RML
Team News
Double Points for Larini at Monza.
Issued October 7th 2007
Second
place for Larini keeps world title bid alive
RML Chevrolet's Nicola Larini put himself back in the hunt
for the 2007 World Touring Car Championship with a double
points finish at Monza.
With
over 52,000 spectators cheering him on at his home race,
the Italian took a fourth and a second place finish, and
now remains in contention to win his first WTCC crown with
only two rounds still to go in Macau, less than a fortnight
away.
The
RML Chevrolet enjoyed an extremely competitive weekend,
with Nicola, Rob and Alain all finishing in the points in
race one, whilst a touch from Gabriele Tarquini damaged
Alain's steering column and put paid to his hopes in race
two.
Nicola
Larini (4th/2nd): "In race one I tried to
go for the podium, but I lost contact with the leaders as
soon as the lights went green. I didn't expect James (Thompson)
to be as fast as he was and when he passed me, I had difficulties
to get his tow to try to pass him at the end of the straights.
So I tried to pass him in the chicanes which almost worked
on the last lap. I was alongside him but then we touched
and I lost contact completely.
"In
the second race I was very lucky to avoid Augusto (Farfus)
spinning in front of me. I had to go on the grass and just
missed him and the barriers. I had a good pace after that
and managed to lead but then the car started to understeer
in the fast corners, especially the Parabolica. At some
point I came close enough to Jordi (Gené) to pass
him, but the yellow flags didn't allow me. After that the
tyres were past their prime so I had to be content with
second place. I still have a shot at the world title, so
I'll definitely go to Macau to try and finally win my first
WTCC race."
Rob
Huff (8th/4th): "In the first race, I had
a really good start and managed to take three cars before
the chicane. At the chicane I got pushed sideways and lost
a few places, so then I just went for it and managed to
pick them off one by one. When I saw the pitboard indicating
P10 two laps from the end, I thought 'How am I going to
get past two cars in two laps?' But then I noticed the two
guys in front of me starting to fight for that eighth position
as well, so coming into the Parabolica I had the feeling
they were too busy fighting their own fight and not paying
too much attention to me. I just tucked in behind them and
got both of them in the chicane. Two for the price of one,
as they say; in what was probably the best overtaking maneuver
of my career.
"In
race two I had a belting start and managed to keep the lead
for a few laps. But running at the front with the maximum
ballast on board is not easy, especially not on this track,
so I couldn't hold Gené off any longer. For some
reason we lacked the pace we had in the first race, maybe
due to the higher temperature this afternoon. In any case,
today's result is again a clear testament to the great work
RML and Chevrolet have been doing all year long."
Alain
Menu (5th/DNF): "In the first race I couldn't
see the starting lights, so I lost some time there, but
I still managed to get past Farfus later on. Near the end
of the race I managed to close in on the leaders again and
pass Tarquini on the penultimate lap for fifth. In the second
race the car was going really well but after the yellows
in the second chicane Tarquini passed me and tapped me on
the front left wheel while doing so. The steering was bent
and that was it. It's a shame, really, because I could have
been right up there with Nic and Rob."
Eric
Nève, motorsport manager
for Chevrolet Europe: "It's been a
great weekend for RML Chevrolet with fantastic drives by
all three drivers in both races. Nicola and Alain had great
qualifying results as well and Rob made up for his missed
qualifying by a truly great drive in the races, coming from
16th on the grid to pole position for race 2. Today's results
bode well for the finale in Macau in six weeks time. It's
been a formidable weekend and our guests and dealers from
the region just live every bit of. The increasing number
of spectators at each event clearly shows the increasing
interest in touring car races."
Chevrolet
Racing Insight on the Web
Throughout
the 2007 WTCC season, Chevrolet Insight will
give you a behind-the-scenes look at 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. Visit www.chevrolet-insight.com.
There are regular airings during the race weekend, and
then a full 15-minute review programme can be viewed at
any time after the event.
MONZA
Race 1 Result
1.
Y Muller SEAT Leon TDI 9 laps in 18m19s438 (Average: 169.70kph)
2. J Gené SEAT Leon TDI + 0s201
3. J Thompson Alfa Romeo 156 + 0s867
4. N Larini RML Chevrolet Lacetti
+ 1s196
5. A Menu RML Chevrolet Lacetti
+ 2s416
6. G Tarquini SEAT Leon TDI + 3s008
7. A Farfus BMW 320si + 4s052
8.
R Huff RML Chevrolet Lacetti + 4s690
MONZA
Race 2 Result
1. J Gené SEAT Leon TDI 9 laps in 18m21s957
(Average: 169.31kph)
2.
N Larini RML Chevrolet Lacetti + 1s011
3. J Thompson Alfa Romeo 156 + 1s289
4.
R Huff RML Chevrolet Lacetti + 2s513
5. Y Muller SEAT Leon TDI + 7s906
6. A Zanardi BMW 320si + 10s499
7. T Coronel SEAT Leon + 10s545
8. T Monteiro SEAT Leon + 14s936
DNF
A Menu RML Chevrolet Lacetti Accident damage (4 laps)
Drivers'
Points Standings after Race 20 of 22
1 equal. A Priaulx (BMW) and Y Muller (SEAT), 81pts; 3.
A Farfus (BMW), 71; 4. J Thompson (Alfa Romeo), 69; 5.
J Müller (BMW), 66; 6. N Larini
(RML Chevrolet), 61; 7. A
Menu (RML Chevrolet), 59;… 9.
R Huff (RML Chevrolet), 51;…
Manufacturer's Points
Standings after Race 20 OF 22
1. BMW, 237pts; 2. SEAT, 227; 3.
RML Chevrolet, 194; 4. Alfa Romeo, 111.
The
final races of the 2007 World Touring Car Championship
take place at Macau, China, on 18th November.
The full calendar for the year has been:
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
26 August - Oschersleben, Germany
23 September -Brands Hatch, Great
Britain
7 October - Monza, Italy
18 November - Macau, China