Rydell aiming for opening WTCC rounds with new Cruze

Rickard Rydell and Chevrolet Team Sweden is aiming to take part in the opening rounds of the FIA World Touring Car Championship with the team’s new Chevrolet Cruzes.
“We are hoping to do the opening rounds of the WTCC alongside our STCC program,” said Rydell on the Bilsport gala in Sweden.

The team has recently bought two Chevrolet Cruzes that RML ran in the WTCC last year and the premiere test is just around the corner.
“If you are going to get max out of the pre-season testing, you have to be in physical and psychological top form to deliver. I am looking forward to exchange the gym for a sunny Spain with our new cars,” said Rydell.

The team is going to test at Valencia in Spain on the 6th of February alongside the Chevrolet WTCC team, just as last year.
“We are a completely different team now compared to a few seasons ago. Everything has moved forward and we are working on strengthening the organisation in order to face the challenges that we face. Our competitors are professional and a consistent development is required to be on top,” said team manager Nicklas Karlsson.

The driver of the second Chevrolet Cruze of the Swedish team has not been set yet, but the team is aiming to finalize it shortly.
“We are negotiating with a number of very interesting drivers and the working is nearing its end. We are hoping to be able to present the complete line-up shortly,” said Karlsson.

Though the team will run the mandated turbocharged engines in the WTCC this year, they have not yet stated which engine they are going to use in the STCC. The Chevrolets from the WTCC are equipped with the 1.6 turbo world engine while the STCC only allows NGTC and naturally aspirated S2000 engines.