24/02/2005
NEWS STORY
Lucky Strike BAR Honda concluded its pre-season testing programme in Valencia today, bringing to a close six weeks of intensive preparation since the launch of the BAR Honda 007 car in January. The team has covered some 9000 kms in the new car since then, focusing its efforts on tyre and aerodynamic evaluations, alongside running the new Honda engine.
The first day of this week's one-car test got underway on Tuesday with Takuma driving. He ran through an aerodynamic evaluation and a short tyre programme completing a total of 82 laps. Jenson joined the test on Wednesday, however conditions at the circuit were too wet and cold to allow any productive testing. The weather improved slightly on Thursday and Jenson ran through an aerodynamic evaluation to complete 92 laps and set the fastest time of the day, despite the changeable conditions,
The focus of the team now moves to the season-opening race in Melbourne where the results of this intensive period of preparation will be put to the test as the 007 car takes to the track in race weekend conditions for the first time.
Jenson Button: "It's been a difficult test this week because of the weather which has been very cold and drizzly. We did not do any running yesterday as we felt it was too cold to get meaningful results. Today was a big improvement and we covered 92 laps doing some very useful wet testing. We got good data from key evaluations which we needed to complete before the first race next weekend. It was a positive end to our pre-season preparations and we're all looking forward to getting to Melbourne."
Takuma Sato: "I had a final day of running in the 007 car this week which went well. It has been a very intensive testing programme over the winter and overall the progress that we have made is good. Of course you never really know the car's true performance levels until the first race so it will be good to go to Melbourne and get our challenge started."
Andrew Alsworth, Test Team Manager: "Our final pre-season test this week has been affected by the adverse weather conditions which have limited our planned programme, however we have now finalised the car specification for Melbourne. The new regulations for 2005 have meant a considerable change to our usual testing programme. This year we have concentrated our efforts on understanding the car over longer runs, covering some 21000 kilometres over the past four months with the Concept car and the new 007 car. All credit should be given to the whole team for their efforts and constant support over this intensive period. We are all now looking forward to the first race in Australia where we will be able to gauge the true performance of the 007 car against the competition."
Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development: "It was good to finish on top of the timesheets on the final day of testing, and we're looking forward to seeing how competitive we really are at the first race next weekend."