Drivers’ championship fight gets closer

As the first half of the 2012 WTCC season came to an end last weekend at the Austrian Salzburgring, the fight for the Drivers’ title seems already restricted to the three Chevrolet men: Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu.

Although other drivers have theoretical chances to recover, as there are 300 points still at stake, it appears rather unlikely that something may stop the triumphal march of the factory Chevrolet cars that have won nine out of the twelve races held so far.

The latest two in Austria provided exciting battles between the reigning champion Muller and last year’s runner up Huff. The Briton managed to win the first race – his second victory of the season – resisting huge pressure from his team mate.

In Race 2 roles were reversed, with Huff chasing Muller until last lap tyre problems hit both of them, dropping the Frenchman to eighth and forcing Huff to settle for second behind Stefano D’Aste’s BMW.

These results enabled Huff to reduce his gap from Muller to only eight points. “I’m obviously very happy with how things went for me. It was the kind of day I needed and was waiting for. I was lucky in Race 2, unlike Yvan. But that’s how championships go and you have to take things as they come,” Huff commented.

Muller replied: “Race 2 was definitely 200 meters too long. Otherwise, it would have been a very good weekend. The good thing is that I scored some points in Race 2 despite everything and I am still leading the championship.”

As for Menu, who crashed in the second race because of a puncture, is lying third, 31 points behind the leader.