! But we obviously have the test car to continue our development work throughout the summer.”
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Scoring his first points of the season in the first race, but then aquaplaning out of the second race, Rob Huff will be looking for some suitable revenge in Germany. “As I remember the car had good pace at Oschersleben last year, so with the added improvements, developments and experience from the past year, I could have a rather good race there,” he said. “Add to that the bonus factor of not having to carry weight and both Nicola and I are holding very good cards indeed.”
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The going will be a bit tougher - or easier, depending on how you look at it - for Alain Menu. His superb drive to victory at Brands Hatch marked the first time in automotive history that a Chevrolet won a round of any official FIA World Championship, but obviously also means the Swiss driver will be carrying 35 kilograms of success weight at Oschersleben. “It will be tough for me,” Menu said. “The track has a couple of very tight corners and with the extra weight my chances of doing well are rather limited. I think I'll be cruising at the back rather than fighting at the front. Mind you, most of the frontrunners now have extra weight so it's now my team mates' turn to run at the front. I'll watch it from a bit further back and shed some weight for the long-haul races.”
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| OSCHERSLEBEN WTCC SCHEDULE | |
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Saturday June 3rd
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| 09.00-09.30 | Free Practice 1 |
| 12.00-12.30 | Free Practice 2 |
| 15.10-15.40 | Qualifying |
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Sunday June 4th
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| 09.20-09.35 | Warm Up |
| 15.20-15.45 | WTCC Race 1 (14 laps = 51.338kms) |
| 16.30-16.55 | WTCC Race 2 (14 laps = 51.338kms) |
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Warm-up and the races will be broadcasted live on Eurosport.
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HANDICAP WEIGHTS FOR OSCHERSLEBEN
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| 1. Y Muller | + 75kgs |
| 2. J Thompson | + 55kgs |
| 3. A Priaulx, | + 50 kgs |
| 4. G Tarquini | + 40 kgs |
| 5. R Rydell,) | + 40 kgs |
| 6. Alain Menu (Chevrolet) | + 35 kgs |
| 7. J Müller | + 25 kgs |
| 8. D Müller | + 20 kgs |
| 9. F Gruber | + 20 kgs |
| 10. A Farfus | + 15 kgs |
| 11. j Gené | + 5 kgs |
| 12. P terting | + 5 kgs |
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POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 6 OF 20
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| 1. Yvan Muller (SEAT), | 32pts |
| 2. James Thompson (SEAT) | 25pts |
| 3. Gabriele Tarquini (SEAT) | 24pts |
| 4. Andy Priaulx (BMW) | 23pts |
| 5. Rickard Rydell (SEAT) | 21pts |
| 6. Alain Menu (Chevrolet) | 18pts |
| 7. Dirk Müller (BMW) | 18pts |
| 8. Jörg Müller (BMW) | 16pts |
| 12. Robert Huff (Chevrolet) | 5pts |
| 14. Nicola Larini (Chevroelt) | 3pts |
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Manufacturers
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| 1. BMW | 80pts |
| 2. Seat | 69pts |
| 3. Chevrolet | 48pts |
| 4. Alfa Romeo | 37pts |
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CHEVROLET RACING AROUND THE GLOBE
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| In the German ADAC Procar Championship, Vincent Radermecker scored two wins at the wheel of the privateer Chevrolet Lacetti WTC. The Belgian also takes the lead in the championship. Team-mate Rainer Bastuck twice finished third at the Lausitzring and is sixth in the point standings. More information can be found on www.top10sport.de. | |
| In the Nextel NASCAR Cup, Chevrolet driver, Jimmie Johnson stays in the lead of the point standings, having finished fourth at the Darlington Raceway. Jeff Gordon finished second. In the standings, Chevrolet drivers, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are in second and fifth position respectively. More information on Chevrolet NASCAR programme can be found on www.nascar.com. | |
| In Argentina, Chevrolet Astra driver, Matias Rossi still leads the TC2000 Touring Car Championship after four rounds. He finished second in Viedsma, but didn't finish in Santa Fe. More information can be found on http://www.tc2000.com.ar. | |
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| > | 19 July 2006 Chevrolet heads to Mexico after intensive tests |
| > | 30 June 2006 Brazilian winter and soccer fever welcome WTCC |
| > | 23 June 2006 Interactive live web conference from Curitiba |
| > | 29 May 2006 Chevrolet Starts Four-Race “World Tour” In Germany |
| > | 19 May 2006 Menu 8th in free practice session |
| > | 10 Mai 2006 Rob Huff Keen To Go Back To Track Of First Touring Car Success |
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21 April 2006 Balances and Calculators As Important as Stopwatches |
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27 March 2006 35 Cars Expected In Closer Than Ever Touring Car Fest |
| > | 22 March 2006 Ideal Conditions At Second Day Of Official Test |
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21 March 2006 Team Sees Winter Promise Confirmed |
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10 March 2006 First Privateer Lacetti Runs In Magny Cours |
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28 February 2006 Learning Process On New Tyres Continues |
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21 February 2006 Drivers Enthused By 2006 Chevrolet Lacetti WTC |
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08 February 2006 Rob Huff Happy With “Comfortable and Smooth” Car |
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30 January 2006 First Customer Cars Will Run In ADAC Procar Championship; WTCC Outing Possible |
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12 January 2006 Continues Involvement in Top-Level Motorsports |
| > | 11 Januar 2006 New Car To Start Testing In February; Customer Cars Available |
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