RML
Team News
Another Clean Sweep for RML. Anderstorp (Rounds 13 &
14), 28th/29th July 2007. Issued July 29th 2007
RML
Chevrolet Clean Sweep
Chevrolet
had another unforgettable day in the World Touring Car Championship,
winning both races at the seventh venue of 2007.
Rob Huff achieved a lights-to-flag victory in race one,
with local hero Rickard Rydell, racing in a fourth Lacetti,
claiming victory in race two ahead of Nicola Larini and
Alain Menu, the second one-two-three of the season for Chevrolet.
The Lacettis have now won five races this year.
In the drivers championship, Nicola Larini is now fourth
overall (and first among front-wheel drive cars) with 48
points, ten points off the lead. The two Anderstorp races
were effected by the fast-changing weather conditions and
difficult choices in terms of tyres and set-up.
Both
races started with a wet track that dried quickly during
the course of the 13 laps. Race one saw Rob Huff fly away
from the rest of the group in the wet. The Brit kept his
cool when the track dried, clinching a well-deserved second
WTCC victory. In race two, Larini and Menu started from
the first row on rain tyres, and led almost until the end,
but could not resist the come-back of Rickard Rydell, who
was on slicks and much faster in the closing laps.
Quotes
Rob Huff (1st/11th)
I
am of course absolutely delighted with the win in Race One.
It was really the perfect race. Yesterday I said I wanted
something in the middle between a wet and a dry race, and
that’s exactly what we got. At the start, Monteiro
went wide to fight with Nic, clearing the way for me. It
was easy to pull away, as the car was handling perfectly
in the wet. I just tried to stay focused and not to overdrive
in order to preserve the tyres, as I knew I would need them
when the track would start drying. The six second gap I
could build up was clearly useful at the end of the race,
but except for the three final corners, I did not feel much
pressure from behind.
In
Race Two, I had a good start, could pass a couple of cars
and run sixth for a while, but then my tyres got really
bad and I simply tried to hold the guys behind me as much
as I could to help my teammates in front."
Nicola
Larini (7th/2nd)
I took a good start in Race One, but lost the advantage
of being in the first row when Monteiro pushed me almost
off the track in the first corner, which left me in seventh
position. Afterwards, it was difficult to maintain the pace,
also because the tyres were not that great. I ran together
with Rickard for most of the race, but in the closing laps
it was difficult to resist the Seats and the Alfa.
In
Race Two, starting from the first row with Alain, I was
able to take the lead and keep it almost until the end,
although I was really struggled not to destroy the rain
tyres in the dry track. I could hold Alain, but not Rickard,
who was on slicks."
Alain Menu (8th/3rd)
Given my position on the grid for Race One, I took the risk
of putting slicks on. It was hell for two thirds of the
race, very slippery, but with the track dry I could go pretty
fast, gaining ten seconds with respect to the gap I had
after lap one and scoring also the fastest lap. Eighth position
was a nice reward for the effort.
In
Race Two, I realized since the formation lap that it was
a mistake to race on wet tyres. But all in all, I am satisfied
with my results and it is an incredible week-end for the
team.
Rickard
Rydell (9th/1st)
The two races were completely different for me. It was a
little bit frustrating for me to finish ninth in the first
race. I think I could have gone for Monteiro in the early
laps, but I didn’t want to push too hard.
Race
Two was a different story. It paid off to take the risk
of putting slicks on. In the early laps I was able not to
loose too much time with respects to the guys on rain tyres,
I think that is where I won the race. I am really happy
to win at home and I thank Chevrolet and Eurosport for this
great opportunity."
Eric Neve (Motorsport Manager Chevrolet
Europe)
This is really a wonderful day for Chevrolet and the whole
team. For the first time, we have won the two races, showing
we are extremely competitive in terms of performance in
all situations: Qualifying, race one and race two. I find
also very meaningful that the Lacetti has so far won in
all circuits new to the Championship:
Zandvoort, Pau, Porto and Anderstorp. Today’s result
also shows how important it can be to have an additional
car in the grid. We can only be very happy for the team
and our brand.
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.
ANDERSTORP
Race 1 Result
1.
R Huff Chevrolet Lacetti 13
laps in 23m51s708 (at 131.35 kph)
2. T Monteiro Seat Len + 0s729
3. J Thompson Alfa Romeo 156 +12s501
4. T Coronel Seat Len +18s465
5. G Tarquini Seat Len +20s858
7. N Larini (Chevrolet Lacetti)
+25s821
8. A Menu (Chevrolet Lacetti)
+25s892
9. R Rydell (Chevrolet Lacetti)
+26s437
ANDERSTORP Race 2 Result
1. R Rydell (Chevrolet Lacetti) 13 laps in 23m41s120
(at 132.33 kph)
2. N Larini (Chevrolet Lacetti)
+1s608
3. A Menu (Chevrolet Lacetti)
+1s856
4. T Coronel Seat Len +5s157
5. J Thompson Alfa Romeo 156 +6s070
11. R Huff (Chevrolet Lacetti)
+10s455
Drivers'
Points Standings after Race 14 of 22
1. J Mller (BMW), 58 pts; 2. A Farfus (BMW), 57; 3. A Priaulx
(BMW) 56; 4. N Larini (Chevrolet)
48; 5. A Menu (Chevrolet),
45 ...9. R Huff (Chevrolet),
32, ...16. R Rydell (Chevrolet)
10, etc
Manufacturer's Points
Standings after Race 12 OF 22
1. BMW, 177 pts; 2. Seat, 147; 3. Chevrolet,
143; 4. Alfa Romeo, 70
The
next race of the 2007 World Touring Car Championship takes
place in Oschersleben, Germany, on 2nd September.
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
