By BMW Sauber F1 Team
October 11 2006

Despite the fact that the 2006 Formula One season is about to end with the Brazilian Grand Prix on 22nd October, the BMW Sauber F1 Team is intensely preparing for next year. The test drives which are scheduled in Jerez de la Frontera this week are already influenced by the 2007 World Championship.

Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel will test at the popular circuit in the south of Spain for three days. Willy Rampf, Technical Director of the BMW Sauber F1 Team, elaborates on the goals the team is aiming to accomplish: "At the moment, the main focus is on the development of next year's car," he comments. "We are already quite far advanced, the concept stands and we have already completed much preparation work in the wind tunnel. Now we have to concentrate on optimising the details."

Nevertheless, drivers and engineers are also fully concentrated on the season finale in Sao Paulo. After all, the aim is to defend fifth place in the Constructors' Championship. Following the Japanese Grand Prix, the team is only one point ahead of Toyota. Rampf confirms: "Obviously, we are preparing for Sao Paulo as well. We want to present a reliable car, and maybe we can even get it to go a little faster."