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Alain Menu says that the opening British Touring Car Championship meeting of the season at Brands Hatch on March 30 will be an extended shakedown for him.

The 50-year-old tested his new Volkswagen Passat for the first time at Croft last week, before running again at the Donington Park media day and at Brands on Thursday.

He says he and Team BMR will need more running as he aims to get to grips with his new mount.

"We haven't done enough, but I think the base is good and the car handles OK, but I don't think I have enough grip," said Menu.

"It is hard for me to tell, though, because I don't have much experience apart from the half-a-day test that I did with Team Dynamics last season [when Menu was on standby to replace the injured Matt Neal].

"I have not practiced the starts, I have not done a long run."

Team BMR has taken over the VW Passats and Vauxhall Insignias that were run by Team Hard during the 2013 season.

They have been reworked over the winter, but Menu says that the Brands Hatch meeting will be too soon to give a real indication of their potential.

"I don't think I will be completely ready for Brands Hatch and I don't think the team will be ready," said Menu.

"They work very hard just to get the cars ready, but I am looking at Brands Hatch like it will still be a testing session. It is an extended shakedown."