Chevrolet has unexpectedly announced that it will be pulling out of the World Touring Car Championship at the end of this season.
The works programme, run in conjunction with RML, has competed in the WTCC since the series was revived in 2005. Its most successful years were 2010 and 2011, which saw the Chevrolet team secure consecutive constructors’ championships and drivers’ titles for Yvan Muller.
That winning streak has yet to show any signs of abating, because Muller currently sits atop the 2012 points table with team-mates Rob Huff and Alain Menu in second and third places.
Eric Nève, Chevrolet Motorsport Manager, commented: “Naturally, making this announcement comes with very mixed emotions. This has been an amazing journey from our first season through to the double championship wins with the Cruze.
“We are extremely proud of the success we have achieved, including giving GM its first FIA World Champion titles, and would like to thank and pay tribute to the WTCC, RML, our drivers, partners and fans. We are now all focused on the remainder of season and bringing home the third double championship titles for Chevrolet.”
While the departure of a major factory team is undoubtedly a setback for the WTCC, it won’t necessarily mean a reduction in grid sizes. Chevrolet could decide to pass its Cruze race cars onto privateer entrants, as Seat and BMW did when they ended their official involvement in the championship.
Related posts:
Michel Vaillant Cruze
Honda to enter the WTCC
2012 WTCC calendar
The works programme, run in conjunction with RML, has competed in the WTCC since the series was revived in 2005. Its most successful years were 2010 and 2011, which saw the Chevrolet team secure consecutive constructors’ championships and drivers’ titles for Yvan Muller.
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| 2011 WTCC Drivers' Champion Yvan Muller in his Chevrolet Cruze. |
That winning streak has yet to show any signs of abating, because Muller currently sits atop the 2012 points table with team-mates Rob Huff and Alain Menu in second and third places.
Eric Nève, Chevrolet Motorsport Manager, commented: “Naturally, making this announcement comes with very mixed emotions. This has been an amazing journey from our first season through to the double championship wins with the Cruze.
“We are extremely proud of the success we have achieved, including giving GM its first FIA World Champion titles, and would like to thank and pay tribute to the WTCC, RML, our drivers, partners and fans. We are now all focused on the remainder of season and bringing home the third double championship titles for Chevrolet.”
While the departure of a major factory team is undoubtedly a setback for the WTCC, it won’t necessarily mean a reduction in grid sizes. Chevrolet could decide to pass its Cruze race cars onto privateer entrants, as Seat and BMW did when they ended their official involvement in the championship.
Related posts:
Michel Vaillant Cruze
Honda to enter the WTCC
2012 WTCC calendar
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