J.Müller tops Oschersleben test

Jörg Müller set the fastest lap on the first day of the WTCC official test in Oschersleben. The BMW Team Germany’s driver clocked a time of 1:35.209 with only 20 minutes to go in the single session that started at 8.30 am to last until 6.00 pm. Müller completed 99 laps of the Motorsport Arena; only his team-mate Augusto Farfus covered a longer distance (104 laps).

“For us this was an excellent opportunity to prepare the race with weather conditions that should be like those we’ll find for the race in August. And also to get used to the new chicane at the end of the main straight,” team manager Charly Lamm explained.

Twelve drivers took part in the session that was mostly led by SEAT Sport’s Tiago Monteiro with a time of 1:35.428 set in the late morning. His team-mate Gabriele Tarquini set his own best lap – the third fastest in the session – at the end of the day.

“Our car is very good, however today we saw that the changes to the track’s layout are not in our favour. The new chicane enhances understeer and after a few laps we are in troubles,” said Tarquini.

Chevrolet drivers Robert Huff and Nicola Larini were fourth and fifth fastest respectively, only one tenth of a second apart. “We have done a lot of work, focusing on suspension geometries and differential,” unveiled Larini.

Alessandro Zanardi was sick and completed only 6 laps in the early morning. BMW Team Germany also ran a BMW Motorsport’s test car, driven by Claudia Hürtgen for some technical tests.

Test will continue tomorrow, with Michel Jourdain and Jordi Gené replacing Tarquini and Yvan Muller at SEAT Sport, while Alain Menu will step in for Larini at Chevrolet.