Chevrolet's WTCC campaign

The Chevrolet race project is part of GM's rebranding of its Daewoo products in the major European markets. Motorsport is seen as a launch pad for a whole new a range of Chevrolets.

"We are going racing because it is the most legitimate way of promoting ourselves as a car maker," said GM's Eric Neve, who is responsible for Chevrolet's WTCC programme. "The WTCC was a European series when we started looking at it. It was a bonus when it turned into the WTCC. Everywhere the series goes, we sell Chevrolets."

RML has spent 2004 preparing SEAT's works Toledos in the British Touring Car Championship (a series it has won with Vauxhall (1995) and Nissan (1999) in the past) and has taken the Spanish manufacturer to several race victories in its first season.

"RML is the best choice we could have made," said Neve. "They are arguably the best touring car team in the business and wanted to demonstrate their talents on the world stage."

Ray Mallock is unsurprisingly pleased to have landed a longterm deal with the world's second biggest car manufacturer: "We're very excited to get this deal because this is what RML does best - design, build and run cars. To have a solid three-year deal in this day and age is excellent news."

There is no word on drivers just yet but Neve confirmed that Chevrolet wants star names in its three cars. "We have been talking to a number of drivers who have all the 'ingredients' for Chevrolet's global racing programme," he said. "We are looking for individuals who have won races and championships before and can bring a wealth of experience and understanding to the brand."