After four days of group testing at the Valencia circuit in Spain, DTM driver Bruno Spengler says the much-lighter 2008 cars represent a real threat in the 2010 DTM season.
Indeed, the 2008 will run lighter than the 2009 cars this season.
And the older cars have played a major role on the first three days of the collective tests. Alexandre Prémat (Audi, photo), Maro Engel (Mercedes) and rookie Miguel Molina (Audi), all driving 2008 cars, set the best times of the first three days.
Ralf Schumacher, driving a 2009 HWA Mercedes, set the fastest time of the fourth and final day.
“The 2008 cars will represent a major threat this season,” said Spengler to Auto123.com.
“The 2008 and 2009 cars very similar, but now that the older cars will be lighter will give them an advantage. Things will be a lot more difficult for us, works drivers. The times set at Valencia are not really surprising. However, it is difficult to know exactly what everyone was doing during these four days of testing,” the Canadian added.
In 2010, the works teams will use 2009 cars whose technical development was frozen at the middle of last year. The engines, the gearboxes and the aerodynamics are identical to those of last year.
Indeed, the 2008 will run lighter than the 2009 cars this season.
And the older cars have played a major role on the first three days of the collective tests. Alexandre Prémat (Audi, photo), Maro Engel (Mercedes) and rookie Miguel Molina (Audi), all driving 2008 cars, set the best times of the first three days.
Ralf Schumacher, driving a 2009 HWA Mercedes, set the fastest time of the fourth and final day.
“The 2008 cars will represent a major threat this season,” said Spengler to Auto123.com.
“The 2008 and 2009 cars very similar, but now that the older cars will be lighter will give them an advantage. Things will be a lot more difficult for us, works drivers. The times set at Valencia are not really surprising. However, it is difficult to know exactly what everyone was doing during these four days of testing,” the Canadian added.
In 2010, the works teams will use 2009 cars whose technical development was frozen at the middle of last year. The engines, the gearboxes and the aerodynamics are identical to those of last year.