"Real Horse Power" is the new theme for Chevrolet's race car that will be on the track for the 17th and 18th races of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in Imola, Italy, on September 21.

Chevrolet held a contest with the theme of “Young, Creative, Chevrolet” in cooperation with art schools across Europe. The winning entry was submitted by Adi Šumić from Academy of Design (Slovenia), and now his horse-inspired design went on the side of the racing Chevy Lacetti->ke2122.

So a Lacetti with a horse-like paint job. Does that make the driver a 'Stallion in a Reasonably Priced Car'?

2008 Chevrolet WTCC race car

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  • Model: 2008 Chevrolet WTCC race car
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Press release

The Young? Creative? Chevrolet! 2008 European Visual Arts winner project, a new original design for the Lacetti race car, “Real horse power”, will be on the track for the 17th and 18th races of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in Imola, Italy, on September 21. During this weekend, the WTCC driver Alain Menu will race in a new black and gold Chevrolet Lacetti.

This new and original decoration is the winning design of the pan-European “Young, Creative, Chevrolet” competition created by Chevrolet in cooperation with applied art schools across Europe.

Adi Šumić from Academy of Design (Slovenia), the European Visual Arts winner of the competition launched by Chevrolet to seek and stimulate young artists, is invited to Imola to witness and appreciate his redesigned car competing at the WTCC race. One week after receiving his First Prize at the European Awards ceremony held in the renowned dome of the Mole Antonelliana in Turin, Italy, the winning student will experience a very special time. He will also have the opportunity to discover all aspects linked with motor sports.

I liked the challenge to participate in a real project for an international renowned brand. My idea was to create something new, fresh and out-of-the-box, so I gathered some ideas drew some sketches and finally started to design on the computer, bringing the Lacetti and the horse together, says Adi Šumić.

Alain Menu, who will also wear a matching racing overall, comments: "I’m always in for something a bit out of the ordinary and it would be great to end up on the podium particularly this weekend, bringing this exceptional 'art car' to win the race. The Chevrolet arts competition is a great initiative to help create interest in the WTCC from quarters not necessarily familiar with racing. Adi’s project is incredibly creative and both elegant and eye-catching. It is inspiring. A great spirit, an amazing car!"

Adi Šumić was also invited to visit RML’s U.K. workshops to watch the regular two-tone blue Chevrolet being turned into his moving work of art representing a stylized race horse.

Following the Young? Creative? Chevrolet! Awards ceremony in Turin, the winning Visual Arts project was also brought to the hippodrome of the Italian city for an original photo shoot. The art car raced along with a real horse. This new experience was inspired by Adi’s idea to draw a horse on a race car. 

A “Real horse power” watch


The “Real horse power” visual art project has also inspired Louis Chevrolet watches to create a special-edition watch model featuring Adi Šumić's horse design. In the best quality tradition of Swiss watch making, André and Josette Saunier and their company, AJS, produce these exclusive time pieces, which draw their inspiration from the times of the automotive and aeronautical pioneers, such Louis Chevrolet and are a tribute to the Chevrolet brand.