The most successful rally driver in history sets the pace in the tests before his debut in the WTCC season. This week-end the collective test session was held for the participants of the 2014 World Touring Car Championship in the city of Valencia, Spain. Based on the results of the day, best time was demonstrated on Friday by the rookie of the upcoming season nine-time Word Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb. The famous French driver replaced the Chinese pilot Ma Quing Hua, who was the first to start the tests, behind the wheel of a snow-white Citroën C-Elysée which made its first appearance on the track without its camouflage disguise. Loeb has set the pace right off the reel by outscoring two Honda pilots — Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro — by the end of the day. Six-month preparations of the “double chevrons” for their debut in the Touring Championship are obviously paying off.
While Citroën and Honda have already been dealing with their new cars built according to the new WTCC technical regulations for quite a lot of time, it was the first test for the TC1-class Chevrolet Cruze created by the RML. In spite of some minor problems with the mounting of the rear wing, the new car with Tom Chilton from ROAL and Hugo Valente from the Campos behind its wheel made a good impression.
Saturday was the last day of the test session held in Valencia and in just three weeks the new WTCC season kicks off in hot Morocco. In the course of the championship, its participants will also visit Russia as one of the rounds of the Touring Championship will be held at the Moscow Raceway circuit on June 7–8. The information about the tickets for this highly anticipated week-end will be available shortly.