Menu keen to retain BMR drive for BTCC 2015

Alain Menu has expressed his desire to carry on competing in the British Touring Car Championship with BMR Racing despite an indifferent return to the series in 2014.

BTCC champion in 1997 and 2000, Menu's comeback campaign has been defined by a series of bad luck but the Volkswagen CC driver has shown flashes of his best form, most notably with podiums at Rockingham and Silverstone

Indeed, that tough luck made its presence felt for the Brands Hatch finale when Menu looked set to challenge for a famous return to pole position in the tricky conditions but an untimely red flag quickly scuppered his hopes.

His weekend didn't get much better and was caught up in the chaotic opening lap melee at Paddock Hill before making an unforced error at the same corner which ultimately ended his weekend with a heavy crash.
Menu admitted that his race two crash was indeed his fault on cold tyres at the beginning of the race.

"In the first race I was unlucky in the wrong place at the wrong time at Paddock Hill bend. I had a good race then to come back from last to finish 13th," Menu told Crash.net.

"Race two was my fault on the cold tyres. Nobody touched me or anything when I spun. It's a shame that I've saved my only real mistakes for the last weekend. But in a way again it sums up my season!

"I think my team mates shown that the car was competitive. Jack [Goff] was unlucky in race three. He was completely fogged up but Aron [Smith] did a good job again. For sure the car was good enough for a podium."

Mishaps aside, Menu - who ended the year classified in 11th place overall - remains happy with his performances this season and hopes the hard work achieved with BMR can be utilised next season under his direction with a race seat role.

"My performance I'm happy with, putting the final round aside of course - I'm not happy with myself for those mistakes! I'm happy with the job I've done over the season; I've just been unlucky on the race weekends," Menu continued.

"Next year, I would like to be back. It would be nice to capitalise on the hard work the team have and drivers have put in this season.

"We will see but nothing has been confirmed yet as there are quite a few things going on in the paddock at the moment. We just have to wait and see!"

Team BMR has already confirmed Smith - a two-time race winner in 2014 - will remain on board for another year.