WilliamsF1 commences Valencia Test


Marc Gene

By Andrew Hooper
January 22 2003

The BMW WilliamsF1 team commenced a four day test at Valencia, with Juan Pablo & Marc attending. The team is continuing development work for the new FW25, including further testing on the new P83 engine.

 

 

 
Valencia Test 21:01:2003 Day One of Four
 
The BMW WilliamsF1 team commenced their Valencia test last Sunday, 19th January, but both Sunday and Monday would see the team conduct only wet weather tyre testing for Michelin and as such no times were available.

Juan Pablo MontoyaBut on the first day of the timed testing both Juan Pablo Montoya and Marc Gene would carry out the driving duties. After completing more laps than any other driver testing on that day Marc Gene would finish the day fourth with Juan Pablo finishing the day second behind McLaren test driver Alex Wurz. The days testing would be run under sunny but somewhat windy conditions.

Marc would complete almost 400 kilometres at the "Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciano Ricardo Tormo", with no problems been reported. His best lap time was a 1m:13.738 minutes. Juan Pablo would finish with a best time of the day with a 1:13.347, after completing fifty six laps. Both drivers spent the day continuing development work for systems intended for the FW25, including further testing of the BMW P83 engine.

WilliamsF1 Test Team Manager Tim Newton commented on the days testing by saying: "The first day of the timed session on a dry track at Valencia. On Sunday and Monday we were conducting wet tyre tests with Michelin. Marc gave his usual invaluable contribution to the team and completed a solid 103 laps with the new P83 engine. Whereas Juan was driving with the P82 engine and his feedback makes an immense contribution to the development of the new car. There were some high winds at Valencia circuit with gusts as strong as 35 mph, this was unsettling for the car and made driving more difficult."

On Wednesday, the BMW WilliamsF1 Team will continue its test drives in Valencia.

 

Pos. Driver Team/Engine Time Laps

1. Alexander Wurz - McLaren Mercedes 1:12.732 – 28
2. Juan Pablo Montoya - Williams BMW 1:13.347 56
3. Heinz-Harald Frentzen – Sauber Petronas 1:13.385 70
4. Marc Gene - Williams BMW 1:13.738 91

 
 
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