Bennani says weight break has significant effect on the Civic

Proteam Racing’s Mehdi Bennani left the first test session in Hungary second overall, just under a tenth of a second behind the works Honda of Gabriele Tarquini, and says the team can definitely feel the benefit of the 60kg compensation weight reduction that Honda, as well as Chevrolet and Lada, have been given this weekend.

Honda occupied positions 1, 2, 3 and 5 at the end of the 30 minute session, with Tarquini leading Bennani and Tiago Monteiro, with Zengõ Motorsport’s Norbert Michelisz in fifth position.

With new tyres available to all teams for the test session that want them, Honda were working on their single-lap pace for qualifying, while it would seem Citroën Total WTCC had a different approach to the session, with José María López just sixth fastest for the French manufacturer.

“The advantage of the weight is very important,” said Bennani to TouringCarTimes. “Before, we could not do 100% of the lap and feel that we have the grip for the whole lap, after about 70% we had the grip and then it dropped off, but now it’s better, we can feel grip all the way to the finish line, which is helping for sure, as it’s much better for one quick lap.”

“Honda are in a good place for this test, but it is just a test, and I’m still a novice with a Honda,” he added.

The four Honda drivers work on their own set-up during practice, but the two satellite teams of Proteam and Zengõ Motorsport will pool their resources throughout the weekend to deliver the best result for the Japanese marque, which are fighting Citroën in the manufacturers’ championship.

“We’ll all work our own way and then see what’s working and then follow each other,” said Bennani. “It’s good to be working with the factory drivers.”