ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport are aiming to secure their first World Touring Car Championship podium at the Hungaroring this weekend, despite having to carry an additional 10 kg in their SEATs.
The German team have already come close to a first podium in their maiden WTCC season, with Marc Basseng and Rob Huff scoring fourth-placed finishes in the season opener in Italy and last time out in Slovakia. However the team from Friedersdorf are hoping to go one better this weekend in Budapest.
“It is very clear that a podium placing remains our goal,” said Team Principal and driver René Münnich. “Our drivers and our cars have the potential to reach that, even if we only have Rob Huff with racing experience on the Hungaroring.”
As a result of strong lap times last time out at the Slovakiaring, however, the team have been given an extra 10 kg of compensation weight for the Hungarian rounds. It means the team’s SEAT Leóns will, along with Honda who increase by 30 kg, gain weight on their rivals.
“As a start, this is going to be a little challenge for us, which we can handle though,” said a determined Basseng, who also acts as Team Manager. “I think we were able sort a few things out at the test drives on Monday and hopefully we found a good setup.”
Whilst neither Basseng or Münnich have raced around the Hungaroring before, reigning champion Huff has had mixed results around the circuit, managing two second-placed finishes in 2011 and 2012. Indeed the Hungaroring is the only circuit on the 2013 calendar which has featured in previous seasons that Huff has not taken victory on.
First free practice gets underway at 09:00 CEST on Saturday 4th May (08:00 GMT).