The Chevrolet WTCC team scored important points in the Portuguese round of the 2008 championship, thanks to a second place by pole sitter Nicola Larini and points finishes by Rob Huff. Alain Menu’s weekend brought no points after his qualifying times were disallowed because of a technical failure on his car’s fire extinguisher.

In the Drivers World Championship, both Huff and Larini move up a place in the standings, while Chevrolet moves closer to the second place in the Manufacturers’ standings.

QUOTES

Nicola Larini (2nd/6th): “I had a good start from pole in the first race, but the SEATs just flew past me like rockets. When Yvan went wide in one corner I could slip past and start chasing Rickard. In the beginning I was struggling a bit, though I was faster than him, especially in the first and third sectors. But coming out of the long right-hander I had to take a slightly less than ideal line in order not to lose downforce at the front so that made it difficult to outbrake him at the end of the straight. So I finished second, again. In the second race I pushed as hard as I could and gained one place but there was nothing more I could have done.”

Rob Huff (4th/5th): “I had a good start and was running level with Rickard towards the end of the straight. I then could go only one way, so I thought ‘be brave’ and went around the outside. Then someone hit Jordi and he tapped me into a half spin and I lost a couple of places. I then sat behind Andy and Jordi for some eight laps at which time I thought it was time to interfere. I had looked after my tyres so I could make two good moves near the end and bring home more points, which was very good. In race two I was following the SEATs when Yvan pushed Jordi out of the way, but he came back on the track and gave a big swipe which bent the steering. From then on it was just matter of saving as many points as I could.”

Alain Menu (11th/14th): “The first race was okay. I avoided other drivers’ contacts as much as possible which meant I had to brake quite a few times, but 11th was a good result, having started 25th. In the second race I again had a good start and decided to wait a bit to see what would develop ahead of me. Gabriele Tarquini pushed me a lot going into the hairpin and there I lost some places, at the same time damaging something on the car, all I could salvage was 14th. Next race should be better at my adoptive home track of Brands Hatch. I scored Chevrolet’s first win there in 2006 and won there again in 2007. A hat trick would be nice, methinks.”

ESTORIL RACE 1 RESULTS

1. R Rydell Seat Leon TDI 12 laps in 22m05s135
2. N Larini Chevrolet Lacetti + 0s816
3. Y Muller Seat Leon TDI + 8s160
4. R Huff Chevrolet Lacetti + 10s681
5. J Gené Seat Leon TDI + 12s316
6. A Priaulx BMW 320si + 12s605
7. T Monteiro SEAY Leon TDI + 13s222
8. F Porteiro BMW 320si + 13s662
11. A Menu Chevrolet Lacetti + 23s543

ESTORIL RACE 2 RESULTS

1. T Monteiro Seat Leon TDI 12 laps in 22m06s495
2. Y Muller Seat Leon TDI + 2s635
3. A Priaulx BMW 320si + 2s921
4. F Porteiro BMW 320si + 3s578
5. R Huff Chevrolet Lacetti + 4s028
6. N Larini Chevrolet Lacetti + 4s466
7. J Müller BMW 320si + 6s242
8. R Rydell Seat Leon TDI + 7s495
14. A Menu Chevrolet Lacetti + 15s154

DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 12 OF 24

1. G Tarquini (SEAT), 58 points; 2. Y Muller (SEAT), 55; 3. R Rydell (SEAT), 48; 4. A Priaulx (BMW), 43; 5. R Huff (Chevrolet), 36;... 7. N Larini (Chevrolet), 30;... 11. A Menu (Chevrolet), 23;...

MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 12 OF 24

1. SEAT, 172 points; 2. BMW, 135; 3. Chevrolet, 115; 4. Honda, 19.