28/06/2004
NEWS STORY
Bob, what was your assessment of the team's performance over the North American flyaway races?
Bob Bell, Technical Director: By the time we reached Indy, I think it was as much about damage limitation as anything else. We were not expecting to be so competitive in Canada, but lost the opportunity to score a significant number of points. In Indy, we recovered well from a difficult start to the weekend to finish fourth with Jarno. But undoubtedly, with better reliability and - in Indianapolis - a little more pace, we could have continued to strengthen our championship position.
Speaking of the championship, you must be concentrating on maintaining that position?
BB: We are totally focused on maintaining second place in the championship. We must achieve consistent reliability again, and we certainly cannot afford to lose the opportunity of podium finishes. Obviously, there are circuits that we expect to run well at in the second half of the season, much as Monaco and Canada stood out in the first half, but we also have a programme of incremental performance gains planned. If we do not slip up, then I am convinced this team is capable of doing it. But make no mistake, it will be a close, tough battle.
What developments can we expect on the car the coming races?
BB: For Magny-Cours and Silverstone, we will have a package of aerodynamic updates and we also intend to introduce suspension modifications at the French race.
In terms of competitiveness, how well do you expect to run?
BB: I think Magny-Cours will be a standard circuit for us - it is very much an average track in terms of the challenges it presents - and we go there with our usual expectation of challenging for podium positions. Its peculiar characteristics do reward an experienced and astute engineering team, which we undoubtedly have and of course, it is given added importance by the fact it is our home race. We will be keen to perform well there.
Looking further forward to Silverstone, we have tested there recently and at that point, seemed slightly behind our closest competitors. From what we have seen so far this year, it is not the R24's strongest type of circuit, with a large number of high-speed corners. However, we made good progress with the car during that week of testing, and I hope that the developments we introduce before then will help us close some of that gap. Equally, we will have the additional challenge of adapting to the new qualifying format at this race, and as a team, making the most of the opportunities such changes offer has always been one of our strengths. We will arrive at Silverstone optimistic of a strong weekend.
How satisfied were you with the results of our trip to North America over the last two races?
Rob White, Engine Technical Director: Jarno's 4th place from the back of the grid in Indianapolis was a great result in itself. It is a reminder of the strength within the team that everyone was disappointed not to have returned from North America with a greater haul of Championship points. In terms of raw pace, Canada was very strong for us, so our double DNF was particularly frustrating, and clearly a missed opportunity for a good result. Indianapolis produced a tight grid and an eventful race. The strategic choices of the team were correct and both drivers made the most of their chances, allowing to Jarno recover from the glitch in qualifying and Fernando to be strongly placed at the moment of his retirement.
What engine developments will we see for Magny-Cours?
RW: The development of the RS24B continues with an evolution in Magny Cours. New internal parts allow the useable engine speed to be increased, which in turn delivers more performance by better utilising the power curve. In terms of the approval process, it is always tough to increase engine speed as the mechanical and thermal loads are increased throughout the engine. To approve the revised spec, and endeavour to ensure the reliability of the engine and car, we have tested extensively on the dyno and at the track.
How important is it for the team to perform strongly at its two home races?
RW: This is a long Championship, and all the races carry the same points. As for every race, we will approach the back-to-back races at Magny Cours and Silverstone with a view to racing competitively and securing a good result. Of course there is the added frisson of racing close to home under a little extra scrutiny, but the objective remains to achieve race weekends free of incident in which we realise the performance potential of the car.
Halfway in the championship, and a solid second position: can we look to close the gap to Ferrari before the end of the season?
RW: Behind Ferrari, there is everything to play for. The battle for second in the championship is very tight. We have seen that the team is functioning well and that the car is competitive on a variety of circuits. For the second part of the season we hope to be able to take the fight to Ferrari on our strongest circuits, and fight with our immediate competitors to defend our position in the championship. Reliability remains key, any failure hands points to our competitors. We will continue to seek to give both drivers the equipment to race competitively, and support them in their efforts to extract the best possible result on the day.