Q&A: Alain Menu - Chevrolet WTCC driver.

Two-time BTCC champion Alain Menu will switch his attentions to the World Touring Car championship in 2005, driving the all new Ray Mallock prepared Chevrolet Lacetti.

Ahead of his new adventure, the Swiss driver spoke to Crash.net about what his hopes are in the new World Championship...

Crash.net:
Alain, how excited are you at the prospect of getting back into touring cars?

Alain Menu:
I'm very much looking forward to it. I had some not very good years in the DTM, and this season I didn't have a full programme. Ok, it turned out to be an interesting season because I got to drive many cars, but to get back into a full programme with Chevrolet and Ray Mallock, and at the very start of it, is a good challenge and I'm very happy to be part of it.

Crash.net:
How did the deal all come about with Chevrolet?

AM:
Basically we started talking about the end of July, they contacted me first and told me a little bit about it, not too much as at the time everything was kept so secret that they could not tell me everything. I was very interested so they started telling me a little bit more, and we agreed pretty much within a week or two and here we are today.

Crash.net:
Obviously the car that Chevrolet will be using is a new car, have you had any chance to get behind the wheel of the car yet?

AM:
The first car will be ready for the start of January for shakedown and then we hope to be testing it by the end of January, so so far I've only seen the show car but I'm sure that Ray Mallock and his team will do a very good job and we will be winning races pretty soon. Ok next year is a learning year, but you never know, we could surprise a few people and I hope that we will. The aim is certainly to win races and the championship from 2006.

Crash.net:
As you said there, next season is going to be a learning year. How difficult do you think it will be to the get the car onto the pace of some of the more established teams and more established cars on the grid?

AM:
We are all aware that it is not going to be easy, the ETCC [which becomes the WTCC] is a very competitive championship and obviously there are some very good teams and manufacturers in it who have been there from the start. It won't be easy but RML have got loads of experience, I've got some and I'm sure my teammates to be will have some as well so we have a good chance to do well from next season.

Crash.net:
So the aim is to challenge for the title in 2006, what kind of position are you aiming to be in by the end of 2005 and your first season - are you looking to be in a position to be winning races or would you be happy to be regularly scoring points?

AM:
To be honest I don't like to make predictions. First we have to do all our homework in January, February and March before the first race and then we can see a little bit more where we are and what we can aim for in 2005. Certainly we think we should be able to challenge for podium finishes before the end of the season.

Crash.net:
You were the first person to be confirmed in this programme, are we any closer to finding out who your teammates will be?

AM:
When it was officially announced I think Ray Mallock and Chevrolet got so many calls from drivers, and there is some very good drivers around who don't have a drive yet. I don't know but I think everything will be finalised before Christmas, I'm not really part of it so I'm just waiting like everyone else. I'm sure they will be quick guys and they are concentrating on getting someone who is quick but can also work with the team and make sure Chevrolet will be fighting for wins pretty soon.

Crash.net:
You're looking at this in the long term, how exciting is it for you as a driver that a few years down the line you could be a World Champion?

AM:
It's a nice thought isn't it. At the end of the day there are only three World Championships, F1, WRC and now WTCC. It would be nice to have that on my CV and be a World Champion, but what matters most to me is to have a package that allows me to fight at the front and fight for wins. If you can win races and score points then you are in with a chance at winning the title and you could say 'I am a World Champion' - it would be nice but the main aim at the moment is to be able to challenge for wins.

Crash.net:
As you said this season hasn't been the best for you in terms of racing with not having a full time driver, but you've had the chance to race in the V8 Supercars over in Australia and in the BTCC Masters race at Donington Park. What would have been your highlight of this season?

AM:
I'm not sure because this year, everything that I did I had great fun and great pleasure in doing it. There was the Porsche races at Oulton Park which were good and Le Mans in the Ferrari, the V8's in Australia, the race in Argentina where I came second with Chevrolet and of course the Masters race where I finished on the podium so I don't know. What was good was I drove in many different countries and worked with many different people and it was very interesting and refreshing.

Crash.net:
Looking at the Masters race where you had a chance to renew some old rivalries, what did you think of the idea of bringing together the Masters for that one off event?

AM:
I was probably one of the first people Alan Gow spoke to about it when I was at Oulton Park and I said yes straight away. The idea was a very good idea and the show was fantastic. Everyone I spoke to told me that they really enjoyed watching it, and all of us who took part enjoyed it. For me it went well as I went from ninth to second and it was the first time since 2000 that I drove a front wheel drive touring car and I got into it really quickly.

Crash.net:
As a driver who had huge success in the BTCC back in the 1990s when it was Super Touring, what do you make of the series as it is now?

AM:
Well, for sure, I think they could do with more manufacturers back in the championship because, as far as I know, only Vauxhall are really behind it. I've watched quite a lot of races on TV this season, and the racing has been really fantastic. There's been loads of action and overtaking and I think the championship is on the up again. I don't know if it will get back to the levels of Super Touring but I hope it will be a great championship soon.

Crash.net:
So if a BTCC meeting doesn't clash next season, might we see you coming along to watch?

AM:
For sure, this season I saw two meetings so I wouldn't mind coming along. I live in the UK so it isn't far to travel and you might see me there.

Crash.net:
Alain Menu, thank you very much for your time and all the best for next season.

AM:
Thankyou.