Testing begins for WTCC teams

Testing in preparation for the FIA World Touring Car Championship began in Valencia. On Monday and Tuesday, SEAT Sport, BMW Team Deutschland and BMW Team Great Britain ran on the Ricardo Tormo circuit in a dry but cold weather.

SEAT Sport tested with three Toledo Cupra cars, that have been partially updated to 2005 specifications. “We have worked mainly on the set-up are and made just a few changes to last year’s car,” said team manager Antonio Rodrigues. “It was our first test with the bigger front braked that are now allowed by the regulations. We will test a new aerodynamics package on the 15th and 16th February in Jarama.”

All the SEAT drivers – Rickard Rydell, Jordi Gené and 20-year old newcomer Peter Terting – took part in the test. It was the young German’s first outing as a member of the team. “Peter was impressive,” Rodrigues commented. “He completed 150 laps in two days, testing every variation in set-up and differential. By the end of the second day he was only a few tenths slower than Jordi and Rickard.”

Jörg and Dirk Müller drove the two BMW Team Deutschland’s cars, run by the Schnitzer Motorsport team. “These were 2004 cars fitted with some new components that we are evaluating on the way to develop the BMW 320i’s 2005 version,” team manager Charly Lamm explained. 2004 FIA European Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx was the last driver to take part in the test, with the RBM-run BMW Team Great Britain’s car; also a 2004 one with a few modifications.

Testing were not officially timed, however the fastest laps were in the range of the low 1:42s. “At this stage nobody’s focusing on lap times,” Priaulx stated. “We are all working on the technical development. And also track conditions were not the right ones for quick laps, as the grip was quite poor.”