Chevrolet Racing Continues Winter Tests in Spain

[Efratech]

Friday, March 04, 2005

Snow upsets test schedule

The Chevrolet World Touring Car Championship team finished a second extensive winter test in Spain, yesterday. Initially scheduled over three days at the same track the team tested at last time in Albacete, the winter weather forced the team to relocate to Valencia for the first two days of the test. Nevertheless, team and drivers managed to achieve most of the objectives set for this second test, with all three drivers taking part in the two Chevrolet Lacettis built so far.

When we arrived at Albacete we saw it was snowing and that the weather probably wouldnt clear for a day or two, so we immediately decided to go to Valencia, RML Team Manager Mark Busfield explained. We knew some of our competitors were testing at Valencia, so that would help us as well to know where we stand. Since it is a bit of a hike from Albacete to Valencia, we only arrived mid-afternoon and spent that first day setting up the car for the track.

The second day we managed to get a full days running under our belt, optimizing suspensions and working with the rollbars, springs and dampers, Busfield continued. From running with our competitors we learned that we still have a fair amount of work to do, but that is also why we test.

For the third day, yesterday, we moved back to Albacete, in order to be able to verify the changes and alterations we have implemented after the first test at that track two weeks ago. Needless to say that the weather cost us valuable track time, and while we came away pleased that our laptimes were close to where we expected, we also realise that we still have a big task ahead of us.

At the same time work continues in the RML workshops to get the third car ready for the next test session, which will be at the Monza racetrack in Italy, where all the manufacturers and teams are invited to take part in the official WTCC pre-season test days. It will be the first time all three cars will be at the track together. The first round of the 2005 World Touring Car Championship takes place at the same track on April 10th.