SUNRED Engineering still hope to upgrade all six of their SEAT León TDIs to their new 1.6 litre turbo engine for the next round in Hungary, Team Principal Joan Orús confirms.
SUNRED were hoping to bring at least one engine to Monza for Gabriele Tarquini for a first in-race test, but decided against it.
The Spanish team are still hoping to get their new engine on the track and racing in just over two weeks time at the Hungaroring.
“We tried to bring to Monza the new engine, but we decided (on Thursday) it was a risk, so we decided to wait a little bit more,” said Joan Orús to TouringCarTimes.
SUNRED are planning to test this week and next with the new engine, with Orús confirming that if all goes well the engine will be introduced in Hungary.
“I’m trying to finish six engines for all cars, but after the test we will decide.”
“Two drivers are fighting for the overall championship, but four others are fighting for the Yokohama Independents’, and really we think we can win the independents’…so we think it was a risk to come (to Monza) and put the engine in.”
Orús confirmed the project is being led by SUNRED with some assistance from Liechtenstein-based VAG motorsports specialist Lehmann, which have recently developed the 2.0 litre turbocharged Next Generation Touring Car engine for the Special Tuning Racing and AmD Milltek Racing BTCC teams.
“It’s a development from SUNRED and Lehmann is helping us,” said Orús.
“Lehmann have a lot of experience having worked in the motorsports sector for many many years…so he’s helping us to decide which part is better in a lot of places and helps a lot on the project.”
SUNRED’s drivers Tiago Monteiro and Gabriele Tarquini are currently fourth and fifth in the championship respectively and the next closest to the Chevrolet trio on 58 and 52 points each after the third race weekend in Italy.
Michel Nykjaer is the leading placed driver in the independents’ trophy in fifth position.
2009 champion Gabriele Tarquini was less concerned about the engine being ready for Hungary, believing that the TDI would still be more competitive there than it has been at the fast Monza circuit, with the twisty Hungaroring suiting the torque of the diesel.
