First test of the season for SEAT

The SEAT Sport team began their 2006 FIA World Touring Car Championship campaign with two full days of testing at the Almeria track in Spain. Three SEAT León cars, six drivers and 45 people were the impressive force deployed with two main goals: getting the three new drivers used to the car and the team, and testing the WTCC’s new Yokohama control tyres.

Last year’s drivers Jordi Gené, Peter Terting and Rickard Rydell were joined by their new team-mates Yvan Müller, Gabriele Tarquini and James Thompson. The engineering team, headed by Xavier Serra, had to take on the technical challenge of switching from the Michelin to the Yokohama tyres. On this purpose the SEAT León underwent several changes and this first test was crucial in order to plan the rest of the preparation.

The team’s new drivers were also introduced to the 2006 car and Yvan Müller’s first words were especially significant: “I raced the SEAT Toledo a couple of years ago, and I’m impressed with the difference between that car and the León. It’s a clear evidence of how the team was able to improve over these two seasons.”

And Rickard Rydell added: “This test session was important to get to know the new tyres, but also to kick off the preparation in order to be ready as soon as possible.”

Thompson, Terting and Tarquini tested on the second day with a similar programme: becoming familiar with the car and the team. Gabriele Tarquini said:

“This car has an enormous potential; it’s less radical than I thought, it’s noble, and I think we’ll get a lot out of it.” The team will hit the track once again on 9 and 10 February at Barcelona’s Catalunya Circuit.