The nine points scored by Alain Menu and Yvan Muller in Suzuka’s qualifying last Saturday, were what Chevrolet needed to grab a third consecutive title in the Manufacturers’ Championship.
The day after, the RML team celebrated that achievement with another 1-2-3 finish (the seventh in the current season) in the first race, with Menu, Muller and Rob Huff crossing the line in the order.
In Japan’s Race 2 the trio was classified in fourth (Huff), fifth (Menu) and sixth (Muller); this was the first time there were no Chevrolet drivers on the podium since Brands Hatch’s second race in July 2010.
Stuart Cowie, Operations Manager said: “We are very pleased with the weekend. We mathematically made certain of the Manufacturers’ championship, took another triple podium and collected six finishes in the points. We couldn’t ask for more. I‘m happy the three cars finished the weekend unscathed, which is important ahead of the following events. This is made even more important when you are so far from home and when you have your three drivers fighting for the Drivers’ title. They are managing this situation in the most professional way and I want to congratulate them for that.”
In the two final events Muller, Huff and Menu will fight to settle the fight for the Drivers’ title. The first two are equal on points, while Menu must recover from a gap of 38 (with 110 still at stake).