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Team Chevrolet driver Alain Menu turned his pole on the grid into a victory, coming in first as well as smashing the record books in World Touring Car Championship history.
Menu took the squares during the first race despite a jumped start from championship leader, Yvan Muller. Rob Huff miraculously broke loose from the cacophony of the midfielders to claim his name in third behind Alain, while former F1 driver Nicola Larini toughed out a fight with James Thompson in his Alfa Romeo 156 and Tiago Monteiro in a Seat Turbodiesel to finish second for the fifth time this year.
Although the lack of consistency got the better of Menu, he won 5 races this season, with the only driver coming close last year being this year's championship title winner Andre Priaulx, who drove for the BMW team. Menu also locked in 5 pole positions out of 11 rounds - another new record for the WTCC series, and led the way in first for 64 laps out of the 293 that he had completed.
Again, the only other person to do better last year was Priaulx with a figure of 65 laps in first place, out of his total number of 253).
The three Chevrolet drivers, Nicola Larini, Alain Menu and Rob Huff finish fifth, sixth and ninth respectively while Chevrolet comes in third in the Manufacturers standings amongst the giants such as Alfa Romeo, BMW, and Seat.
Menu took the squares during the first race despite a jumped start from championship leader, Yvan Muller. Rob Huff miraculously broke loose from the cacophony of the midfielders to claim his name in third behind Alain, while former F1 driver Nicola Larini toughed out a fight with James Thompson in his Alfa Romeo 156 and Tiago Monteiro in a Seat Turbodiesel to finish second for the fifth time this year.
Although the lack of consistency got the better of Menu, he won 5 races this season, with the only driver coming close last year being this year's championship title winner Andre Priaulx, who drove for the BMW team. Menu also locked in 5 pole positions out of 11 rounds - another new record for the WTCC series, and led the way in first for 64 laps out of the 293 that he had completed.
Again, the only other person to do better last year was Priaulx with a figure of 65 laps in first place, out of his total number of 253).
The three Chevrolet drivers, Nicola Larini, Alain Menu and Rob Huff finish fifth, sixth and ninth respectively while Chevrolet comes in third in the Manufacturers standings amongst the giants such as Alfa Romeo, BMW, and Seat.
A little bit more about WTCC and their Weapons
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Chevrolet's team weapon, the Lacetti, isn't very different from the Optra available for sale in our local market. This modified Optra comes under the Group N rule book in the FIA.
To qualify, a minimum of 2500 cars of the said competing model variant must be built within a year, out of a 25,000 total for that model range.
The cars are then modified to the prevailing Super 2000 rules, which basically limit modifications to 280hp, and a maximum engine displacement of 2 litres (no forced induction allowed)
The transmission must be of a 6-speed sequential type, with control specifications from either Sadev, Xtrac or Ricardo and no electronics are allowed in the differentials.
The suspension type usually is of the McPherson setup for both front and rear. There are to be no electronic driver aids, and the car must be of a 1.8 metre maximum width.
The maximum selling price of the car must not exceed 168,000 Euros.
To qualify, a minimum of 2500 cars of the said competing model variant must be built within a year, out of a 25,000 total for that model range.
The cars are then modified to the prevailing Super 2000 rules, which basically limit modifications to 280hp, and a maximum engine displacement of 2 litres (no forced induction allowed)
The transmission must be of a 6-speed sequential type, with control specifications from either Sadev, Xtrac or Ricardo and no electronics are allowed in the differentials.
The suspension type usually is of the McPherson setup for both front and rear. There are to be no electronic driver aids, and the car must be of a 1.8 metre maximum width.
The maximum selling price of the car must not exceed 168,000 Euros.
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