Photo: PSP Images

Silverline Chevrolet targeting second title

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The Silverline Chevrolet team are aiming for championship success in the 2011 British Touring Car Championship, campaigning with the same driver line-up armed with newer Cruzes.

The RML-run team returns for its third season in the BTCC with Chevrolet, and after championship success last year will be aiming for the same again. Jason Plato returns with the team and will race with the #1 on his car for the first time, after not returning to defend his first championship title from 2001.

“I’m delighted to once again be working with Silverline Chevrolet and RML,” said Plato.

“The team proved last year that it could provide the hardware to win the championship, and, with a newer and more advanced development of the already incredible Chevrolet Cruze to campaign with, I expect we’ll be in for a dramatic and exciting season.”

The Chevrolet team will compete with a pair of Cruzes which were a dominant force in the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2010, driven by former BTCC-stars Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu.

Plato and MacDowall’s 2010 BTCC Cruzes have been sold on to Tech-Speed Motorsport. With new outfit Team ES Racing and the return of Bamboo Engineering to the BTCC both with the older Lacetti model, there will be as many as seven RML-built Chevrolet Cruzes and Lacettis competing in this year’s championship.

“The 2011 season will be a very exciting one for RML as we return to defend our titles in the BTCC, WTCC and Le Mans Series,” said RML CEO Ray Mallock.

“Looking ahead to the BTCC, we welcome continued support from Silverline, Chevrolet UK and ECM as we enter with the ex-WTCC 2010 Cruzes in the BTCC series this year – which are of course proven championship winners on the world stage. I’ve no doubt that we are in for a tough battle to defend our title, however, I am confident that with such a committed team at RML and with Jason and Alex on board we can achieve our goal of championship success in both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles.”

Alex MacDowall returns for his sophomore year in the championship, and will be hoping to put his year of experience to use to improve on his pole-winning form of 2010 and take his first victory.

“Last year was a big learning curve for me, “said MacDowall.

“I achieved some great results and in 2011 I’m confident I can really build on that and achieve my first BTCC win, especially with a car as good as the Cruze, a team as professional as RML and a team mate as experienced as Jason to work alongside.”