Cold and wet testing in Europe

Munnich team at the Slovakiaring.

All over Europe, the WTCC Truckies have been driving along the various motorway roads to enable the teams to complete their pre-season tests. Snow has made driving difficult in the mountains of Spain and also through southern Germany and Hungary. Our trucks and trailers are show pieces for the team that we work for and it makes you cry when you see them covered in dirty water and salt which we cannot avoid in winter time. When we arrive at the circuit for testing, put your warm clothes on and get out the hosepipe and brushes and start washing them off. Whilst this is okay in a warmer climate, it hasn,t been fun for the guys who have been testing in colder climates like the Slovakiaring and Monza.

Bamboo at Rockingham

Meanwhile in the UK, The Truckies from RML and Bamboo have been testing in the cold and damp conditions at Brands Hatch and Rockingham.
This season will see some new and different trucks in the paddock from Munnich, PBRacing and the RML trucks with their new colours.(I am waiting to be sent some pictures). Despite talking to the Spanish Seat teams, nobody is sure whether they will have new colours and graphics but I will be first at Monza with new pictures so keep following my blog.
It will be interesting to see how the Munnich team manage to transport 3 cars and all their equipment in 2 trucks. I think they will struggle for space inside the trucks. The new teams that start in WTCC see how the other teams garages are set up and very quickly start buying more garage equipment and boarding. But they never seem to think how they will transport it all safely and without damaging anything
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The cost for using the trucks in Europe just goes up and up. Diesel and AdBlue prices are rising and the road tolls for the motorways have been increased. I have not sat down and tried to see how much more money we will have to spend this year, but at a guess, it will cost upwards of 2000 Euros per truck more than in 2012.
My least favourite place to go to, Morocco, looks set to still go ahead and I have been hearing so many stories about driving to Russia. Plans are still being made for these two races so I will bring you more details as I get them. As a Truckie, I look forward to the more challenging places that we visit but the uncertainty will also put grey hairs on your head.

                                                                    Zengo and Honda in Italy