Coronel boosted by new team’s performance

Tom Coronel is settling in fast into his new team, reigning Italian SuperStars champions ROAL Motorsport, with a performance turnaround between Friday’s practice sessions with the fastest lap in testing.

The 38-year-old Dutchman was seventh fastest in the first session and struggling with the new BMW 320 TC.

“On my first laps here, I still had to get used to the new engine, the set-up and the new asphalt,” said Coronel.

“In the second session, I opted for a more aggressive approach. I went out on fresh tyres, I had the right balance, good brakes and that allowed me to set the fastest time. That gives me confidence, because now I have the feeling that I am in control of the car, which wasn’t the case this morning.”

The 2009 WTCC independents’ champion remains realistic with his targets for the weekend, despite his strong performance in the second test session in which he eclipsed the works Chevrolet Europe drivers, setting the fastest lap by six-tenths of a second.

“The new asphalt is good on the racing line, but once you get off the line, it is really, really slippery. But that is the same for everybody, so we just have to live with that. We want to try to be as consistent as possible throughout the weekend and thus end up on the podium.”