Former double British Touring Car Champion Alain Menu enjoyed a positive first test ahead of the 2014 season at Croft this week, with the 50-year-old calling his first taste of the car “a positive start”.
Menu took to the track for his first test at the wheel of the NGTC Volkswagen Passat CC, which will be entered under the banner of Chrome Edition Restart Racing, in bright and sunny weather at the North Yorkshire venue.
“It’s been a good test,” admitted Menu. “The weather has been great, which was exactly what I needed for my first time in the car as it enabled us to get plenty of running in. As a team, we know we are not completely up-to-speed yet, so we have been focussing on learning how to work together and trying to improve the car. The Team BMR guys seem like a really good bunch.”
Menu, BTCC champion in 1997 and 2000, admits that the challenge ahead will be a big one especially considering the relative youth of the team, which only made its début in the series in 2013.
“It will take a little while before we are where we want to be performance-wise, but for our first test, it has been promising – so far, so good,” added Menu. “It has been a positive start and everything is going according to plan. The CC handles well and I’m feeling optimistic.”
The Swiss racer also added that the team have the ambition to be regularly mixing it with the established BTCC teams and challenge for wins and podiums on a regular basis.
“I’m excited to be back in the BTCC again – racing is my life and what I love doing,” he added. “It will be a challenge and out on the track, there are a lot of young drivers who I know will be quick and who will give me a run for my money, but the ambition is to fight at the front and win races.
“The goal is clearly to attain the same level as the likes of Triple Eight, Team Dynamics and WSR. It would be foolish to think we are there yet, but there’s no reason at all why we can’t reach it in the fullness of time.”
“Prior to this week, I hadn’t been here [at Croft] since 2000, but I was able to pick it up again fairly quickly. It’s an interesting track to drive, with a fun blend of different types of corners and it’s a little bit bumpy in places.”