24.7.2006
Chevrolet heads to Mexico after intensive tests

The 2006 World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) will start the second half of the season in Puebla, Mexico, next weekend. After a first fly-away race in Brazil, the race at the Puebla-Amozoc track marks the second oversea race.

Chevrolet driver Alain Menu is confident of scoring some more points in Puebla. “The new track lay-out should suit us better since they’ve gotten rid of one of the slow corners. We will have the benefit of running without success ballast, although I still have to carry five kilos. I think we should qualify quite well there, and be able to finish in the top eight in the first race. Depending on the outcome of race one, we could surprise a few people in race two.”

Like the rest of the team, Rob Huff is equally keen to go to Mexico. “The revised track will be a lot safer even though it hasn’t changed that much. It is now a bit longer, but it was already a good track for our car last year, so with what we’ve learned over the past 12 months I think we should be good there. I also spent two days testing in Rockingham to find some better qualifying performance. The car’s competitive in race trim but for some reason we struggle in qualifying when you need that one quick lap. By going to Rockingham we also had the unique opportunity to test on a banked circuit, just what we needed to prepare for Puebla as the revised track lay-out now incorporates both banked turns.”

Like Huff, Nicola Larini also spent a few days testing in Pembrey. “The purpose of the tests in Pembrey was to optimize tire efficiency and to correct the tendency to understeer the car has. From the second day onwards we could in perfect conditions, and both in a qualifying and race configurations. There will be more testing this summer and it is very important to carry on with this development work, as we are still only halfway in the season.”

PUEBLA WTCC SCHEDULE (All times CET)
Friday July 28th
21:30 – 22:00: Testing

Saturday July 29th
16:00 – 16:30: Free Practice 1
18:30 – 19:00: Free Practice 2
21:30 – 22:00: Qualifying

Sunday July 30th
16:30 – 16:45: Warm Up
20:05 – 20:30: WTCC Race 1 (15 laps = 50.400 km)
21:15 – 21:40: WTCC Race 2 (15 laps = 50.400 km)

Qualifying, warm-up and the races will be broadcasted on Eurosport, as well as on www.fiawtcc.com.

POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 10 OF 20
Drivers: 1. A Priaulx (BMW), 44pts; 2. J Thompson (SEAT) 41; 3. G Tarquini (SEAT) 40; 4. R Rydell (SEAT) 34; 5. Y Müller (SEAT) 33; 6. D Muller (BMW) 32; 7. P Terting (SEAT) 32; 8. J Muller (BMW) 30; 9. A Far(fus (Alfa Romeo) 28; 10. J Gené (SEAT) 24; 11. A Menu (Chevrolet) 18 ;... 14. R Huff (Chevrolet) 6;... 16. N Larini (Chevrolet) 3 ;...

Manufacturers: 1. SEAT, 127pts; 2. BMW, 126; 3. Alfa Romeo, 75; 4. Chevrolet 62.