By Huw Alban
September 19 2006

OK, so I was wrong - the car got a new paint job, but apparently it was due a new one anyway after Monza! The team ran Adrian Valles and Christijan Albers in what was predominantly a tyre test for the team.

Adrain Valles was already suited up when we arrived at the circuit today, stood on the pit wall talking to Oliver Knighton. The team were all over the newly painted car making all sorts of adjustments, presumably to make Adrian comfortable in the car.

Phil and I were practically alone outside the Spyker MF1 garage whilst the rest of the press pack were huddled around the McLaren garage eager to record Lewis Hamilton's test drive with the team. The test was quite well attended with Super Aguri fielding one car next door, Williams had one car, Toyota two, Renault two, and McLaren just the one.

Valles must have aleady done his installation lap, as the first tour we witnessed was a one timed lap run. As soon as he returned to the garage he hopped out of the car and the team again continued to make futher adjustments. We stayed in the pitlane for one futher 5 timed lap run before taking to the track to see how he looked out there.

The new livery got it's airing today, and I have to admit that it is very orange. Phil's first comment was that it reminded him of the Orange Arrows livery from a few years back, and I can see why. Speaking with a team mechanic revealed that the car was due for a repaint after Monza anyway so the decision was made to do a quick re-livery based on the current sponsorship portfolio layout. I have mixed feelings about the new colour scheme, but I'm sure it will grow on me.

Throughout the morning we spent time at the Abbey chicane and Club corner, and I would describe his performance at steady. He didn't look to be overdriving the car, and was very neat and tidy through the corners. I managed to grab a quick chat with one of the team mechanics in the afternoon, and the impression was that the team were happy with his work. With all three Friday seats now filled it is a little uncertain where Adrian will fit into the Spyker MF1 of the future.

Christijan Albers took over the seat of the sole M16 car in the afternoon, and immediately was not happy with the car. After his first tour out he reported a fault in the power steering so the team changed the rack as a precaution. This part, probably the size of a clenched fist, was changed in about 10 minutes but the team had to wait for a red flag before they could go out agian.

Christijan spent the beginning of the afternoon running sets of control tyres in order that the team set a baseline and spend the rest of the session evaluating tyres presumably in readiness for the next race in China.Whilst we were in the pitlane we witnessed a number of complicated looking tyre pressure, roll bar, and front wing angle changes as part of the programme.

Abbey chicane, Maggotts & Becketts and Luffield corners were our on track viewing points for the afternoon, and Christijan looked to be pushing very hard throughout a number of multiple timed lap runs. The team turn around between each run was pretty swift too, with only a few minutes between Christijan taking to the pit lane and appearing out on track again - most impressive. There was a number of red flags throughout the afternoon, but thankfully none of them involving Christijan, but these no doubt contributed to the team needing to turn the Dutchman around promptly.

Christijan finished the day 5th on the timesheets out of the 9 drivers that participated today with a fastest lap of 1:21.115 after 48 laps. Adrian was 7th, with the pace set by the Renault of Heikki Kovalainen on a fastest lap of 1:19.125

Phil and I return to Silverstone tomorrow to play witness to day two of this three day test.

Click HERE to go to a picture gallery from todays test

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