Michelisz: No need for ultimate speed in WTCC testing

New factory Honda driver Norbert Michelisz has said rapid lap times weren’t the priority during official pre-season FIA World Touring Car Championship testing at Vallelunga this week.

Michelisz set the fifth best overall time yesterday and was sixth quickest outright today in his Honda Racing Team JAS Civic.

But by completing 96 laps of the 4.085-kilometre Rome track, Michelisz insists it was a case of mission accomplished. “It’s been a really good test for us,” said the reigning WTCC Trophy champion. “We didn’t come here to set a lap time; we came here to get everything in place to set fast lap times at every round.

“It’s a shame that the weather wasn’t great on the second day, which meant we had to change our plan a little bit, but the results look good and we’ve made some very positive steps forward with the suspension and balance. We have another few days planned over the next few weeks before the start of the season so we should be in a good shape for Paul Ricard at the season opener.”

Although they didn’t take to the track, Michelisz’s fellow factory Honda drivers Rob Huff and Tiago Monteiro were also present during the two-day test.