Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze) took two victories in the opening two rounds of the World Touring Car Championship held in Monza this past weekend.
Frenchman Muller, who now drives a private Chevrolet Cruze ran by team RML following the withdrawal of Chevrolet at the end of last year, set the pace all the weekend long.
Despite the lack of winter testing, Muller's Cruze was systematically faster than the works Honda Civics of Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro.
Muller, who set the fastest time in free practice session and in qualifying – nine tenth of a second fastest than his new RML team mate Tom Chilton -, dominated race 1 from lights to flag under the rain, and took victory ahead of Chilton and another private Chevrolet Cruze driven by Alex McDowall.
Following the reverse grid regulation, Muller had to start race 2 from 8th position. But, as the rain continued to fall heavily, he was able to move up the field and took the lead on lap 6 away from Tarquini’s Honda. The Italian driver eventually finished third behind Muller and Michel Nykjaer’s Chevrolet.
Both works Lada Grantas did not race, being involved in a collision in qualifying when Alexei Dudukalo missed his barking point and hit heavily the car of his teammate James Thompson. The cars were too heavily damaged to be repaired for Sunday's race.
Yvan Muller already holds a huge lead in provisional standings ahead of Tom Chilton and Gabriele Tarquini. Next rounds will be presented in two weeks in Marrakech, Morocco.
Frenchman Muller, who now drives a private Chevrolet Cruze ran by team RML following the withdrawal of Chevrolet at the end of last year, set the pace all the weekend long.
Despite the lack of winter testing, Muller's Cruze was systematically faster than the works Honda Civics of Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro.
 |
| Photo: FIA WTCC |
Muller, who set the fastest time in free practice session and in qualifying – nine tenth of a second fastest than his new RML team mate Tom Chilton -, dominated race 1 from lights to flag under the rain, and took victory ahead of Chilton and another private Chevrolet Cruze driven by Alex McDowall.
Following the reverse grid regulation, Muller had to start race 2 from 8th position. But, as the rain continued to fall heavily, he was able to move up the field and took the lead on lap 6 away from Tarquini’s Honda. The Italian driver eventually finished third behind Muller and Michel Nykjaer’s Chevrolet.
 |
| Photo: Yvan Muller/Facebook |
Both works Lada Grantas did not race, being involved in a collision in qualifying when Alexei Dudukalo missed his barking point and hit heavily the car of his teammate James Thompson. The cars were too heavily damaged to be repaired for Sunday's race.
Yvan Muller already holds a huge lead in provisional standings ahead of Tom Chilton and Gabriele Tarquini. Next rounds will be presented in two weeks in Marrakech, Morocco.