Yokohama compound tests.

The relentless grind of the professional racing driver continued right up towards Christmas for three World Touring Car Championship drivers, who spent two days pounding the Kyalami race circuit in South Africa to assess next year's Yokohama rubber.

The Japanese tyre manufacturer spent Monday and Tuesday at the South African circuit with manufacturers Alfa Romeo, BMW and SEAT in attendance.

Driving duties were taken by British Touring Car Championship-bound Fabrizio Giovanardi, and WTCC remaining J?rg M?ller and Rickard Rydell testing the Advan control tyre for their respective manufacturers from the preceeding season.

Four compounds were tested, with rain showers greeting the drivers on both days.

"The tyres we tested were based for the construction on those we had previously tested in Vallelunga, but the compounds were new. We are happy because we have found in Kyalami the kind of weather conditions we needed," explained Yokohama's marketing manager, Kazuyoshi Sekiguchi.

The 2006 World Touring Car Championship starts in Monza on April 2.