Preview – Silverstone 2005.

Thursday, 12th May 2005

The ETCC may have evolved onto the world stage for 2005 but there was certainly a sense of 'as you were' the moment Jörg Müller crossed the finish line first at Magny-Cours for the second time a fortnight ago.

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"We will have a bit of a home advantage," he said. "As a team we have of course raced on this track lay-out before and all the drivers have done so as well, so we can hit the ground running. Using the shorter lay-out will also make for better racing for the drivers as well as for the spectators. We are currently further developing the exhaust, something we started in Magny-Cours and which showed promising results. We are also looking at some engine modifications as well. And to further reduce the speed deficit we are closely looking at making the best possible use of the aero package. As per the regulations, the aero package is frozen for the season."

As for the drivers, Nicola Larini scored a win there last time the ETCC visited Northamptonshire in 2001, albeit on the longer Grand Prix circuit, while Alain Menu will remember clinching the second of his BTCC titles there in 2000 and Rob Huff will want to call upon his national racing experience to haul Chevrolet further up the grid. It is the Swiss driver though that will be after some improved luck after destroying his car on the first lap of the opening race in France, eliminating him from the rest of the weekends' action. Nonetheless with his extensive experience of Silverstone, hopes are high that Menu can push the Lacetti into the top ten for the first time. He may not have quite as much silverware as his illustrious team mates, but Huff goes into Sunday’s race as the Silverstone lap record holder and the former SEAT BTCC is looking forward to returning to his 'dear, old friend.'

"This is where it all started for me," he said. "In 1989, I took my first racing lessons at Silverstone, and I also won my first races at this track. Over the years I have done many, many laps on all the different configurations of Silverstone. And I’m the touring car lap record holder of the International Circuit, set at a BTCC meeting almost exactly a year ago. Needless to say I’m very much looking forward to this weekend, especially should it rain. There are a few tricks you need to know about the International Circuit, but equally needless to say I’ll keep these to myself and my team mates!"