Chevrolet WTCC

Test Report

CHEVROLET'S ALAIN MENU FASTEST IN PORTO

Drivers Happy With New Street Course

PORTO (TESTING), 6 July 2007 - Swiss Chevrolet Lacetti driver, Alain Menu, led the way at the first official test session on Porto's new 4.2-kilometre street course today. The 2007 World Touring Car Championship visits the seaside street track for the first time this year in the championship's endeavor to bring the WTCC to the people. Menu, running a car with only 10kgs of success ballast, used new tyres to the best possible effect and set a time an astonishing full two seconds quicker than anybody else. Nicola Larini, running with 50 kilograms ballast was fifth fastest, while Rob Huff set the tenth quickest time. Having the Chevrolet garages located at the pitlane exit for the first time clearly helped the drivers in getting a good clear track with no risk of incidents ahead of them at the beginning of the session, and again when a red flag was withdrawn half way through the session. A 45-minute qualifying session tomorrow will define the grid for Sunday's races.

QUOTES

Alain Menu (1st): "I learn new tracks pretty quickly so that's maybe why I was on the ball a bit quicker than the others. The track is very interesting for a street course, with some very fast corners which you take in 6th gear. But you have to be careful all the time as off-line the track is breaking up in parts. We'll see how it goes tomorrow, when the gearing of my car is better suited to the nature of the corners."

Nicola Larini (5th): "I quite like the track, but as Alain said you have to be very careful not to go off-line as you're running very close to the wall at quite a few places. I set my fastest lap on used tyres, to which you have to add the 50 kilograms of extra weight I'm carrying with me. That said, Alain's time shows the true potential of the car, so with a bit more luck with traffic and with new tyres on the car I should be able to improve tomorrow."

Rob Huff (10th): "I took it easy this afternoon, slowly building up the pace as I learned the track. I probably have the only car with no scratch on the bodywork somewhere. The track is still very green, so the grip will improve as more rubber is laid down, but I like it a lot already."

Ray Mallock: "We are really getting the car in a sweet spot now. Alain's time demonstrates the whole package is good. When you come to a new track and you are this competitive right from the start it shows the Chevrolet Lacetti is really good. But I'm also sure that the times will tumble tomorrow."

PORTO TESTING TIMES

1. A Menu	Chevrolet Lacetti	2m10s007
2. Y Muller	Seat León	+ 2s027
3. J Müller	BMW 320si	+ 2s168
4. A Priaulx	BMW 320si	+ 2s872
5. N Larini	Chevrolet Lacett	+ 2s979
10. R Huff	Chevrolet Lacetti	+ 3s499

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.

>	Curitiba Brazil (10 - 11 March)
>	Zandvoort Netherlands (05 - 06 May)
>	Valencia Spain (19 - 20 May)
>	Pau France (02 - 03 June)
>	Brno Czech Republic (16 - 17 June)
>	Porto Portugal (07 - 08 July)
>	Anderstorp Sweden (28 - 29 July)
>	Oschersleben Germany (25 - 26 August)
>	Brands Hatch Great Britain (22 - 23 September)
>	Monza Italy (06 - 07 October)
>	Macau China (16 - 18 November)