WTCR drivers Vernay/Ceccon: Rivals weren't playing the game in test

The WSC Group behind the TCR concept released its Balance of Performance on the eve of pre-season testing at Barcelona, with Cyan Racing's new Lynk & Co 03 starting the new season as the heaviest car.

While a number of cars have been given breaks from the BoP levels they ended 2018 with, the Hyundai with which Gabriele Tarquini claimed the inaugural drivers' title will start this season heavier and again has its engine limited to 97.5% power.

That prompted the BRC team that will run four i30 Ns this season to slam the BoP, while Tarquini said he was "surprised" and "disappointed".

Vernay believes those affected by the BoP elected to drive slower in the test so their true pace was not displayed before this weekend's Marrakech season opener.

At the time of BRC's complaints on Thursday evening, Tarquini and team-mate Norbert Michelisz had finished the first day of testing 13th and 15th respectively - while Vernay and WRT stablemate Gordon Shedden were third and fifth and had completed 92 laps between them.

"Nobody is playing the game, let's say," said Vernay.

"We received the BoP and some guys are happy, some are not and they want to complain so they are just going slow.

"We did races in TCR Europe [at Barcelona last year] so we know how well the Hyundai and other brands can go, and they are right now four seconds [slower] than the TCR Europe guys? That's weird.

"Because of that, we can't really work on our programme. If we are showing our pace then we don't know what is going to happen for Marrakech.

"That's a shame, but that's how it is. We didn't test much [over the winter] unfortunately so we are here to work and continue to understand the car and the new tyre specification.

"I think we are on the right way."

Vernay ended the two-day test with the fourth-quickest time, a 1m54.839s, just under half a second slower off pacesetter Shedden - who topped the times by the end of Friday's afternoon session.

Ceccon was well inside the top 10 on both days of testing and finished sixth overall as Team Mulsanne put its new Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce through its paces.

The Italian, a race winner at Suzuka last year, also voiced his concerns.

"Oh, there are other drivers running?" said Ceccon on the second day.

"They are not testing really, they are here for media because it is the media day.

"My team-mate [Ma Qing Hua] was pushing hard today and for us it is a proper test day. We are developing the car and trying different things out.

"Other teams are here just to take pictures and get ready for Morocco so, I think we are on different levels in terms of ideas."