Menu fastest in Shanghai testing

WTCC competitors had their first taste of the Chinese racetrack

By Franck Drui

4 November 2011 - 09:40
Menu fastest in Shanghai testing

Just like at Suzuka two weeks ago, Chevrolet driver Alain Menu set the fastest lap in today’s test at the Shanghai Tianma Circuit.

The Swiss racer posted a fastest lap of 1:05.978 in the dying seconds of the 30-minute session, climbing on top ahead of Robert Dahlgren and Colin Turkington.

Under an overcast sky, WTCC competitors had their first taste of the Chinese racetrack, using the first part of the test session for getting to know the twisty circuit. Despite their cautious approach some drivers had moments, especially at Turn 12, were Franz Engstler, Kristian Poulsen, Michelisz, and Mehdi Bennani spun and rejoined.

Lap times improved consistently with Tom Coronel, Norbert Michelisz and Rob Huff setting the early pace.

Dahlgren and Menu signed the first significant improvements; the Swede completed a lap in 1:06.912 that was immediately beaten by Menu’s 1:06.890. However Dahlgren responded with a 1:06.815 with ten minutes left.

Moments after, Javier Villa spun off at Turn 4 beaching his BMW onto the gravel trap, which forced the race director to wave the red flag.

When the session resumed, Turkington posted a new provisional fastest lap of 1:06.317 and then improved further to 1:06.103. But Dahlgren reclaimed the first position once again clocking a 1:06.017 with only five minutes to go. A time that was eventually beaten by Menu’s last spell of 1:05.978.

Huff (1:06.11), Yvan Muller (1:06.131) and Coronel (1:06.757) rounded up the top six.

Pos. Driver Car Time Gap
01 A. Menu Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1:05.978
02 R. Dahlgren Volvo C30 1:06.017 +0.039s
03 C. Turkington BMW 320 TC 1:06.103 +0.125s
04 R. Huff Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1:06.116 +0.138s
05 Y. Muller Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1:06.137 +0.153s
06 T. Coronel BMW 320 TC 1:06.757 +0.779s
07 K. Poulsen BMW 320 TC 1:06.952 +1.004s
08 F. Engstler BMW 320 TC 1:07.334 +1.356s
09 D. O’Young Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1:07.344 +1.366s
10 J. Villa BMW 320 TC 1:07.466 +1.488s
11 G. Tarquini SR Leon 1.6T 1:07.485 +1.507s
12 T. Monteiro SR Leon 1.6T 1:07.552 +1.574s
13 Y. Taniguchi Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 1:07.621 +1.643s
14 M. Bennani BMW 320 TC 1:07.777 +1.799s
15 N. Michelisz BMW 320 TC 1:07.843 +1.865s
16 C. Ng BMW 320 TC 1:08.351 +2.373s
17 F. Barth SR Leon 1.6T 1:08.844 +2.866s
18 P. Oriola SR Leon 1.6T 1:08.981 +3.003s
19 M. Nykjaer SR Leon 1.6T 1:08.992 +3.014s
20 A. Dudukalo SR Leon 1.6T 1:09.508 +3.530s
21 F. Fabiani BMW 320 si 1:10.910 +4.932s
22 P. Ma BMW 320 si 1:13.674 +7.696s

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