Pepe Oriola to switch to Chevrolet from Porto WTCC event
Pepe Oriola will switch from SEAT to Chevrolet machinery from the next round of the World Touring Car Championship in Porto
The Cruze will still be run by his current Tuenti team, with support coming from Chevrolet's ex-works squad RML.
Oriola, 18, became the youngest winner in the history of the WTCC when he triumphed in Marrakech in April.
He has raced with SEAT since making his series debut at the age of 16 at Curitiba in 2011.
His father, Pepe Oriola Snr., told AUTOSPORT the switch was a no brainer once a 'very good offer' was made by RML owner Ray Mallock.
"We had a really good price and really good conditions to rent a car from Ray," he explained.
"Ray wants to have a young driver under his charge, to keep for the future.
"We will get help from Chevrolet, to the same level as we receive from SEAT now, so it makes sense everywhere."
Oriola currently lies 10th in the championship after finishing fourth in the Moscow Raceway finale, his final race with SEAT.
AUTOSPORT understands Campos could expand to running three SEAT Leons following Oriola's switch.
Fernando Monje has a full-time deal with the squad, with Hugo Valente and Nikolai Karamyshev to date splitting duties once a second car was wheeled out in Hungary.
Karamyshev is due to compete in Porto before Valente returns for the remainder of the flyaways.
Campos team manager Joan Orus told AUTOSPORT: "We have one car free now, so maybe Nikolai will do more races this year, as we were really happy with his debut. We're also speaking to several drivers about Argentina."
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Silverstone: Circuit of Wales is not viable
Qatar MotoGP: Marquez beats Rossi in action-packed race
Redding: I've got to 'do a Marquez'
How Stroll and Magnussen revealed the scale of F1’s racing and rules problems
Peugeot won't replace Vergne, Vandoorne for Spa WEC amid Formula E clash
Why Audi and Verstappen have complicated Formula 1’s driver market decisions
‘Metronomic’ Verstappen may rule F1, but it won’t last forever - Horner
Why joker laps are entering the mainstream
The making of the world's best tin-top driver
Volvo's plan to conquer the WTCC
The WTCC's Nordschleife gamble paid off
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments