Menu fastest in two-day Valencia test

He set the fastest time of the test in the cool temperatures of the second morning at the Spanish circuit in his Chevrolet Lacetti.

Menu's time was one tenth of a second quicker than the best laps set by Augusto Farfus and Jorg Muller, who dominated the first day's running for BMW.

Tom Coronel's SUNRED SEAT Leon set the fourth fastest time of the test, ahead of Jordi Gene, who led the factory-run SEATs in fifth place.

James Thompson made his first appearance of the season against his WTCC opposition in the N.Technology Honda. He finished the test in eighth place, sixth tenths of a second away from Menu's benchmark.

The Briton is confident that the extra time taken to prepare the Accord Euro R will allow the car to be competitive when it races for the first time in the third round of the championship, at Valencia next month.

"We have a lot of work to do but we're working hard, completing good runs, and making sure we're competitive for the next round," he said. "That's our main agenda.

"For me it feels great to be back behind the wheel again. I feel like a kid with a new toy."

Jose Manuel Perez-Aicart also joined the WTCC field at the test, alongside Tom Coronel in a second SUNRED SEAT Leon. The 26-year-old Spaniard will race at Valencia next month as his prize for winning the 2007 SEAT Leon Supercopa feeder series.

Pos Driver                    Car         Time               Laps
 1. Alain Menu                Chevrolet   1:42.886             92
 2. Augusto Farfus            BMW         1:42.990   +0.104   189
 3. Jorg Muller               BMW         1:42.994   +0.108   223
 4. Tom Coronel               SEAT        1:43.335   +0.449   187
 5. Jordi Gene                SEAT        1:43.356   +0.470    74
 6. Felix Porteiro            BMW         1:43.377   +0.491   151
 7. Yvan Muller               SEAT        1:43.397   +0.511    62
 8. James Thompson            Honda       1:43.500   +0.614   137
 9. Nicola Larini             Chevrolet   1:43.534   +0.648    67
10. Gabriele Tarquini         SEAT        1:43.622   +0.736   104
11. Rickard Rydell            SEAT        1:43.809   +0.923    88
12. Alex Zanardi              BMW         1.43.809   +0.923    94
13. Tiago Monteiro            SEAT        1:43.889   +1.003    72
14. Andy Priaulx              BMW         1:44.067   +1.181   227
15. Jose Manuel Perez-Aicart  SEAT        1:44.367   +1.481    41