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Car-swapper Rast set for WTCR debut

René Rast is braced for a tough debut in the WTCR - FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO as he prepares for a week of swapping Audis at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

As well as contesting WTCR Race of Germany, the DTM champion will also be in action in the ADAC Zurich 24h-Rennen, meaning frequent switching between the Audi RS 3 LMS WTCR racer and the Audi R8 LMS GT3 challenger he'll use in the twice-round-the-clock event.

"I imagined it would be easier, to be honest," Rast told Motorsport-Total.com following his first taste of an Audi RS 3 LMS in full WTCR specification at Spa-Francorchamps last month. "I've driven front-wheel-drive cars before so I actually thought it would be similar, but it wasn't. The car is completely different from what I had in mind. I've been having a bit of a hard time, I must say. Throughout the day I tried to adapt and change my driving style again. At the end of the day it worked out, but at the beginning it wasn't that easy.

"The driving style itself is completely different. With the DTM car you have relatively high downforce. That means you have to brake late and take a lot of speed into the corner. The TCR car is completely different. Because you have little downforce and little power, you have to try to take a lot of momentum out of the corner. That means you brake a little earlier, drive a little slower into the corner and then a little faster out again. That is in the head 180 degrees a different driving style. I tried to drive the car like a DTM car. Braking very late, quickly into the corner and slower out of the corners. That didn't work so you really have to change your [style]."

Rast will appear on track with his WTCR OSCARO rivals for the first time at 11h30 on Thursday when he takes part in Free Practice 1.

Zdroj: fiawtcr.com