Italy: C24 Should be Competitive at Monza
By SAUBER PETRONAS
August 29 2005
Team SAUBER PETRONAS have suffered uncharacteristic reliability problems in the past few races, failing to finish three out of their last four starts due to engine problems. They hope to turn their luck around this weekend at Monza with a car that's both reliable and quick.
August 29 2005
Team SAUBER PETRONAS have suffered uncharacteristic reliability problems in the past few races, failing to finish three out of their last four starts due to engine problems. They hope to turn their luck around this weekend at Monza with a car that's both reliable and quick.
Jamie Makin
C24 Should be Competitive
Italy: C24 Should be Competitive at Monza
Willy Rampf expects the C24 to be competitive in Italy. But will it be reliable?
Team SAUBER PETRONAS have suffered uncharacteristic reliability problems in the past few races, failing to finish three out of their last four starts due to engine problems. They hope to turn their luck around for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza with a car that's both reliable and quick.
Willy Rampf (Technical Director):
"The Italian Grand Prix is known for the highest average and top speeds of the season. In Monza a fast lap time requires very high straight-line speeds and therefore low drag and hence a low downforce configuration.
"This circuit is very hard on engines, so that will be interesting with this season's two-race rule. Monza has the highest full-throttle load on the engine per lap of all tracks. It follows that the brakes take a lot of punishment here, too, as all that speed has to be shed at the chicanes. At the first of them, in the first corner, drivers have to brake from speeds as high as 360 kmh to 80 in just over three seconds so brake efficiency and handling stability are extremely important. To be fast in the chicanes, excellent kerb riding and traction are required. With such a low downforce configuration this is a real set-up challenge for the engineers.
"Tyre wear is less of a factor here, and while a two-stop strategy is feasible you could also get away with one.
"We had a reasonable test at Monza last week and the SAUBER PETRONAS C24 was competitive in low-downforce configuration in Canada, so we are hopeful of a strong race."
SAUBER PETRONAS - Prior Results at Monza, Italy:
Willy Rampf (Technical Director):
"The Italian Grand Prix is known for the highest average and top speeds of the season. In Monza a fast lap time requires very high straight-line speeds and therefore low drag and hence a low downforce configuration.
"This circuit is very hard on engines, so that will be interesting with this season's two-race rule. Monza has the highest full-throttle load on the engine per lap of all tracks. It follows that the brakes take a lot of punishment here, too, as all that speed has to be shed at the chicanes. At the first of them, in the first corner, drivers have to brake from speeds as high as 360 kmh to 80 in just over three seconds so brake efficiency and handling stability are extremely important. To be fast in the chicanes, excellent kerb riding and traction are required. With such a low downforce configuration this is a real set-up challenge for the engineers.
"Tyre wear is less of a factor here, and while a two-stop strategy is feasible you could also get away with one.
"We had a reasonable test at Monza last week and the SAUBER PETRONAS C24 was competitive in low-downforce configuration in Canada, so we are hopeful of a strong race."
SAUBER PETRONAS - Prior Results at Monza, Italy:
- Starts: 24 (1993 - 2004)
- Finishes: 16 (66.7 %)
- Best Finish: 3rd, Heidfeld, 2001
- Average Finish: 7.7
- Best Qualifying: 8th, De Cesaris, 1994; Alesi, 1998 & Heidfeld 2001
- Average Qualifying: 13.2
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