THE CRUZE GETS A TASTE OF ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS IN PORTIMÃO

Jan 26

THE CRUZE GETS A TASTE OF ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS IN PORTIMÃO

zoom10-04 Muller.jpg The winter testing programme of Chevrolet Racing ahead of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship, which will start in Curitiba in six weeks from now, brought the Cruze and the team to the Circuito do Algarve this week. Portugal this time offered a wide array of track conditions during the two-day session on Wednesday and Thursday, as the rain was on and off during the first day and the track was humid on the morning of the second day before the sunshine dried the surface for the final half-day of activity.

Still, Yvan Muller and Rob Huff were able to complete the work programme scheduled for this test with no major problem and continued the validation process of different technical solutions regarding suspension geometry and various set-ups.

Alain Menu was present as an observer on the first day and participated in the technical debriefings with his team mates and the engineers. The three drivers will be behind the wheel, in the last winter test, scheduled in Valencia on 17-18 February.

QUOTES

Rob Huff: “Despite the changing weather conditions, it has been a very useful session, which allowed us to confirm or re-address some of the things that we have been testing recently. On the second day, we could run 400 km and this made up for some of time lost on the first day because of the rain. I am very happy with the work done and with how things look for 2010”.

Yvan Muller: “These two days were very useful for me, as I could work with the mechanics that will be my crew during the season and I continued exploring various set-ups in order to get to know the Cruze better. It was also nice to have the possibility to discuss and spend some time together with Alain and Rob. The track was pretty damp and greasy the first day, but on Thursday we could do some proper set-up work, which will be very useful when we will come here for the WTCC race later in the year”.

Alain Menu: «I had no driving duties here in the Algarve, but it was useful and nice to be with team, spend some time with the guys and share impressions with Rob and Yvan. Clearly, I am eager to be back in Valencia mid-February. This will be the last test before real things start all over again. I have known Yvan for many years and I am convinced he will be a plus for the team, so I am really anxious to see this season starting soon”.