2008 MIA 'Business of the Year' Award
WTCC the Best of 2009 Video
20/09/2009
Both Huff And Menu Take Third After Solid Races, Larini Unlucky At Home
IMOLA, 20th September 2009 – The Chevrolet Cruzes finished twice on the podium in today's Race of Italy, the last WTCC event in the European continent this season. Rob Huff clinched third in Race 1 and Alain Menu did the same in Race 2, bringing more heavy points to Chevrolet's count. The home race was not that sweet for Nicola Larini, who suffered mechanical problems in Race 1.
The Chevrolet Cruzes today showed again their excellent pace and were the only ones impeding total domination by the turbo diesel cars. Now the WTCC is off to Asia, which will host the traditional two final events of the 2009 season in Japan and Macau.
QUOTES
Alain Menu (8th/3rd): "Given the position I was in on the grid, it is a very good week end! I was extremely careful at the start of Race 1, trying to avoid trouble in the chicanes and it worked well. I did a very nice race and finished 8th, which is really not bad having started in 20th position. This, of course, put me on pole for Race 2. I took an excellent start and tried as much as possible to resist the SEAT's behind me but they were faster on the straight. The best thing to do was to secure the third position and the podium, and it's a pretty good result".
Rob Huff (3rd/17th): "A good team result and some good points: we can be happy and we certainly took the best out of today's conditions. Race 1 was good, I had a good start and good pace and it was nice to finish in the podium. In Race 2, I was hit at the end of the first lap and went into the gravel, losing many positions, then I was hit again by a couple of privateers shortly after."
Nicola Larini (Ret/16th): "I was happy with the car in Race 1 despite being hit during the incident on the first lap, but shortly after there was some engine problem and I had to retire. It was a pity but the guys did a fantastic job in changing the engine in between the two races. This, at least, allows me not to carry over to Japan the 10-position penalty in the grid, which I served here in Race 2. The second race was relatively uneventful except that I was hit at the back by Jorg Müller in the very last lap".
Mark Busfield: "The weekend has shown that our pace is very good but still a little behind the turbo diesel cars. The two podiums are a fantastic achievement for the team and a just reward for all the effort of the boys who worked miracles to change Nicola's engine in time for race 2, the change and other repairs were done in 40 minutes. We now look forward to the last two long haul events to build again on our performances".
IMOLA RACE 1 RESULTS
1. G Tarquini SEAT León TDI 11 laps in 29m31s701
2. Y Muller SEAT León TDI +0s409
3. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze +0s842
4. A Zanardi BMW 320si +1s457
5. T Coronel SEAT León +3s501
8. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze +6s390
DNF N Larini Chevrolet Cruze Mech. problem (3 laps)
IMOLA RACE 2 RESULTS
1. Y Muller SEAT León TDI 11 laps in 29m51s680
2. G Tarquini SEAT León TDI +0s312
3. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze +4s008
4. A Zanardi BMW 320si +4s467
5. J Gené SEAT León TDI +5s632
16. N Larini Chevrolet Cruze +15s582
17. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze +19s759
WTCC DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 20 OF 24 :
1. G Tarquini (SEAT), 109 points; 2. Y Muller (SEAT), 102; 3. A Farfus (BMW), 91; 4. A Priaulx (BMW), 66; 5. R Rydell (SEAT), 63; 6. R Huff (Chevrolet), 60; ...11. A Menu (Chevrolet), 31; ... 13. N Larini (Chevrolet), 21; etc.
WTCC CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 20 OF 24:
1. SEAT, 271 points; 2. BMW, 250; 3. Chevrolet, 169; 4. Lada, 78.
NEXT RACE: Race of Japan, Okayama, 31 October – 1 November 2009.
For further information please contact RML: Michell Seaman Events Manager Tel: +44 1933 402440 Email: michells@rmlmallock.co.uk
