Photo: WTCC Media

Menu tops first Valencia test session

By

Alain Menu set the fastest time of the day during the first test session at Valencia for the third round of the World Touring Car Championship 2008. The Chevrolet-man put his fastest lap with 1:44.440 with only one minute left of the session. Second fastest was BMW-man Augusto Farfus Jr with the time 1:44.610.

Menu’s team mate Robert Huff was third fastest, 0.265 seconds behind. Reigning champion Andy Priaulx was fifth ahead of Nicola Larini who made it three Chevrolets in the top five.

Gabriele Tarquini headed the diesel-squad in sixth position, being the last man to get under 1:45 with his time 1:44.988.

James Thompson was eight in the Honda Accord, posting a time of 1:45.116, some six tenths from the fastest time of the day.

Many eyes were raised when Jaap van Lagen finally made the WTCC-race weekend debut in the Lada 110. Lagen was 20th fastest overall and impressively enough third fastest of the independents. His time 1:47.226 was 2.7 seconds off Menu’s pace.