Almost 100 years after Louis Chevrolet, the Swiss born founder of what became a General Motors brand, won his first event (Three Mile race in New York, 1905), Chevrolet Europe has signed another Swiss born champion to drive for the brand in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). Geneva born Alain Menu (41) has been nominated as first driver in Chevrolet Europe’s three-car team. Prepared by RML (Ray Mallock Ltd) in the UK, the Chevrolet Lacetti touring car will compete in the new WTCC, the event that succeeds the European Touring Car Championship.
Alain Menu has his sights set high for his comeback in two-litre touring cars: "We want to be on the podium in the first year and by 2006 we must be able to win. I want to become world champion with Chevrolet."
Menu is one of the world’s most successful touring car drivers. While competing in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) from 1992-2000, he was champion twice (1997 and 2000). Menu has achieved 36 BTCC race victories during his career, an all-time record. On 26 September, 2004, Menu finished second in the BTCC Masters. In this Race of Champions most of the former front-runners of the BTCC competed in identical SEAT Cupras.
Eric Nève, who is responsible for the race programme within Chevrolet Europe, said: "We are extremely happy that Alain will drive for us. His skills will be an important factor in developing our race car and his vast experience will give us a great benchmark for how well our car needs to perform."
Alain Menu was born 9 August, 1963 in Geneva, Switzerland. Together with his wife, Caroline, and their three children Menu lives near Oxford in England.
Highlights of Menu's career include 36 race victories and two championships:
- 2005 WTCC* (Chevrolet Lacetti)
- 2004 24h Le Mans (Ferrari 550), second in BTCC** Masters Race (SEAT Cupra)
- 2003 DTM*** (Opel Astra V8) ; winning the GTS Class at the 1,000 mile Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta (Ferrari 550)
- 2002 DTM (Opel Astra V8); Raced in Sebring and Le Mans (Ferrari 550)
- 2001 DTM (Opel Astra V8; winner in Jarama in the FIA GT Championship (Ferrari 550)
- 2000 BTCC - Champion with 6 wins (Ford Mondeo)
- 1999 BTCC - 1 win, 11th in points (Ford Mondeo)
- 1998 BTCC - 3 wins, 4th in points (Renault Laguna)
- 1997 BTCC - Champion with 12 wins (Renault Laguna)
- 1996 BTCC - 2nd in points with 4 wins (Renault Laguna)
- 1995 BTCC - 2nd in points with 7 wins (Renault Laguna)
- 1994 BTCC - 2nd in points with 2 wins (Renault Laguna)
- 1993 BTCC - 10th in points with 1 win (Renault 19)
- 1992 BTCC - did a half season in a BMW 318is before being injured in a quad bike accident at Knockhill
- 1991 International Formula 3000
- 1990 British Formula 3000 Championship - 2nd in points
- 1989 British Formula 3 Championship
- 1988 British Formula 3 Championship
- 1987 British Formula Ford 1600 Championship - 2nd in points, 2nd in FF1600 Festival
- 1985 French FF1600 4th in the Championship
- 1984 Started racing at the Elf Winfield School in France
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