By BMW Sauber F1 Team
April 4 2008

On the way to continuing their preparations for qualifying and the race, in the second practice session of the Bahrain GP weekend, the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers carried out an extensive programme. Robert Kubica finished fifth while Nick Heidfeld took 17th position on the timesheets.

In the second free practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, held in slightly cooler conditions (28° C) but with stronger winds, and consequently more sand blown on to the track, the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers again succeeded in completing their scheduled programme without encountering any problems. Consequently, they made good progress in improving the car's setup for the remainder of the weekend.

This time, the team sent out its two drivers on different strategies. Robert, who was the quicker of the pairing again, completed a total of six relatively short stints totalling 29 laps. In the closing stages of the session, he went out for his final six-lap run on mediums, the harder of the two compounds available, and crossed the line in 1:32.9215 minutes to clinch fifth position on the timesheets.

Nick, however, contested two long-runs, of nine and eleven laps respectively, in the final third of the sessions. Consequently, he didn't have the opportunity to set a competitive lap time. At the end of the day, the German, who completed a total of five stints totalling 36 laps, had to settle for 17th position on the timesheets. He clocked his personal best time of 1:34.023 minutes on the first timed lap of his final stint on a rather heavy load of fuel.

With just ten minutes remaining, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton crashed heavily into a concrete wall but, unlike his car, the Briton survived the incident virtually unharmed.

In tomorrow's third practice session, held from 11.00 to 12.00hrs local time (09.00 to 10.00hrs BST) Robert and Nick will complete their preparations for qualifying and the race. In the qualifying session, starting at 14.00hrs local time, the BMW Sauber F1.08's true competitiveness in Bahrain will be revealed.