RML and the Chevrolet World Touring Car Championship team will be looking to build on their championship lead this weekend as the series heads to the Algarve.
Championship leader Yvan Muller is hoping the weather holds out this weekend but admits he isn’t going to guess the results ahead of the races. “I will not make any prediction, as I haven't been very good recently at predicting what can happen!” said the Frenchman.
“My dearest hope is that the weather will be warmer in Portugal; so far we have had quite cool temperatures at all events, and I am convinced that warmer temperatures can have an impact on how the cars function and change a little bit the cards at play.”
Talking about the circuit he said: “Portimão is definitely a very interesting tracks, hilly and with all kinds of corners, including blind ones, so it will be important to find a set-up that fits all of them”.
Team-mate Rob Huff currently sits in fourth place, trailing Muller by 24 points, and goes in to the race on a positive note. “I was very pleased with the team result in Zolder, which basically left things unchanged in the championship.”
Despite being the series first visit to the circuit there was limited testing before the season got under way. “We have been in Portimão this winter and although the test was disturbed by rain, we gathered a lot of useful data. It is definitely a circuit I like, with a lot of inclinations, steep drops and climbs, and where overtaking is not an issue. I think the Cruze can do well there and that we can aim again at some heavy points”.
Alain Menu is looking forward to getting out on track: “It is very nice to be again on a new circuit, I think this adds some excitement for everybody: the drivers, teams and fans. It is a driver circuit by all means, so no surprise that we are all thrilled at the prospect of racing there, and Portugal is of course a very nice place.”
He went on to talk about potential problems the team could face. “We can expect some high temperatures and I am not sure how this will affect us, but I think it risks to pose some front tire problems in the final laps for those who have front-wheel drive cars, so this will be a parameter to watch closely”.
