Power steering issue blights Alain Menu’s BTCC return

A power steering issue hindered Alain Menu’s return to the BTCC, failing to set a time in the opening practice session at Brands Hatch.

The two-time BTCC champion has been drafted in this weekend to fill the seat left vacant by the injured Warren Scott, but his return was blighted by a power steering issue going through Paddock Hill Bend on his out lap.

“It felt OK just as I was leaving, then turning into Paddock it just went,” Menu told TouringCarTimes. “So that’s not exactly helpful. Obviously [it’s good to be back], I still want to drive as much as I ever wanted to, but having not driven any racing car of any sort for a year I could’ve done with two proper free practice, but that’s just the way it goes.”

Menu has played down his chances for the weekend, refusing to put himself in the pot for strong results, saying he will struggle even more now that he has effectively lost 40 minutes of practice time in the Team BMR Volkswagen CC.

“Pretty much like taking FP2 as FP1 from now,” he said. “Still the plan was to do a quali sim at the end of FP2 and I’m still keen on doing that. The thing now is I have no idea how long we need to get up to speed, when I say up to speed I’m not even talking about near the front. The guys who are talking about pole position are completely dreaming, there is no way, the problem is the last three or four tenths which are the hardest. Hopefully I’ll be there within three or four tenths, it depends how I feel, if the car is perfect I’ll be fine but if there’s issues with the setup then it’s going to be harder.”

With both Team BMR’s Jason Plato and Colin Turkington chasing the championship at Brands Hatch this weekend, Menu admitted if he was in a position to do so, he’d help his team-mates out, but was quick to point out that helping with the championship was not the reason he was here, and he was only here to fill Warren Scott’s seat while the BMR boss sits out with a back injury.

“It just depends how quick I am,” admitted Menu. “If I’m quick enough and they’re behind me then I’ll let them through, that’s the only thing I can do and if Gordon is behind and stays behind it will help Jason and Colin, but it all depends on how competitive I am. At the end of the day I’m only here because Warren had a shunt. I’ve not been brought here to help Jason and Colin in the championship, if Warren hadn’t had the shunt he’d be driving, not me. The only reason I’m here is because Warren can not drive.”