Chevrolet aim for end of season high

Following a summer of testing and development Chevrolet are hoping the Cruze will perform well at the remaining races of 2009. The Chevrolet Cruze replaced the tried-and-tested Lacetti at the start of the season, and has become increasingly competitive as the season has evolved.

During the mid-season break the team took the opportunity to test at both Zolder in Belgium and Magny-Cours in France. They hope that the testing will help them during the final four rounds of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season, which begins at Oschersleben in Germany next weekend.

The Chevrolet Racing Manager, Eric Nève stated “Oschersleben also marks the beginning of the final stretch of the season and we are determined to do our outmost to end on a sweet note. Getting some more good results would be nice for the Cruze, which is achieving an excellent first season in the WTCC, and would also be the best way to lay the ground for the future”.

Nève also took the time to outline the importance of the German market for Chevrolet, as well as the support, “Going to Germany is always something special. Not only it is the biggest market in Europe, and one where Chevrolet is doing very well, but it is also a country that has a real devotion for touring car racing and where we have a lot of Chevrolet fans. It’s great to count on such a warm support”, he added.

Chevrolet’s Team Manager, Mark Busfield is clearly pleased with the work undertaken during the break. “The summer break has certainly been well used. The cars have been thoroughly re-built and further fine-tuned and, most importantly, we have continued testing and developing the Cruze” he said.

“We are happy with the work done, which should allow us to progress in this last part of the season. Oschersleben is completely new to the Cruze, so it is difficult to say how well we can perform there”, added Busfield.

From a driver’s point of view, Rob Huff is the best placed of the Chevrolet drivers in the standings. He currently lies 5th on 54 points, one point behind Rickard Rydell of SEAT, and one point ahead of BMW driver Jörg Müller.

His target is higher than that, “We are now starting the last third of the season, with only four rounds to go, and it is important we keep the momentum and reach our objective, which is to finish in the top three”, said the 2003 British SEAT Cupra Championship winner.

Huff enjoyed success last year at Oschersleben, whilst driving the Lacetti, and will be hoping the testing done with the Cruze will allow for a repeat this year. “Last year, I went away from Oschersleben with the pole position and two podium finishes, so I would be happy repeating that.” he said.

Alain Menu is keen to get back behind the wheel in the WTCC, despite travelling to South America during the break to take part in the 200 km of Buenos Aires. He was unfortunate during that race, as his car was forced to retire from the event after a freak incident with a plastic bag.

The Swiss is a fan of Oschersleben, and will be looking to bolster the Chevrolet teams manufacturer points this weekend, “I am eager to be back behind the wheel of the Cruze. I like Oschersleben, it is a very technical track, where any mistake costs a lot of time. It is probably not the most favourable track for the Cruze but I am confident we can aim at some good points”, said Menu.

Nicola Larini has endured a tough time of late in the WTCC, where he has had his races hampered by actions out his control. “In the last two rounds, my races were basically ruined by race incidents caused by other drivers, so my first objective in Oschersleben will be to avoid any bad luck and survive the first corner”, said Larini.

The Italian added that he is hoping to ruin BMW’s home race, “Although we will be at our German competitor’s home circuit, I think we can do well”.