The Chevrolet WTCC team tested yesterday in Zolder with Nicola Larini. This session was part of the intense programme of development and testing of the new Cruze car, which made its race debut at the beginning of the 2009 season and already won five WTCC rounds so far. The test in Zolder took an even more interesting dimension since the Belgian track has been included in the WTCC’s preliminary 2010 calendar.
Given its demanding characteristics, Zolder is an ideal choice for a test session during the summer break. The team’s aim was to continue the constant development work on the balance of the car, set-up and aerodynamics.
Nicola Larini said: "I know Zolder well since the ’90s and I think it is perfectly suited for touring cars. It is technical and demanding, especially for the brakes, with constant changes of rhythm, and it’s also quite spectacular. I am really happy that the WTCC is coming back here and although this will only happen next year, having the possibility to test now will certainly be useful."
Eric Nève, Chevrolet Europe Motorsport Manager, commented: "I am very pleased with the news of the WTCC going back to Zolder, because it is a perfect track for touring cars and enjoys a very strategic geographical location, at the crossroad between the Benelux countries, Western Germany and Northern France. This region happens to be a key car market and an area where interest for touring cars is very high."
Nicola Larini and his Chevrolet Cruze while testing at Zolder
MONTEIRO CLAIMS SPORTSCAR PODIUM
SEAT Sport’s driver Tiago Monteiro claimed an outstanding third place in the 1000km de l’Algarve that took place last weekend on the new Portuguese racetrack of Portimão counting towards the Le Mans Series.
Monteiro and his Brazilian team-mate Bruno Senna drove their AIM-engined Oreca 01 prototype to complete the race behind the winning Pescarolo Sport’s car of Jean-Christophe Boullion and Christophe Tinseau and the second-placed Aston Martin Racing’s LMP1 of Jan Charouz-Tomas Enge-Stefan Mücke.
"It’s a strong feeling to claim a podium result on my first race in Algarve, which was also my first appearance in the Le Mans Series. Oreca did a great job and gave us a very efficient car that was consistent throughout the whole race," Monteiro commented.
Tiago Monteiro and Bruno Senna on the podium of the Algarve 100km