» New WTCC Chevrolet completes first test

The Chevrolet World Touring Car Championship team has just completed a three-day test session at the Jerez circuit in Spain, where they ran a comparison test of the current petrol-powered Cruze against the 2011 model powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged unit. Drivers Robert Huff and Yvan Muller shared the driving duties.

The test served two purposes: to prepare the squad for the final stage of its championship assault at Okayama and Macau, and to assess the potential of the new car designed to perform under the new S2000 regulations being implemented by the FIA.

Brake development was of primary importance in the current Cruze’s test, with the brakes copping quite the pounding and Okayama and Macau. The three-car outfit will be desperate to hang on to the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ championship leads it currently enjoys.

In what will be extremely pleasing news for the outfit, the new-regulations Cruze completed over 1,000km of running without any technical issues. Both drivers praised the new car’s driveability with its turbo engine.

[Original image via FIA WTCC official site]