Yvan Muller and Rob Huff prepare for Driver title's decisive duel
The 2011 season of the WTCC is coming to an end, but the last round on the streets of Macau will have to deliver a last, crucial verdict, as it will determine who between Yvan Muller and Rob Huff will clinch the Drivers' crown. The two Chevrolet drivers are separated by 20 points, a margin that is not huge, taking into account that 50 points are still at stake and that Macau is probably the most unpredictable track in the world.
The fast, narrow and challenging Guia circuit in the former Portuguese enclave, which traditionally stages the closing event of the WTCC, has always been generous with races rich in incidents and surprises, gaining a reputation that perfectly matches the city's status as one of the world's gambling hotspots...
Whatever the outcome will be, this year's will be an exciting finale to an exceptional season for Chevrolet, the RML team, the new Cruze 1.6 turbo and its three drivers (Muller, Huff and Menu, who has also been in contention for the Drivers' title until the penultimate round), as the outfit has dominated the 2011 WTCC and reconfirmed both the Manufacturers' and Drivers' titles gained in 2010.
To mark this successful moment, the three Cruzes will sport in Macau, a special livery that will be unveiled on Thursday during the testing session. In the meantime, the three drivers have stayed in Asia in-between the last two rounds. The Monday after the Race of China, they visited GM's facility in Shanghai, and they are currently enjoying some days off ahead ...the moment of truth!
QUOTES
Yvan Muller: "This is the fifth year in a row that I head to Macau to fight for the Drivers' title, which is already an achievement in itself. I have won the title twice and I have been a vice-champion twice also, so I hope to bring the count to 3-2. Macau is a circuit like no other, probably the craziest one where I have ever raced. It's really quite an exceptional place for having a title decided, but I love it! For the rest, I'm not making predictions and I am not working on strategies. I'll try to do the best I can as always, and we'll see what happens!"
Rob Huff: "I am currently relaxing a bit in Thailand, it's the perfect preparation before the grand-finale! Macau is probably my favorite circuit and I have always been quite successful there: three wins and two poles in the last three years. I'm pretty confident I can do well this time too, and I aim at pole for both races and two race wins to end the season as positively as possible! The title? Anything is possible, as in Macau anything can happen and it normally does..."
Alain Menu: "This final Asian tour is being quite successful for me, as I took the pole and one win at Suzuka and again at Shanghai. I will definitely try to do as well in Macau too, although it's a pity that I am out for the title battle. I always enjoyed Macau, the track, the city, the atmosphere. It's always a little bit of a lottery there, but I hope to do well and to be in front of Yvan and Rob. That would be the best way not to interfere in their title battle!"
Ron Hartvelt: "Macau is Macau, with all its usual excitement, but this year it will be particularly interesting! Anything can happen, as always there, and our three drivers feel very confident, so we expect to see some nice racing and a big battle, which is what we all want! Of course, there is a sense of competition between Yvan and Rob, but the spirit and the atmosphere are excellent. From a technical point of view, it's all ok, we had some damage to Rob's car in Race 2 in Shanghai, but luckily all three cars are straight. Once again, the boys worked hard after the races in Shanghai to pack everything and load the cars into the containers. The cars and the equipment are expected to be unloaded in Macau on Monday, which should leave sufficient time to re-prepare the cars for Thursday's testing."
Eric Nève: "The season is coming to an end and I think we'll live an even greater than usual finale in Macau! Of course, we will be completely neutral in the final duel between Yvan and Rob. Both, and Alain too, did a fantastic job throughout the season and both Yvan and Rob deserve the title. Whoever wins, we will have a great champion and a great vice-champion. Above all, it has been a terrific season for Chevrolet, with 11 poles out of 11 events so far, and 19 wins out of 22 races, just to mention that. It's unprecedented in the WTCC and we can be proud of what the team has accomplished."
MACAU RACE SCHEDULE (Local time = CET +7 hours)
Thursday, 17th November 2011
13:50-14:20 (06:50-07:20 CET) Testing
Friday, 18th November 2011
08.30-09.00 (01.30-02:00 CET) Free Practice 1
12.15-12 :45 (05.15-05.45 CET) Free Practice 2
15.25-15.55 (08.25-08.55 CET) Qualifying 1
16.00-16.15 (09.00-09.15 CET) Qualifying 2 (Top Ten)
Sunday, 20th November 2011
08.15-08.30 (01.15-01.30 CET) Warm up
11.10-11.35 (04.10-04.35 CET) Race 1 (9 laps = 55.053kms) (Rolling start)
12.30-12.55 (05.30-05.55 CET) Race 2 (9 laps = 55.053kms) (Standing start)
MACAU WTCC ON TV
In Europe, qualifying, warm up and the races are be broadcasted live on Eurosport International.
DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 22 OF 24
1. Y Muller (Chevrolet), 400 points; 2. R Huff (Chevrolet), 380; 3. A Menu (Chevrolet), 323; 4. T Coronel (BMW), 203; 5. G Tarquini (SEAT), 177; ... 12. D O'Young (Chevrolet), 43; 14. C Bueno (Chevrolet), 25; ... etc
MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 22 OF 24
1. Chevrolet, 890 points; 2. BMW, 537; 3. SEAT, 475; 4. Volvo, 154.
CHEVROLET RACING AROUND THE GLOBE
In the US, Tony Stewart, with his two wins in Martinsville (where six Chevies finished in the top 7) and Texas, is now second in the overall standings of the NASCAR Sprint Cup, with only two events to go (Phoenix this coming weekend and Homestead one week later). In the standings, Kevin Harvick is currently third, Jimmy Johnson sixth, Dale Earnhardt Jr seventh and Jeff Gordon eighth. More information can be found on www.nascar.com.
In Argentina, Agustín Canapino, at the wheel of the Cruze, took the pole and a podium finish (3rd) at the last event in Potrero de los Funes. He is now 5th in the overall standings of the TC 2000, with the other Equipo Oficial Chevrolet driver, Christian Ledesma, 14th. The closing round of the season will take place on 27th November at Paraná. More info on www.tc2000.com.ar
For more information on Chevrolet's World Touring Car Championship program, please contact:
Eric Nève
Chevrolet Europe
Tel : + 41 79 681 89 76
