Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Cruze Contol: New Chevy WTCC car takes first pole, double victories in Morocco]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/04/cruze-contol-new-chevy-wtcc-car-takes-first-pole-double-victor/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/04/cruze-contol-new-chevy-wtcc-car-takes-first-pole-double-victor/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/04/cruze-contol-new-chevy-wtcc-car-takes-first-pole-double-victor/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Chevrolet Cruze at WTCC Marrakech - Click above for a high-res image gallery

While a set of races in the World Touring Car Championship might not ordinarily be something we'd cover here at Autoblog - we doubt you'll mind the spoiler - this weekend's rounds in Marrakech, Morocco, held a series of firsts for the international racing series. Not only was this the first time the championship headed into Africa, but the new Chevy Cruze scored its first pole position and followed up by taking first place in both races, with Nicola Larini taking his first race victory in the series.

The former grand prix driver raced for Ligier-Ford, Modena-Lamborghini and Scuderia Ferrari, scoring a career-best second-place finish with the latter at San Marino in 1994 after taking the DTM title in Germany the year before. The veteran Italian racer has been with the Chevy team in the WTCC since 2005, and scored his first race victory in the series in the second round of the double-header in Marrakech after his team-mate Rob Huff turned the first pole position for the new Chevrolet Cruze racer into the car's maiden victory in the first race. Huff's domination from start to finish was only compounded by the fastest laps that the Cruze claimed en route to the checkered flag in both races. The duo faced tough opposition from a field composed primarily of Seat Leon TSFI and BMW 320si touring cars, but the new Chevy, which was unveiled last October before receiving its official livery in December, ultimately prevailed at the new North African track. Details in the press release after the jump, high-res photos in the gallery below.


Gallery: Chevrolet Cruze at Marrakech WTCC


[Source: Chevrolet and Autosport]

Continue reading Cruze Contol: New Chevy WTCC car takes first pole, double victories in Morocco

Cruze Contol: New Chevy WTCC car takes first pole, double victories in Morocco originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 May 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>checkered flagCheckeredFlagchevrolet cruzechevrolet cruze wtccChevroletCruzeChevroletCruzeWtccchevy cruzeChevyCruzecruzeFIA world touring car championshipFiaWorldTouringCarChampionshipmarrakechmorocconicola lariniNicolaLarinipole positionPolePositionrob huffRobHufftouring carsTouringCarsworld touring car championshipWorldTouringCarChampionshipwtccwtcc chevrolet cruzewtcc chevy cruzewtcc marrakechWtccChevroletCruzeWtccChevyCruzeWtccMarrakechMon, 04 May 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Motor racing returns to Morocco after 50 years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/09/motor-racing-returns-to-morocco-after-50-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/09/motor-racing-returns-to-morocco-after-50-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/09/motor-racing-returns-to-morocco-after-50-years/#commentsFiled under: ,

Imagine all the exotic locals where international motor racing has taken place over the course of modern history and Morocco might not show up on your radar. But back in the era of Casablanca, the North African country, just across the Straight of Gibraltar from Europe, hosted the Moroccan Grand Prix, starting with a touring car race in 1925 and culminating with an F1 grand prix in 1958 won by (spoiler alert!) Stirling Moss. Now, after fifty years have passed, the racing scene is set to return to Morocco for a World Touring Car Championship race in Marrakech.

Instead of using the old Ain-Diab circuit, construction of the new street circuit is scheduled to begin later this month. Race organizers expect to draw a crowd of 100,000 fans when the race kicks off on May 1, 2009, but after the cancellation of the nearby Dakar Rally due to terrorist threats from Al-Qaeda, we would hope that race organizers will take serious security precautions.

[Source: autosport, WTCC]

Motor racing returns to Morocco after 50 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>marrakechmoroccoworld touring car championshipWorldTouringCarChampionshipwtccwtcc marrakechwtcc moroccoWtccMarrakechWtccMoroccoWed, 09 Jul 2008 07:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Ghosn on Middle East tour: Electric cars in Israel, factory in Morocco]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/ghosn-on-middle-east-tour-electric-cars-in-israel-factory-in-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/ghosn-on-middle-east-tour-electric-cars-in-israel-factory-in-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/ghosn-on-middle-east-tour-electric-cars-in-israel-factory-in-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Renault-Nissan president Carlos Ghosn is arguably one of the most effective automotive industry executives, and having just embarked upon a tour of the Middle East, may prove to be more effective than the endless stream of government and military envoys parading in and out of sand-swept capitals.

Ghosn flew to Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres and announced a project to launch an electric vehicle network in the country's burgeoning and overcrowded Mediterranean metropolis of Tel Aviv. The project, called "Better Place", is being led by former SAP executive Shai Agassi (seen shaking hands with Ghosn above), and is financially supported by Israel Corp, the holding company that controls shipping giant Zim and recently embarked upon an automotive joint venture in China. (The Knesset, Israel's parliament that usually has to support any such ventures itself financially, has paved the way by preparing supportive legislation.) Renault will develop the vehicles, which are projected to have a 160-km range on the highway, or 100 in the city, hit 100km/h (62mph) in 13 seconds and top out at 110 km/h. The cars are expected to hit the shuk (that's "market" in Hebrew and Arabic) in 2011.

While he was at it, Ghosn hopped over to Morocco to announce the construction of a new plant for Renault and Nissan. (Yes, we know Morocco is not technically part of the Middle East, but Northern Africa is often grouped together with it. So please don't shoot us.) The new factory in Tangiers will have a capacity of 400,000 vehicles per year and will employ 6,000 directly and 30,000 indirectly. Renault will use the facility to build cars on the cost-effective Dacia Logan platform, while Nissan will manufacture light commercial vehicles there, as well.

[Source: Reuters, Photo by DAVID FURST/AFP/Getty]

Ghosn on Middle East tour: Electric cars in Israel, factory in Morocco originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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