Menu and Huff delighted with qualifying result

Chevrolet drivers Rob Huff and Alain Menu are very happy with their qualifying performances in Shanghai, whilst Championship leader Yvan Muller is unhappy with with seventh and fourth on the grid for the two races on the WTCC’s debut at Tianma.

Menu took his fourth pole position of the season, setting the best lap of the weekend of 1:05.555 on the 1.28 mile long circuit, with Rob Huff second fastest in the session.

Huff will also provisionally start from pole position for race two, in what will be only the second time this season that an RML Chevrolet has started from pole for race two with the WTCC’s new-for-2011 reverse grid system.

“I am very happy with how this Asian tour is going for me so far,” said Menu. “Another pole after the one at Suzuka is excellent news and I will try to stay in front tomorrow and bring home another win.”

“If there was a place and a moment where I really needed two first row starts, this is here and now!” said Huff. “Q1 was completely hectic, with positions changing all the time and I was very lucky to get P10 which means the pole for Race 2. I have to thank my engineer, Duncan Laycock, who was perfect in keeping me updated via radio.”

Yvan Muller, who has a 13 point lead over Rob Huff going into this weekend, was less than happy with seventh on the grid for race one, but is the second best placed Chevrolet for the reversed grid second race.

“It was a difficult session and I am not very happy with the results,” said Muller. “Today, we were not very successful in managing the sets of new tires. In Q2, I had to abort my quick lap attempt and then the tyres were gone.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll try to bring home as many points as possible, but it is going to be difficult to climb positions on such a short and narrow track.”