Menu insists the best is yet to come from BMR V

On his return to the BTCC, Alain Menu showcased his renowned touring car skill at Brands Hatch in the final race after a somewhat tough outing.

The Swiss Chrome Edition Restart Racing driver experienced a tough weekend in his VW Passat CC, which saw him on the grass at Paddock Hill Bend in race one.

A fightback throughout the day culminated in the 50-year-old storming from P16 to P5 in race three.

Speaking to BTCC Crazy at the Kent circuit, Menu said: “The last race was good and Aron in the first two races showed what the car is capable of – we aren’t too far off the front cars. It was just a bit unfortunate from my side that we had some issues in FP1 and FP2 so that put us back for qualifying.

“I think we could have qualified better then the whole Sunday could have panned out differently. That last race showed we could have been at the front and we will take loads of positives.”

A major talking point that came from the final race of the weekend was the incident which saw rookie Tom Ingram come together with Menu and hit the barrier down the Cooper Straight.

With both drivers speaking to each other after the race, the double champion gave his own opinion on what happened between the pair.

“The gap was there, the problem was he closed it,” Menu admitted. “He saw in the laps before that Jack [Goff] and I were faster and out of Graham Hill Bend I had the run on him from a better exit.

“As I moved to the left due to me being faster, he started moving across and I continued to keep moving to the left on the run up to Surtees. I thought he would concede but he did not and at that point it was too late. I have been where he was and it is a risk you take.”

Having been away from the BTCC since 2007 when he made a one round comeback, Menu hasn’t completed a full season since the turn of the millennium and now with a weekend under his belt, admits the following of the BTCC is as good as ever.

Menu said: “The crowd was good and it was very nice to meet some old friends that I have not seen for years.

“It is great to be back in the series though, the fans are as passionate as ever.”