Jack Goff was left feeling positive after his initial runs in his new BMW 125i M-Sport as the fans favourite prepares for his first campaign with Team IHG Rewards Club in the 2016 British Touring Car Championship.
Goff, who has made the switch to West Surrey Racing following a sole season at MG Triple Eight Racing that saw him claim his maiden victory at Snetterton, completed wet running at Donington Park earlier this month in his striking white and orange liveried machine.
He was present at Thruxton last week with his new team-mates, Sam Tordoff and Rob Collard, as each of the three drivers for Dick Bennett’s outfit split the running between themselves across the two days of testing.
Speaking to TouringCars.net at the notoriously challenging 2.4 mile Hampshire venue, Goff believes that the initial feedback from the car is positive, but admits he would prefer to get some drier testing mileage before the season gets underway at Brands Hatch this April.
“We had two sessions yesterday [Wednesday 17th February] and that was my first ‘run’ in the car, to be honest.” admitted Goff.
“It was wet, I’m yet to drive the car in the dry but it felt good, [I’m] getting my head around the rear-wheel drive stuff so we’re just looking forward to a nice, dry day.”
This season sees the British Touring Car Championship enter new territory with a switch to a new technical components supplier in RML. The majority of the grid, including WSR, have elected to run the new machinery this season. Goff has a second challenge to contend with this season in adapting to the rear-wheel drivetrain of the BMW, but admitted that, so far, it’s difficult for him to find the differences between the two sets of parts.
“I’ve got no comparison, because I didn’t drive this car on the old stuff.” he said.
“I can’t tell really, the car is completely different to a front-wheel drive car, whether that’s the new components or the old stuff, I don’t know. I can’t comment too much on that one.”
Goff claimed the solitary victory for the works MG squad in 2015, and believes this season his new team have a strong driver lineup with which they can take the challenge to reigning Manufacturers champions, Honda Yuasa Racing, but admits his personal performance is an equal priority.
“We do have a strong line-up, I think the Hondas are going to be quick as well. The MG I’m sure will be quick as well, so there’s going to be a lot of manufacturers out there that are going to be competitive.” commented Goff.
“Obviously we’ve got to look for the Manufacturers title to keep BMW happy, that’s the important thing to do. But you still want to go out there and do the result for yourself as well.”
Goff’s team-mate Sam Tordoff told TouringCars.net seperately that he was confident their early start to pre-season would give them an advantage come the start of the season, a feeling Goff shares, though re-iterated his desire to get some dry running in the BMW 1-series.
“It’s nice to get out. Obviously it’s bit cold and wet at the minute, so I’d like to get some dry running under my belt and then we can see what’s going on. I think it’s good that we’re out early, we can get some laps under our belt.”
Goff will be present with his new #31 machine at the official Season Launch, which is due to take place at Donington Park on the 22nd March.