Simon Belcher pleased with first 2014 test run

Simon Belcher enjoyed a “highly productive” first test run of 2014 at a wet and blustery Silverstone, as his preparations for a maiden BTCC season gather pace.

The Toyota Avensis driver clocked up around 200 kilometres on the National circuit layout on Friday, working on a variety of set-up changes throughout the day.

Driving the Speedworks Motorsport-built Handy Motorsport Avensis, Belcher was able to work with Tom Ingram, who was on track for his first BTCC test.

Belcher said: “It was a full day of wet testing and it went well, we made some good progress. The changes we applied to the car made it better and better, even though the conditions were getting worse the times weren’t dropping off. We just need some dry testing now.

“We did another 200 kilometres in the car and it was good to be back working with the Speedworks guys again. We were also able to share data with Tom Ingram who was out testing for the first time, with two people out there trying different things it means you can push forward at twice the speed.”

Belcher’s next pre-season test will come at Oulton Park in early March, before additional visits to Brands Hatch and Donington Park, the latter for media day on March 18.

“It’ll be all systems go the next time we’re out at the start of March, everything ramps-up then as we get towards the first round”, said Belcher.

“Both runs we’ve had at Silverstone so far have been positive, getting plenty of mileage in at Oulton Park, Brands and Donington is going to be really important before the start of the season.”