| ANOTHER
FIRST FOR CHEVROLET: VICTORY IN BOTH RACES IN ANDERSTORP!
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| The
Lacettis Dominate in Wet and Dry Weather in Sweden: Huff Takes Race
1 and Rydell, Larini and Menu Make Another 1-2-3 in Race 2
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ANDERSTORP (ROUND 13 & 14), 29 July 2007 - Chevrolet
lived another unforgettable day today in Sweden, winning both races
of the seventh event of the 2007 World Touring Car Championship.
Rob Huff achieved a light-to-flag victory in Race 1, while local
hero Rickard Rydell, racing exceptionally this week-end in a fourth
Lacetti, claimed victory in Race 2, ahead of Nicola Larini and Alain
Menu, in what is the second one-two-three of the season for Chevrolet.
With these two new victories, the Lacettis now total five successes
this season. In the Drivers Championship standings, Nicola Larini
is now fourth (and first among front-wheel drive cars) table with
48 points, having reduced to 10 his gap with respect to the lead.
The two Anderstorp races were influenced by the fast-changing weather
conditions and difficult choices in terms of tyres and set-up. Both
races started with a wet track that would then dry up quickly during
the course of the 13 laps. Race 1 saw Rob Huff literally flying
away from the rest of the group in the wet. The Brit kept perfectly
cool when the track dried, clinching a well-deserved second WTCC
victory. In Race 2, Larini and Menu started from the first row,
on rain tyres, and led almost until the end, but could not resist
to the come-back of Rickard Rydell, who was on slicks and much faster
in the closing laps.
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• QUOTES
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Rob Huff (1st/11th): “I am of course
absolutely delighted with the win in Race 1. It was really the
perfect race. Yesterday I said I wanted something in the middle
between a wet and a dry race, and that's exactly what we got.
At the start, Monteiro went wide to fight with Nic, clearing the
way for me. It was easy to pull away, as the car was handling
perfectly in the wet. I just tried to stay focused and not to
overdrive in order to preserve the tyres, as I knew I would need
them when the track would start drying. The 6-second gap I could
build up was clearly useful at the end of the race, but except
for the three final corners, I did not feel much pressure from
behind. In Race 2, I had a good start, could pass a couple of
cars and run sixth for a while, but then my tyres got really bad
and I simply tried to hold the guys behind me as much as I could
to help my team-mates in front.”
Nicola Larini (7th/2nd): “I took
a good start in Race 1, but lost the advantage of being in the
first row when Monteiro pushed me almost off the track in the
first corner, which left me in seventh position. Afterwards, it
was difficult to maintain the pace, also because the tyres were
not that great. I ran together with Rickard for most of the race,
but in the closing laps it was difficult to resist to the Seats
and the Alfa. In Race 2, starting from the first row with Alain,
I was able to take the lead and keep it almost until the end,
although I really struggled not to destroy the rain tyres in the
dry track. I could hold Alain, but not Rickard, who was on slicks.”
Alain Menu (8th/3rd): “Given my position
on the grid for Race 1, I took the risk of putting slicks on.
It was hell for two thirds of the race, very very slippery, but
with the track dry I could go pretty fast, gaining ten seconds
with respect to the gap I had after lap 1 and scoring also the
fastest lap. Eighth position was a nice reward for the effort.
In Race 2, I realized since the formation lap that it was a mistake
to race on wet tyres. But all in all, I am satisfied with my results
and it is an incredible week-end for the team .”
Rickard Rydell (9th/1st): “The two
races were completely different for me. It was a little bit frustrating
for me to finish ninth in Race 1. I think I could have gone for
Monteiro in the early laps, but I didn't want to push too hard.
Race 2 was a different story. It paid off to take the risk of
putting slicks on. In the early laps I was able not to loose too
much time with respects to the guys on rain tyres, I think that
is where I won the race. I am really happy to win at home and
I thank Chevrolet and Eurosport for this great opportunity.”
Eric Nčve: “This is really a wonderful
day for Chevrolet and the whole team. For the first time, we have
won the two races, showing we are extremely competitive in terms
of performance in all situations: Qualifying, Race 1 and Race
2. I find also very meaningful that the Lacetti has so far won
in all circuits new to the Championship: Zandvoort, Pau, Porto
and Anderstorp. Today's result also shows how important it can
be to have an additional car in the grid. We can only be very
happy for the team and our brand.”
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| ANDERSTORP RACE 1
RESULTS
|
| 1. R Huff |
Chevrolet Lacetti |
13 laps in 23m51s708 (at 131.35 kph) |
| 2. T Monteiro |
SEAT Leon |
+0s729 |
| 3. J Thompson |
Alfa Romeo 156 |
+12s501 |
| 4. T Coronel |
Seat León |
+18s465 |
| 5. G Tarquini |
Seat León |
+20s858 |
| 7. N Larini |
Chevrolet Lacetti |
+25s821 |
| 8. A Menu |
Chevrolet Lacetti |
+25s892 |
| 9. R Rydell |
Chevrolet Lacetti |
+26s437 |
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| ANDERSTORP RACE 2
RESULTS
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| 1. R Rydell |
Chevrolet Lacetti |
13 laps in 23m41s120 (at 132.33 kph) |
| 2. A Menu |
Chevrolet Lacetti |
+1s608 |
| 3. N Larini |
Chevrolet Lacetti |
+1s856 |
| 4. T Coronel |
SEAT Leon |
+5s157 |
| 5. J Thompson |
Alfa Romeo 156 |
+6s070 |
| 11. R Huff |
Chevrolet Lacetti |
+10s455 |
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DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 14 OF 22 |
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1.
J Müller (BMW) 58pts
2. A Frafus (BMW), 57pts
3.A Priaulx (BMW), 56pts
4. N Larini (Chevrolet), 48pts
5. A Menu (Chevrolet) 45pts
9. R Huff (Chevrolet), 32pts
16. R Rydell (Chevrolet), 10pts |
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MANUFACTURERS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 14 OF 22 |
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1. BMW, 177pts
2. SEAT, 147pts
3. Chevrolet, 143pts
4. Alfa Romeo, 70pts
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CHEVROLET RACING INSIGHT ON THE WEB
Throughout the 2007 WTCC season, Chevrolet Insight will show you the
behind-the-scenes of the Chevrolet WTCC racing team. On Saturday and
Sunday, media and fans alike will get the latest information and can
ask their questions via the web in Chevrolet's own web cast. The web
address is www.chevrolet-insight.com.
First airings will be at 8.00pm local time (9.00pm Zürich time, 3.00pm
Detroit time, 2.00am Seoul time), after which the 15-minute programme
can be viewed as Video On Demand by clicking the appropriate button.
New for 2007 is that the programme will now go out at all the events
of the championship. |