Chevy wins second manufacturers’ world title

Last weekend Chevrolet won its second consecutive title of the Manufacturers’ Championship in the World Touring Car Championship with the team completely dominating both races.

Yvan Muller and Alain Menu made a 1-2 in Race 1 and Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu took all podium steps in Race 2. 

With this result, the drivers’ title, it is now mathematically certain for one of the three Chevrolet drivers. That is how dominant the team is this season.

The battle is more open than ever: with his double success in Spain, Yvan has now taken the lead from Rob and is 16 points ahead of the Brit and 80 ahead of Alain Menu.  

In Race 1, after battling with Tarquini in the very initial stages, Yvan Muller won ahead of Alain Menu, who emerged well from the fight for the runner-up position. Rob Huff took fifth after being trapped in the turmoil of the first few corners, saving some precious points.

The Brit was third but lost a number of positions when he was sent off track after Monteiro hit Menu, sending the Swiss into the back of Rob’s car.  

Race 2 seemed promising for the BMWs, as three of them led most of the race, with the Cruzes right behind, but an incident between Coronel and Villa opened the way for Muller and a spin from Michelisz in the very last corner which allowed Huff and Menu to secure the rest of the podium.  

The team will stay over in Valencia for a testing session on Monday and Tuesday, while the WTCC cars and equipment start the long journey by sea to Asia, where the last three rounds will be dominated by the fight for the Drivers’ championship.  

Muller was exstatic about overtaking his teammate on the championship table “First of all, a very big and heartfelt “well done” to all the guys for a well deserved second Manufacturers’ title!

“It is obviously a very good weekend for me, as I arrived here six points behind Rob and I am leaving with a 16 point advantage.

VALENCIA RACE 1 RESULTS

1. Y Muller  Chevrolet Cruze   14 laps in 25m39s052

2. A Menu   Chevrolet Cruze   + 1s103

3. T Coronel  BMW 320 TC   + 6s345

4. K Poulsen  BMW 320 TC   + 9s961

5. R Huff  Chevrolet Cruze  +15s404

VALENCIA RACE 2 RESULTS

1. Y Muller  Chevrolet Cruze  13 laps in 23m14s296

2. R Huff  Chevrolet Cruze  + 4s434

3. A Menu  Chevrolet Cruze   + 1s143

4. T Coronel  BMW 320 TC   + 2s184

5. G Tarquini  SEAT SR León 1.6T  + 2s966

DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 18 OF 24

1. Y Muller (Chevrolet), 333 points; 2. R Huff (Chevrolet), 317; 3. A Menu (Chevrolet),

253; 4. T Coronel (BMW), 164; 5. G Tarquini (SEAT), 155; … 12. D O’Young (Chevrolet), 43;

14. C Bueno (Chevrolet), 25; ... etc 

MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 18 OF 24

1. Chevrolet, 734 points; 2. BMW, 433; 3. SEAT, 393; 4. Volvo, 126. 

NEXT RACE: Race of Japan, Suzuka, 22-23 October 2011.