MARRAKECH, 15 April 2012: The Cruzes and Chevrolet drivers put on another great team effort in Morocco, conquering two 1-2-3 wins, in what has been the most successful weekend ever in Chevrolet’s WTCC history.
Alain Menu took his second 2012 win ahead of Rob Huff and Yvan Muller in Race 1, where the Cruzes had the advantage of favorable starting positions on the grid.
Race 2 was much more open and unpredictable, as the Chevrolets started from rows 3 and 4. Nevertheless, the drivers put together a fantastic and exciting assault, with Yvan Muller leading the way and the three drivers climbing up through the field, passing the rivals ahead of them one by one, with breath-taking overtakes on the narrow street circuit. The race ended with Yvan Muller taking his fourth seasonal win ahead of Huff and Menu.
With these great results, Chevrolet has extended its lead in the Manufacturer championship, while the three drivers are now firmly on top of the Drivers’ standings.
• QUOTES
Alain Menu (1st/3rd): “It was fantastic winning Race 1 and adding Marrakech to my collection of wins on street circuits. Clearly, when you start from the pole on a circuit like this, things are much easier, but still, it was essential to make no mistakes and be cautious over the kerbs, which can be quite disruptive here. The car jumps a lot over them and from inside the cockpit it is a very strange feeling, you really feel bad for the suspensions!
“I took a good start and so did Rob as well, we were side to side on the straight, but then I had the good line at the first corner and managed to keep the lead. In the race, I was careful to always have some safety margin in braking and knew my team mates behind me would behave well, so everything went well. In Race 2, I never thought we could 1-2-3, but we made it and I must thank Yvan, because he did a great race. He was opening the way for us too, and basically, the only thing Rob and I had to do was to follow him.”
Yvan Muller (3rd/1st): “Good race and good result in Race 1, but I wouldn’t characterize it as easy and tranquil, because on such a circuit you always have to pay a lot of attention to preserve your brakes and pass as smoothly as possible on the kerbs, which are really vicious for the car. Race 2 was incredible, and it is, of course, a great satisfaction to win a race from P7 on the grid on an urban track.
“But, today, the Cruze was perfect and unbeatable. This said, it was not easy, because I didn’t have a great start. After that I focused on passing the cars ahead of me one by one and in not doing stupid things, and it worked out well.”
MARRAKECH RACE 1 RESULT
1. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze 12 laps in 22m28s931
4. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze +1s0742
5. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze + 1s554
4. P Oriola SEAT León WTCC + 2s268
5. S D’Aste BMW 320 TC + 5s713
12. A MacDowall Chevrolet Cruze + 38s647
17. P Di Sabatino Chevrolet Cruze - 1 lap
MARRAKECH RACE 2 RESULTS
1. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze 11 laps in 19m36s836
2. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze + 0s381
3. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze + 0s970
4. T Coronel BMW 320 TC + 2s153
5. D’ Aste BMW 320 TC + 2s641
12. P Di Sabatino Chevrolet Cruze +14s273
DNS A MacDowall Chevrolet Cruze
WTCC DRIVERS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 6 OF 24
1. Muller (Chevrolet), 130; 2. Menu (Chevrolet), 105; 3. Huff (Chevrolet), 97; 4. Coronel (BMW), 77 ; 5. D’Aste (BMW), 45…
WTCC MANUFACTURERS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 6 OF 24
1. Chevrolet, 268 points; 2. BMW, 161, 3. SEAT, 144.
NEXT RACE: Race of Slovakia, Slovakiaring, 26-28 April 2012.