Lonel Pernia to drive 4th Chevy in Monza

TC2000 Vice-Champion To Make His Debut In The WTCC

ZURICH / WELLINGBOROUGH, 12th May 2010 Chevrolet will enter a fourth Chevrolet Cruze in the WTCC Round of Italy, to be hold on 21-23 May in Monza, alongside the regular cars of Rob Huff, Alain Menu and Yvan Muller. This fourth Chevrolet Cruze will be driven by Argentinean star Leonel Pernia.

The 34-year old driver from Tandil (Buenos Aires) is a confirmed touring car specialist, having raced in the highly-competitive TC2000 Championship in Argentina since 2006. Last year, he was Vice-Champion of the series and came 3rd in the TC2000 Copa Endurance. He also has experience in the Turismo Carretera, the oldest among Argentinean touring car categories.

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Leonel Pernia: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to race in the world's top championship for touring cars and with a front-running team like Chevrolet. This is an unexpected and wonderful chance for me and I hope to contribute to team's success in Monza. I know the level in the WTCC is very high but I am confident that my TC2000 experience will be very useful".

Eric Nève: "It is a privilege for us to have Leonel with us at such a key event as Monza. In our strategy towards conquering the WTCC title this year, it is very useful to have the possibility to enter a fourth car in selected events and to entrust them to drivers such as Pernia, who has a proven pedigree in touring car racing. Moreover, the presence of Leonel can only be beneficial for the visibility of the WTCC in South America and for the image of Chevrolet in a key market like Argentina".

Marcello Lotti, CEO of KSO (WTCC Promoter): "It is great news to see Chevrolet strengthening its commitment to the WTCC by entering a fourth works car in selected events, and to see that a driver of the caliber of Pernia will be driving it in Monza. This can only foster the rising interest for the WTCC existing in South America and in Argentina in particular and serves well our plans to try to have a WTCC event in Argentina as from next year."

-source: chevrolet eu