Chevrolet exit ‘revitalises’ WTCC

World Touring Car Championship race winner Tom Coronel believes that the departure of Chevrolet’s works team will create a level playing field in the series.

The factory Chevrolet team won 41 of the 48 races during the 2011-2012 seasons, and it has won the championship for the past three years.

Coronel, who has been one of the leading challengers to the RML-run cars over that time in his BMW 320 TC, feels that the championship will be more open now that Chevrolet has pulled out.

“For the last two years there have been two championships,” said the Dutchman. “The Chevrolets contested one between themselves, while everyone else battled it out for the title of ‘best of the rest’.

“As far as I was concerned, it was all about being the best BMW driver. That has changed now.”

Coronel, who has finished fourth in 2011 and fifth in the 2012 standings, believes that the path has been cleared for he and the ROAL Motorsport team to fight for multiple wins and finish even higher in the championship.

“The BMW 320 TC has shown on more than once occasion that it is capable of competing at the very front of the field,” he added.

“I am in my best position for years going into the season. My goal is to win races and finish in the top three – at least – in the championship.”

Coronel remains wary of the threat posed by any Cruzes which race in the WTCC this year, and he also pointed out the potential threat caused by the new Honda Civic.

“I am obviously well aware the Chevrolets will still be very quick, even without the works support,” he said.

“We’ll also have to wait and see what the new Honda team is capable of in its first complete season.

“In 2013 Roberto [Ravaglia, team boss] and I will prepare even more meticulously for the WTCC, as we have both realised what we can achieve next season.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/wtcc/chevrolet-exit-revitalises-wtcc

Rupert Keegan Eddie Keizan Al Keller Joe Kelly Dave Kennedy