The 25 year-old former SEAT Cupra Champion and triple SEAT BTCC race winner will undergo a testing programme later this month, which kicks off with a session at MIRA this week followed by a full test programme at Brands Hatch and Snetterton in the UK, Albacete in Spain and Magny Cours in France.

The RML-built car has consistently improved since its first outing last year and the 2006 car will be a logical development of the car, which Robert raced to a superb sixth place finish. After a learning year, RML has used the winter period to build into the new car all the facts, figures and feedback the team amassed throughout the season. On the aerodynamic side the team has concentrated on reducing drag by intensively using Computational Fluid Dynamics as well as full-scale wind tunnel testing. The suspensions have been revised and the serviceability of the cars has also been improved, which will help in the limited repair time available between races.

New for 2006, the engines will now be developed and built in-house at RML and as a result, the team expect to see significant improvements in this area. Two additional engineers and a permanent test car will allow them to increase the testing and development pace.

Robert will once again be joined by Alain Menu and Nicola Larini in the team's bid to take their first race victory in the championship.

2006 Calendar; 2 April Monza, Italy; 30 April Magny Cours, France; 21 May Brands Hatch, Great Britain; 4 June Oschersleben, Germany; 2 July Curitiba, Brazil; 30 July Puebla, Mexico; 3 September Brno, Czech Republic; 24 September Istanbul, Turkey; 8 October Valencia, Spain; 19 November Macau, China.