Renault tests at length in Paul Ricard!


Testing the R24

By role
April 15 2004

The Renault F1 team has been testing hard at he French track of Paul Ricard on Wednesday. The team is conducting several tests ahead of the upcoming San Marino Grand Prix. Both Fernando Alonso and Franck Montagny were behind the wheel of the R24. It was the first time Montagny tested the 2004 car and he had a massive amount of 168 laps, 692 kms, to learn the response. He set a best time of 1.08.078

Montagny conducted a number of long runs aimed at getting good mileage on the new engine specification. He completed a race distance during the morning runing the engine in the afternoon near the mark of 700 km by the end of the day.

Alonso completed set-up work with the R24, and continued testing aerodynamic developments for Imola. He ran for 95 laps, a total of 391 kilometers. His best time of 1.08.002 was good for 5th.

"We had an extremely good day - to complete over 1000km is a fantastic achievement." Said Christian Silk, Chief Test Engineer. "Given that this was Franck's first run in the R24, he had an enormous programme - but we almost completed it, falling just short of a full weekend's mileage. Fernando continued working with the new aerodynamic parts and engine specification, concentrating on set-ups work in the revised configuration."


The best time of the day was set by the BAR-Honda of Jenson Button with a best time of 1.06.930 followed by the two McLaren Mercedes of Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard.

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