 |
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||
|
 |
|
||||||||
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| CHEVROLET NOT REWARDED IN HECTIC QUALIFYING |
|
| Larini (13th), Fastest of the Lacetti Drivers |
|
| Oschersleben, June 3re, 2006 — Two weeks after the memorable weekend of Brands Hatch, where Alain Menu conquered the first victory of a Chevrolet Lacetti in the World Touring Car Championship, the Chevrolet Racing has experienced a less happy start into the Race of Germany in Oschersleben, where the seventh and eighth rounds of the 2006 WTCC will be held tomorrow. In a hectic qualifying session, characterized by changing weather conditions and several red flag periods, the three Chevrolet drivers ended in positions which do not reflect the form shown on the track by the Chevrolet Lacetti: 13th (Larini), 16th (Menu) and 23rd (Huff). |
|
| The two free sessions were ran in wet conditions, impairing the foreseen suspension development work. The rain stopped shortly before the qualifying session, which took place on a track drying progressively, and positions changing constantly. With less than 4 minutes to the end, when the battle for best times was raging on, the session was again red flagged because of the accident of Ceresoli's Seat. This only made the battle fiercer and more tactical in the three minutes left when the session resumed, with cars taking the track all at the same moment. |
|
| The three Chevrolet drivers were not very lucky at this particular game. Rob Huff, who had been running second at that point, had his last fast lap partly ruined when he went wide in one of the last corners while running caught in sandwich between two BMWs, while Menu was of course suffering of the 35 kilograms handicap resulting from his victory in Brands Hatch and Larini signed a good time (at 1" from the pole) but was disturbed in his final efforts by slower cars. To complete the impression that this was "one of these days", Larini and Menu were also imposed a fine of 250 € for a very benign infraction: having crossed a white line in the pits... |
|
| “There have been people playing tricks both in the pits and on the track in these final minutes of qualifying”, explained Nicola Larini. “We were waiting in the pit lane and were kept there for a few minutes, which meant that the tyres lost the good temperature. In addition, some drivers jumped the queue. Then, on the track, some others were going incredibly slow. It's a pity because the car was going well and I could have a time a few tenths better...” |
|
| “The circumstances unfortunately played against us”, said Mark Busfield, Team Manager of Chevrolet WTCC Racing. “In these conditions, you have to be on the track at the right time, have the tyres at the right temperature and hope you can have a clear lap, all in a very short time. For some reason, we did not get it right”. |
|
| Oschersleben is also hosting this weekend the 6th and 7th events of the German ADAC Procar Championship, where two privateer Lacetti WTC are entered by Maurer Motorsport. Belgian driver Vincent Radermecker and German Rainer Bastuck signed the third and fifth fastest times in today's qualifying and look in a good position to maintain their dominance in the series. Radermecker is currently firmly heading the overall standings, after having won 5 events out of six and having finished second in the remaining race. |
|
|
| > | Monza Italy (01 - 02 April) |
| > | Magny Cours France (29 - 30 April) |
| > | Brands Hatch Great Britain (20 - 21 May) |
| > |
Oschersleben
Germany (03 - 04 June) |
| > | Curitiba Brazil (01 - 02 July) |
| > | Puebla Mexico (29 - 30 July) |
| > | Brno Czech Republic (02 - 03 September) |
| > | Istanbul Turkey (23 - 24 September) |
| > | Valencia Spain (07 - 08 October) |
| > | Macau Macau (18 - 19 November) |
  |
|
 |
|
