| With the United Sates Grand
Prix a week away the BMW WilliamsF1 Team wrapped up their four day test at
the Barcelona circuit in Spain. Over the four days the testing would see BMW
WilliamsF1 driver Ralf Schumacher and test drivers Antonio Pizzonia and Marc
Gené take time out on the track.
Day
one at the Circuit de Catalunya would see Antonio Pizzonia and Marc Gené
having to contend with wet weather early on. The conditions were to improve
by late morning so the drivers could put in some useful test mileage.
Antonio Pizzonia would complete seventy seven laps, with a best time of
1m:19.526 which was the second best time. Marc Gené focused on gathering
engine data, completing twenty seven laps and finished the session on fourth
position with a 1m:23.666.
The second day was run in brilliant sunshine, with Antonio Pizzonia and Marc
Gené again carrying out the driving duties. Further test of the modified BMW
P82 engine as well as set-up work for Indianapolis and Suzuka were the focus
of the days activities.
At the end of the day it would be McLaren's Alex Wurz who would set the best
time of the day with 1m:16.950. Antonio Pizzonia was second fastest with a
1m:17.747, after completing seventy nine laps. Marc Gené, whose contract has
been prolonged by a year on Wednesday, was fifth with a best lap of
1m:19.707. Gené would complete forty one laps.
After the days testing Gene said: "I'm quiet happy with the course of the
test. We slightly modified the chassis. Regarding aerodynamics we worked out
some interesting results."
The team was again presented
with excellent weather conditions on day three. Ralf Schumacher would join
the other drivers, finishing the day with seventy four laps. Ralf would
carry out tyre tests, as well as several aerodynamic adjustments were tested
with Ralf trying different rear and front wings. The team also tested their
traction control system.
Also present were the teams regular test drivers Marc Gené. Marc and Antonio
completed nineteen and twenty eight laps respectively. Ralf set the fourth
best time of the day with a 1m:18.886. McLaren's David Coulthard was the
fastest with 1m:17.472. Gené and Pizzonia finished fifth and seventh
respectively.
The teams 2003 engine, the BMW P83, was used for the first time. "Yesterday
the P83 had his great roll out in Barcelona. We have already gathered
important results", said BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen.
Dr Theissen added: "Our new P83 BMW engine for 2003 experienced its first
roll-out during the Barcelona test and we are pleased how this went. On
Wednesday and on Thursday we did run two of this new engines nearly 200
kilometres respectively.
Come
Friday for the last day of testing the focus was on tyre testing. The team
also tried various aerodynamic set-ups. BMW also loooked at their launch
control system. Dr Theissen added: “And last but not least we have practiced
launch control starts with different mappings in Barcelona."
The fastest time of the day was McLaren's David Coulthard with a lap of
1m:18.520. Antonio Pizzonia completed fifty nine laps to finish second with
a best time of 1m:18.647. Marc Gené completed sixty three laps with a best
time of 1m:19.118.
After the completion of the
four day test the team came away feeling that the testing had been a
success. Sam Michael, WilliamsF1 Chief Operations Engineer, commented on the
test by saying: "Over the duration of the test, we trialled some new engine
developments and specifications. We also evaluated tyres for the Suzuka
Grand Prix, aerodynamic developments and traction control our four day
programme has been a successful test of new development components."
Dr Mario Theissen added: "Our new P83 BMW engine for 2003 was rolled out for
the first time during the Barcelona test and we are pleased with the
outcome. On both Wednesday and Thursday we ran two of these new engines
nearly 200 km each. On Friday morning we lost some track time due to a
problem with one of the P82 engines.
"Apart from this, the test was about aerodynamic comparisons and tyres.
Finally we have practiced launch control starts with different mappings in
Barcelona." |