RML
Team News
RML Chevrolet Announces Driver Line-up for 2009
Issued September 25th 2008
RML
Chevrolet Announces Driver Line-Up for 2009
RML
and Chevrolet are pleased to announce their driver line-up
for the 2009 World Touring Car Championship with Alain Menu,
Nicola Larini and Rob Huff signing for a fifth consecutive
season.
The team will go to the last European round of the 2008
World Touring Car Championship this weekend at Monza, Italy
with the clear mission to further Rob Huff’s position
in the current point standings. The British driver moved
up one place in the championship at the last race in Imola
and is now fourth with still six races to be run.
As
in Imola, Huff will be able to count on the support of his
team mates in qualifying, while all three will try to increase
Chevrolet’s points tally in the manufacturers’
standings. Their motivation will be as big as ever, certainly
so now they have all three re-signed with for the 2009 WTCC
season, thus marking a unique stability to defend the colours
of Chevrolet.
In Monza – and the two Far-Eastern races after that
– the three amigos will be joined by Japanese driver,
Manabu Orido, who will use the Italian race to get to the
grips with the Chevrolet Lacetti and the WTCC before putting
his past racing experience at Okayama and Macau to good
use for his team mates.
QUOTES
Rob Huff: “I will go to Monza with
the same objective as I did two weeks ago: to score as many
points as possible in both races to keep my championship
chances afloat. The top three drivers in the standings and
I are now on the maximum success ballast, give and take
two kilos, so from now until the end of the season we will
be on equal footing when it comes to that. Imola went better
than I expected so there is no reason why we shouldn’t
be right up there again in Monza. The Chevrolet Lacetti
likes fast tracks, and Monza is definitely one of those.
The extra morale booster comes of course from signing with
Chevrolet again for 2009. Now all we have to think about
is the last three events of this year.”
Alain Menu: “I’m the only one
of the three Chevrolet drivers who has dropped weight since
last race, so hopefully I can use that to my advantage in
qualifying. Both Nic and I will of course help Rob wherever
we can, since he is the only one with a real chance at the
championship. I personally have always liked Monza and the
track suits the Lacetti so we should look good there. I
feel that as a team we have grown a lot over the last season,
and it is good to know that all of us will be around again
next year.”Nicola Larini: “The first objective
for the entire team in Monza will be to help Rob move up
positions in the overall standings. Therefore, it is difficult
to talk about my own expectations for this race. I will
help the team with the same enthusiasm and determination
as in Imola, even if that implies some small personal sacrifice,
especially in qualifying. I am delighted to stay another
year with Chevrolet, RML and Rob and Alain. We are a good
team and I am sure that we will continue to do excellent
work together.”
Manabu Orido: “For me the Monza race
will be a unique chance to watch and learn from my Chevrolet
team mates. In return I hope I can give them a few pointers
in Okayama. The World Touring Car Championship is gaining
in popularity in Japan, as can be witnessed by the number
of Japanese drivers entering in the final two races this
year. My target will simply be to finish the Monza races
and be as competitive as I can, without taking any unnecessary
risks.”
Eric Nève, Motorsport Manager of
Chevrolet Europe: “It is good to be able to announce
our drivers for 2009 at this early stage. It shows the confidence
we have in their abilities and they have in our engineering
strength. In 2009 we will run a new car and it is good to
have stability on the drivers’ side. Their combined
12 years of experience with the Chevrolet Lacetti will allow
us to hit the ground running when we start to prepare for
the new season. And while it may sound cliché, there
really is no point in changing a winning team. Consistency
and a methodical approach have allowed us to be where we
are today, and will allow us to go even further in the future.”
Drivers'
Points Standings after Race 18 of 24
1. Y Muller (SEAT), 80 points; 2. G Tarquini (SEAT), 68;
3. R Rydell (SEAT), 62; 4. R Huff
(Chevrolet), 61; 5. A Priaulx (BMW), 55;…10.
A Menu (Chevrolet), 40; 11.
N Larini (Chevrolet), 38;…
Manufacturer's Points
Standings after Race 18 OF 24
1. SEAT, 241 points; 2. BMW, 207; 3. Chevrolet,
177; 4. Honda, 42.