Murray’s set-up gamble

Eoin Murray will gamble on a radical set-up on his Quest Racing Alfa Romeo 156 at Croft this weekend as he seeks to break onto the Dunlop British Touring Car Championship podium.

It was at the North Yorkshire circuit last year that the rapid Irishman caused a sensation on his debut BTCC appearance with instant front-running pace and a points finish.

Despite his obvious speed, though, Murray is still to achieve a top three finish, but he hopes a technical tweak on his Alfa – as advised by the Italian manufacturer’s touring car specialist N.Technology – will enable him to challenge for a podium result at Croft.

The 24-year-old from Dublin said: “We’ve been working really hard on achieving the perfect set-up for this weekend. We have also been speaking to N.Technology, looking for ways to improve the car over a race distance.

“We are taking a bit of a gamble and going for something a little unknown to us with the car. I think it is worth the risk.”

Murray was left bitterly disappointed in the most recent rounds at Thruxton – a circuit where his Alfa’s potent engine should have enabled him to threaten the established guard, but which instead lacked performance before eventually blowing in race two. He was unable to fit his team’s spare motor as it was on loan to rival Alfa team A-Tech.

“Thruxton was a big disappointment because everyone expected the Alfa to suit the fast sections,” added Murray, “but when we saw the speed trap figures at the beginning of the weekend we began to worry.

“I am sure we will show a better performance in Croft this weekend.”