Alain Menu highlights a lack of respect between drivers surrounding on-track incidents

Alain Menu believes the level of respect between drivers in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has dropped in 2014.

At Knockhill this past weekend, the Team BMR driver scored points in rounds 19, 20 and 21, finishing P11, P15 and P8. Although there weren’t any on track incidents that the VW CC peddler was involved in personally, mechanical issues did halt his progress for stronger results.

“I haven’t had one weekend that has been clean yet this season and it is frustrating,” admitted Menu to BTCC Crazy.

“In race two we had a small mechanical problem regarding the throttle and had that not happened then I could have been near the front for race three, a race that I had good pace and was making progress.

“I lost some time in that final race behind Ingram but otherwise I could have stayed behind Shedden and Jordan. I think the best way to sum it all up is I had a good end to a bad weekend, I’d just like to have one event where everything run smoothly and I’m not either being hit or having other problems.”

Heading to Rockingham, a circuit he has only tested at once when behind the wheel of the RML WTCC Chevrolet, Menu is hoping for that ‘clean weekend’ to happen but highlights that perhaps a lack of respect between drivers has been part of the reason for the on-track shenanigans.

The double champion said: “I put it down to a lack of respect really, I may sound like an old fart but some people don’t even say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ anymore, it’s very rude. All these things add up and it can translate to the track sometimes I believe.

“Compared to 20 or 30 years ago it has changed and the level of respect for one another has dropped slightly, it’s a shame because the championship is as big as it ever has been.

“Looking ahead to Rockingham though, I think we should go well there, the car could be suited to the circuit and I’m looking forward to getting to grips with the track because I’ve never raced there, only tested.”

Rounds 22, 23 and 24 take place at Rockingham on the 6/7 September.