Photo: PSP Images

Testing of new RML components continues over winter break

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West Surrey Racing have become the first BTCC team to run the new RML components on a rear-wheel-drive car, as testing continues over the winter break.

RML Group was awarded a six-year technical contract from TOCA earlier in the season, with the first term beginning in 2016. The new parts made their debut at the 2015 season finale on Josh Cook’s Power Maxed Racing Chevrolet Cruze.

Power Maxed have since tested the new parts at Donington Park, with 2013 champion Andrew Jordan, who has recently signed with Motorbase Performance, getting behind the wheel to give further feedback on the new components.

“The general balance of the car was very good,” said Jordan. “The car felt very progressive and generated good grip, through high speed corners it had good rear rotation which allowed me to unwind the lock out to corner exit rather than having to apply opposite lock. Steering felt much more positive, made the front end and change of direction feel very direct.”

The tests with Power Maxed Racing were the first in an extensive winter testing plan and the first full kits delivered to teams in November, with West Surrey Racing becoming the first team to test the rear-wheel-drive package. The second batch of kits are expected to reach the remaining BTCC teams by the end of this week.

Motorbase Performance and Ciceley Motorsport are due to test their 2016 challengers before Christmas, while a large portion of the grid are expected to begin their own testing programmes in the new year.

The WSR test took place at Brands Hatch, with Sam Tordoff stepping in to the driver’s seat of the BMW 125i. The test was fully supported by RML and included expected modifications in order to fit rear-wheel-drive machines.

“Progress has been going very well,” said BTCC technical director Peter Riches. “Feedback from the teams has been extremely positive and everything is on schedule. The test runs have been very productive, with the cars showing good performance straight out of the box on a base set up.”