Monday 9th July 2012

Chevrolet quits World Touring Cars

A move to footie for Chevrolet leaves Brit outfit RML without manufacturer backing

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Chevrolet has announced it will pull out of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) at the end of this year, leaving its British motorsports partner RML without a major manufacturer contract for next season.

This was after Chevrolet left the BTCC in February, saying it wanted to concentrate on its WTCC programme...

It also leaves its three drivers - Rob Huff, Alain Menu and Yvan Muller - searching for work after the season ends.

Talented and experience bunch they are, they might struggle to find work as rewarding and well-funded as the Chevrolet gig. Since entering with the global series in 2005, the brand has scored two constructors' championships with the Cruze and won 59 races. The team is hot favourite to win this year too, with a commanding lead over the BMW and SEAT customer teams.

But after the Macau round in November the fun is over and the brand's track adventures will retreat back to the US. "We will keep our commitment to motorsports in GT, Indycar and NASCAR," Chevrolet racing manager Eric Neve told PistonHeads.

Outside of the US Chevrolet's value-led, Korean-made saloons and hatchback were an odd fit for the track, given the lack of any performance versions.

Korean rival Hyundai steers well clear of motorsports, for example, instead pouring its marketing euros into football. Across Europe, it sells double what Chevrolet does.

Chevrolet is expected to follow Hyundai into the stadiums. This year the GM-owned brand become Manchester United's official car supplier. "Football is certainly an avenue we are going to use," Neve told us.

This leaves Northamptonshire-based RML - Ray Mallock Limited - looking for work. "We're obviously disappointed, we have a long partnership with Chevy and GM, but the business is still in good shape," a spokesman for RML told us.

The team's touring car link with GM goes back to 1992, when it first prepared Vauxhall Cavaliers. RML is still big in Le Mans and recently picked up work cramming a Nissan GT-R under a Juke to create the Juke-R. "It's not the intention to have any layoffs," said the spokesman.

We suggest it works on Nissan some more. RML had great success bring the Primera to BTCC in the late nineties, and a touring car Juke would be entertaining, if nothing else...

[squirdle]

The Cruze may not be the best car on the road, or even in it's class, but second hand it's incredible value for money.

[thewheelman]

Im not sure Hyundai outsell Chevrolet due to advertising in football, Chevrolet have poor sales figures as most people still associate them as Daewoos.

[dapearson]

"it sells double what Chevrolet does"

Nicely put...

[SomeMinorTrouble]

"This was after Chevrolet left the BTCC in February, saying it wanted to concentrate on its WTCC programme..."

Big loss for the RML boys, but I really dont like this European "chevrolet" or any of the cars they make, souless.

[K50 DEL]

Cos idiot-ball doesn't have enough sponsors and money already.....

Why do these companies assume that the world revolves around football, there's a vast number of us out there who would rather watch paint dry than a bunch of overpaid prima-donnas kick a ball about.

grr....

[EviLScooB]

They don't sell because there are far better cars out there, they look cheap and nasty and would I buy one.....NO
On that note I do hope that RML find another manufacturer to continue in the future.

[Crow555]

K50 DEL said:

Cos idiot-ball doesn't have enough sponsors and money already.....

Why do these companies assume that the world revolves around football, there's a vast number of us out there who would rather watch paint dry than a bunch of overpaid prima-donnas kick a ball about.

grr....

Lowest Common Denominator, highest chance for return on sponsorship revenue. Shame.

[timbo48]

K50 DEL said

"Cos idiot-ball doesn't have enough sponsors and money already.....

Why do these companies assume that the world revolves around football, there's a vast number of us out there who would rather watch paint dry than a bunch of overpaid prima-donnas kick a ball about.

grr...."

This^

[AdamPT]

I love motorsport, genuinely I do, but its pretty clear far more people are interested in football (especially those in developing economies) and Chevrolet feel they get a better return on their investment. Motorsport, especially series with a small number of manufacturers, can be dull and struggles to draw in new fans. Most of us fell in love with all forms of motorsport when it was more exciting. F1 this last few years has proven to be an exception but the decade prior was relatively dull. BTCC has been on a downward spiral for years (in my opinion) and rallying has also become something of a procession. Not sure what the solutions are, mind....

[jakeb]

I bet the over paid footballers at Manchester will be really pleased to give up their Audi's for rebadged Daewoos.....

[Munich]

K50 DEL said:

Cos idiot-ball doesn't have enough sponsors and money already.....

Why do these companies assume that the world revolves around football, there's a vast number of us out there who would rather watch paint dry than a bunch of overpaid prima-donnas kick a ball about.

grr....

+1

[Munich]

jakeb said:

I bet the over paid footballers at Manchester will be really pleased to give up their Audi's for rebadged Daewoos.....

maybe that is why chevrolet are bring the Camaro to the UK. They intend to sell it in limited numbers so giving one each to the Man U boys should see them hit their sales targets.

[pennswoodsed]

Crow555 said:

Lowest Common Denominator, highest chance for return on sponsorship revenue. Shame.

It is a shame ,but probably smartish policy. "We" don't buy cars based on marketing,but on engineering and finish.
Regards,Ed

[tomoleeds]

i have seen more chevs on the road since Jason Plato started driving in the touring cars a few years ago,obviously he is with the new MG RACING team this year but it did help

[Twincam16]

Interesting thought this - RML are working closely with Nissan, Nissan are launching a UK-built Focus-sized family hatch soon - wonder if it'll enter the BTCC straight out?

[Steve-B]

Back to TrashCar then -- Spray the USA with your Chevrolet!

[marshall100]

tomoleeds said:

i have seen more chevs on the road since Jason Plato started driving in the touring cars a few years ago,obviously he is with the new MG RACING team this year but it did help

While the new MG doesn't look that bad, and I've even seen two in cornwall, one of them did have an AA mechanic rummaging under the bonnet.....

[houlbt]

WTCC is pretty dull to be fair... money is better spent in BTCC from a UK point of view I think.

[hornet]

Must admit, were I in the market for a cheap car, I'd probably look at Hyundai and even Kia before I thought about Chevrolet, and that's as someone who used to work for Daewoo. I just don't see how the brand benefits.

On the racing front, what happens to the cars? Are we likely to see private teams running them, or will they drift off to wherever it is ex-touring cars go these days?

[weyland yutani]

Strange but for all Citroen's success in rally I just don't associate the brand with rallying in the same way I do with Ford, Subaru and Mitsubishi. I'd never consider buying a Chevrolet either despite their wtcc success.