Portugal's Miguel Campos, the first driver to be selected to represent the BFGoodrich Drivers Team this year, was given an opportunity to test the Kronos Racing-run Peugeot 207 Super 2000 near Faro, Portugal, on Monday.
The choice of Campos by a panel of 15 Portuguese journalists in Lisbon on April 15 was the first phase of the 2008 BFGoodrich Drivers Team operation which has been set up by tyre manufacturer BFGoodrich and Kronos Racing and which will involve five of the 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge's ten rounds.
Miguel Campos and his co-driver Paulo Babo will contest the Rally de Portugal in the colours of BFGoodrich and Kronos. The pair will start at number 16 and will compete alongside the team's resident drivers Freddy Loix and Nicolas Vouilloz who will also be driving Peugeot 207 Super 2000s.
The first day of testing on Monday gave the Portuguese driver a chance to familiarise himself with the car, as well as with the different BFGoodrich tyres that will be available during the rally.
Marc Van Dalen, Team Manager, Kronos:
"It was a very useful test which gave us a chance to run on tracks that were slightly different to what we had been expecting. It was a rewarding day because the terrain was fairly representative of what we will come across this weekend. Miguel covered approximately 100km and everything went very well. We worked on the car's set-up and Miguel tested the different BFGoodrich tyres that will be available for the Rally de Portugal. We also looked at the different 're-cutting' solutions that he might be called upon to use depending on the terrain and weather. Miguel is very calm and collected and a good listener, and it only took him 15km or so to find his marks as a driver again. I feel confident for the weekend regarding his ability to draw maximum benefit from the potential of both his Peugeot 207 and his tyres."
Michel Ducher, BFGoodrich Technician:
"We used several different types of tyre as a function of the way the surface evolved. We started with soft compound products while the conditions were still cool and the ground still littered with a top-coating of loose gravel. As the surface began to clean up and become harder packed, we switched to the Gravel 5, with less 'cuts', the objective being to get as much rubber as possible onto the ground and to improve traction. The test ended with a slightly harder compound aimed at second passes. There was quite a big fluctuation in ground temperatures since we started the day at 18°C and ended with 35°C, so the ideal tyre choice evolved over the day."
"Today's (Monday) test stage was fairly representative of what we can expect first time through this weekend's stages. Even so, there are around 100 cars entered for this event so the surface promises to clean up quite quickly. Running order will be important and Miguel has paid close attention to how to manage and get the most out of his tyres. He understands the importance of having the right pressures at the start of stages and then adjusting them for the loop's second or third stages. He is a conscientious driver and should take the tyre factor on board well. Indeed, it could be one of the keys to a top result on this event."
Miguel Campos, BFGoodrich Drivers Team driver/N°16 Peugeot 207 S2000:
"I am very pleased with the way the day went. My last competitive outing dates back to two years ago, so I needed to find my marks again with a new car and a new co-driver. Being selected for this rally is a big opportunity for me. The car is perfect, nicely balanced and we did some good work setting it up. I tried several BFGoodrich tyres, ranging from soft to hard, and I spent a good deal of time chatting with the BFGoodrich technician with a view to understanding how to optimise my tyres all the way to the finish. Tyre choices, 're-cutting' and pressures are all important factors that you can't afford to overlook. I still need to drive the car a little bit more, but I feel confident; I feel part of the team and everything should go well."
