RML
Team News
Double Dutch for RML. Issued May 6th 2007
Chevrolet
Scores Dutch Double at Zandvoort
Alain
Menu scored the first win of the season for Chevrolet in
the 2007 World Touring Car Championship at Zandvoort today.
Menu led from start to finish in the first race, closely
followed home by team mate Nicola Larini. It was the first
ever 1-2 win for Chevrolet since the make started in the
WTCC in 2005. Rob Huff retired from race 1 while running
in eighth when the steering broke as a result from a collision
at the start and another big knock three corners preceding
his retirement.
In race 2, Menu unfortunately retired when the oil pressure
dropped, while Larini used all his touring car experience
to move up from seventh to fourth and score more valuable
points. Huff, who started from the last row, enjoyed his
race battling to 13th.
“It
was a fantastic race!" enthused Alain Menu after his
win. "Chevrolet and RML totally deserve this win after
so much hard work. The first four, five laps I did my best
to look after the tyres while keeping the pace up front.
After that I could control the race knowing Nic wouldn’t
try anything silly. To score a 1-2 win is great and bodes
well for our chances in the next races. In the second race
I ran comfortably when all of a sudden the oil pressure
dropped, so I parked the car as quickly as I could.”
“I
had a good start for the first race I could tuck in behind
Alain," said Nicola Larini. "Like him, I had to
look after the tyres a bit in the first few laps but after
that it was a pretty straightforward race. It’s always
nice to have a perfect car on a track that really suits
the car! The second race should have lasted a lap or two
longer, because then, I would surely have finished on the
podium. I had some understeer in the beginning, but otherwise
the car was a gem.”
Rob Huff had an unfortunate start to the first race. "I
got hit by another car, damaging the steering. I had some
play on the steering but managed to drive around it. I had
moved up to eighth which was the best possible position
to be in for race 2 when the steering broke and sent me
into the barriers. But the guys did a superb job in making
the car as good as new for the second race, so I could really
enjoy that without any pressure or worries. I had a good
fight with Yvan Muller, but despite being a bit quicker
it’s difficult to overtake here. Of course I didn’t
score any points, but with the way the car has been performing
so far this year I’m sure my day will come sooner
rather than later.”
Ray
Mallock was delighted. “This was a fabulous start
to the European season of the WTCC and a great start to
our championship bid,” he said.
Eric
Nève of Chevrolet Europe shared that enthusiasm.
“This weekend was the first time I had the impression
that we finally managed to unite all the elements necessary
to win. This has been a great team effort, but hats off
for the drivers who drove so brilliantly; Alain dominating
the first race, but also Nicola nearly making it to the
podium again in the second.”
ZANDVOORT Race 1 Results
1. A Menu Chevrolet Lacetti 13 laps in 25m12s863 (Ave: 133.23kph)
2. N Larini Chevrolet Lacetti + 0s651
3. L Rangoni BMW 320si + 0s987
4. T Monteiro SEAT Leon + 2s358
5. A Farfus BMW 320si + 3s005
DNF R Huff Chevrolet Lacetti 7 laps (Accident)
ZANDVOORT Race 2 Results
1. G Tarquini SEAT Leon 12 laps in 22m06s110 (Ave: 140.30kph)
2. A Farfus BMW 320si + 0s449
3. J Müller BMW 320si + 0s674
4. N Larini Chevrolet Lacetti + 0s978
5. A Priaulx BMW 320si + 1s714
13. R Huff Chevrolet Lacetti + 11s329
DNF A Menu Chevrolet Lacetti 3 laps (Oil pressure)
Drivers'
Points Standings after Race 4of 22
1. A Farfus (BMW), 28pts; 2. J Müller (BMW), 22; 3.
G Tarquini (SEAT) 21; 4. A Priaulx
(BMW) 21; 5. N Larini (Chevrolet) 13;... 7. A Menu (Chevrolet)
10;... 12. R Huff
(Chevrolet) 4;...
Manufacturer's
Points
Standings after Race 4of 22
1. BMW, 60pts; 2. SEAT, 43; 3. Chevrolet, 35; 4. Alfa Romeo,
11.
The
next race of the 2007 World Touring Car Championship takes
place in Valencia, Spain, on 20th May -the scene of RML's
impressive run in the Le mans Series a few weeks ago
The full calendar for the year is:
2007
FIA World Touring Car Championship
11
March - Curitiba, Brazil - raced
6 May - Zandvoort, Netherlands
- raced
20 May - Valencia, Spain
3 June - Pau, France
17
June - Brno, Czech Republic
8 July - Porto, Portugal
29 July - Anderstorp, Sweden
2 September - Oschersleben, Germany
23 September -Brands Hatch, Great Britain
7 October - Monza, Italy
18 November - Macau, China
