Chevrolet and RML joined all the other 2006 WTCC competitors for the first day of a two-day group test at the mythical track of Monza in Italy yesterday. Monza is also the first stop of the 10-round, 20-race 2006 World Touring Car Championship which kicks off on April 2nd.

As at all the venues the team tested on during winter, they were met in Monza by an old acquaintance: steady rain. Time-wise the rain proved to be an ally as Alain Menu topped the time sheets until 20 minutes before the end of the test session, when the track started drying. “It went quite well,” the Swiss driver said.

“It wasn’t easy considering the weather conditions, but I guess I was on the right track at the right time.”“It surely is a better start to the season than we had last year,” Rob Huff said. “I struggled a bit with the balance of the car, while learning Monza in the wet. We changed the set-up slightly, and then I just concentrated on being as consistent as possible as to be able to give the best possible feedback to the engineers. That said, I do hope it stays dry tomorrow so we can get to know the Yokohama slick tyres properly.”

“That was a good start to the first official test,” RML Chief Executive, Ray Mallock said. “Seeing Alain at the top of the time sheets was very encouraging. I get the feeling that the promise the car showed in the winter tests is now being justified, but at the same time I hope we can have some dry weather tomorrow.”

“I’m quite happy with this morning’s progress shown,” Chevrolet Europe’s Motorsport Manager, Eric Nève. “It’s a nice reward to the efforts the team put in all winter long. If you just take a look at the engine bay, you can see all the hard work that has been put in this year’s car. I look forward to having an open and tightly fought 2006 season, offering a great show to spectators and TV-audiences!“

Testing resumes today at 10.00am.