Nève: Change of marketing behind Chevrolet departure

Chevrolet Motorsport Manager Eric Nève says a change of marketing strategy is the overriding factor in the manufacturer’s withdrawal from the WTCC at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

The US manufacturer is in pole position to take its third consecutive drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles this season, with drivers Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu all at the top of the standings.

Chevrolet are the only fully committed manufacturer in this year’s championship, although some factory presence is behind the Arena and Lukoil Racing Team programmes from Ford and SEAT respectively.

Chevrolet have been in the WTCC since the Championship began in 2005, emerging from what was the European Touring Car Championship, and will this season will become the fourth manufacturer since 2009 to depart the WTCC after Lada, SEAT and BMW, though the former two have begun to re-enter the series in other forms.

Chevrolet boss Nève says the decision to leave the WTCC is purely a change of marketing strategy, and is not a reflection on the state of the WTCC, which comes just as the series was just showing signs of growth, with Honda joining the championship later this season for the first time as a works entry, and with potential full programmes from Ford, SEAT and Lada on the horizon for 2013.

“It’s certainly not because of the quality of the series or the TV coverage we were getting from them,” said Nève to TouringCarTimes. “We were very happy with the way they work, and that we get the right coverage on TV. We get access to extras when we need them in terms of promotion etc. so it’s certainly not due to the series or any lack of cooperation with them.”

“We took the decision (to enter the WTCC) because we knew it would serve our cause to establish the brand, and we didn’t fear the competition that was there at the time from Alfa Romeo, BMW and SEAT. When we were left a bit on our own for the last two years that was not a concern either, because we were getting the right return on investment.”

Chevrolet’s presence in the WTCC this year is with five cars; three with the works squad run by Wellingborough-based RML, and two by the independent Silverstone-based Bamboo Engineering team, and Nève confirms there’s still room for the cars to compete in an independent guise, much as the BMW and SEATs do currently in the Championship.

“The cars will remain with the team (RML) at the end of the term, but there will not be any commitment whatsoever from our side, so if they find a solution to race them then fine, if not, they will stay in the garage.”

The team’s 1.6 turbo engine, which was developed for the change in regulations for the 2011 season also has a few extra options available to it, being the first true Global Racing Engine developed for the WTCC.

“The engine is a true GRE engine and I hope GM can find a use for the engine, if not I hope we can find a solution with RML,” added Nève.

Chevrolet currently lead the manufacturers’ title with 578 points, 189 points clear of the BMW Customer Racing operation with Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu holding the top three spots in the drivers’ standings on 245, 227 and 210 points respectively with Dutch driver Tom Coronel the closest to the Chevrolet trio on 140 points in his independently run BMW.