PAU (ROUND 7 & 8), 3 June 2007 - It has been another happy day for the Chevrolet colors, a jour de gloire as a matter of fact, as Alain Menu scored the second victory of the season in Race 1 of the French event of the WTCC. The Swiss driver and the Chevrolet Lacetti were absolutely sovereign in the morning race: starting from the pole, Menu led from lights to flag, leaving no option to the competition and setting also the fastest lap time. In Race 2, he finished eighth, his position on the grid.

Rob Huff had, at last, a trouble-free week-end and was able to put together two solid races, conquering two fourth places. Nicola Larini had a more difficult Sunday: handicapped by the 45 kg success ballast he was carrying, he lost fourth place in Race 1 when he hit the armco and broke the front left wheel. The retirement took away from him any chance in Race 2, which he still finished in 11th position.

All in all, an excellent week-end for the team and a good reason to celebrate for the hundreds of Chevrolet guests who have definitely brought a lively blue touch to the paddock and the grandstands throughout the week-end.

QUOTES

Alain Menu (1st/8th): “Things went according to the best scenario and I am very happy that the entire team can celebrate another victory after the hard and excellent work everybody has done. I had to fight a little bit with Yvan Muller during the rolling start of Race 1. Obviously, he tried to overtake me. He first tried to squeeze me a little bit, we even touched, but I managed to keep the advantage in corner 1. Then, for me it was a matter of trying to pull away as fast as I could in the initial laps and avoid any mistake in the second part of the race. That is exactly what happened and I was able to secure an important win. In Race 2 I had a good and clean fight with Y. Muller but there was nothing to do to pass him. In the last lap I had to lift off to save the engine, as water temperature was very high, and I lost one place”.

Rob Huff (4th/4th): “Race 1 was relatively quiet and uneventful for me. I was behind Nicola, trying to protect him. Towards mid-race, he started having problems and going slower, so we lost contact with the front-runners. Once Nicola was out of the race, I could increase the pace and did some good lap times but it was too late to hope catching up with third position. In Race 2, I tried throughout the entire race to overtake Monteiro but I couldn’t. It was a good fight and I am very happy with my two fourth places. My championship is really starting now”.

Nicola Larini (Ret/11th): “In Race 1, I tried to keep my fourth position and secure some heavy points, but because of the effect of the ballast, it became progressively more and more difficult to keep the race pace. I started having problems with the tyres and the brakes. Then, at the chicane before the straight, I did a little mistake touching the right armco. The car bounced to the other side and I could not avoid a more serious contact with the left armco, breaking the left front wheel. Starting from the back, there is not much I could do in Race 2. It is a pity I did not score any point for the Championship today but I look forward to correct this situation as from the next race”.

Eric Nève: “One could think that we will have to start getting used to winning races! But it does not work like that, of course. The joy is always tremendous because the work and the stress behind every victory is immense. It has been an excellent week-end and a strong performance. As from tomorrow, we will focus on the next race; now that everybody starts to have significant success ballast, the way you manage this variable becomes critical”.