WSF: 2004 pre-season test Valencia, day one notes

The French driver Didier Andre (KTR) tops testing in Day 1



Alter the recent success achieved in Madrid with 20,000 spectators
attending the Great Final of the Superfund World Series by Nissan at El
Jarama Circuit; the teams of all three categories had started with RPM
Racing and Nissan a new step towards the third consecutive year of this
challenging single-seater program.



The Valencia circuit is hosting today and tomorrow the first pre seasonal
tests for the World Series by Nissan 2004 that has two new entered teams,
Porfesa Competicion (Spain) and Paul Belmondo Racing (France).



The low temperatures reached this morning at the venue (2 C) putted a
hard task to the drivers, trying to drive under grip fewer conditions. A
total of 11 drivers from 8 different countries participated today in the
tests, where the Dallara Nissan cars shared the track with the Dallara
AER.





Didier Andre has been the referent in the World Series by Nissan
category, reaching the fastest lap time with the KTR car. Andre has
declared to feel like driving a totally different car: "I have been half
a second fastest today than in my best qualifying lap, so I must accept I
am quite impressed. Anyway, Erebus and I will make a decision in 15 days
or so."



Danish ace, Ronnie Remer, was second quickest driver of the session, 8
tenths of a second behind Andre, in a RC Motorsport`s car. Bremer has
just completed his F3 Season in the British Championship with Carlin:
"Heikki Kovalainen is a good friend of mine, and I suppose that with the
F3000 crisis and all that stuff, the World Series by Nissan is the best
way nowadays to step in Formula One."



The Russian  Romain Rusinov has been the single test driver in the two
times WSbN victorious squad Gabord Competition, Rusinov, third fastest,
has underlined the good driveability of the Dallara chassis.



Former F3 driver Thomas Kostka lapped, 1.26.277, fourth quickest, was
really impressed with the Dallara chassis and the power of the Nissan
450HP engine.



In the World Series Light, former Panoz official driver Ben Leuenberguer
(1.29.354) was on top f the list of times with RC Motorsport, followed by
the Frenchman Harold Primat. Primat is said to have signed an agreement
with Saulnier Racing, another team that will be joining this 2 litter
category. The Italian young driver Giovanni Tedeschi has had today his
third drive in a Dallara AER car with Vergani Formula.



The Pre-Season test will continue tomorrow.

-rpm-


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