26/03/2005
NEWS STORY
The Lucky Strike BAR Honda team moved its focus to the test track this week as the team completed a two-car test at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson flew back from Malaysia to participate in the important test and were also joined by test driver Enrique Bernoldi. The team's main objectives were an intensive tyre evaluation for Michelin, alongside an aerodynamic programme and the running of the latest specification engines from Honda.
Anthony and Enrique began the test on Wednesday driving chassis 007-01 and the Concept car respectively. Both drivers began with some early set-up work to find a good balance before Anthony spent the remainder of the day completing a series of intensive aerodynamic evaluations. His final lap tally was 167 laps, setting the fastest time of the day - a 01:04.17. Enrique ran through a tyre programme, evaluating options for the forthcoming races. He completed a very impressive 176 laps in total.
Jenson joined the team on Thursday taking over from Anthony in chassis 007-01. He completed three short familiarisation runs before a heavy rain downpour halted the planned dry programme. Anthony completed 17 laps of a tyre evaluation in the Concept car before his running was also interrupted. The circuit dried out in the afternoon allowing Jenson to complete a short run on shallow wet tyres before moving onto an aerodynamic programme alongside engine development work. His final lap tally of the day was 74 laps. Anthony continued his tyre evaluation to complete a total of 44 laps.
Further overnight rain meant a damp start to the final day of the test today and given the 30 day test limit which the team have agreed to this season, it was decided not to run in the unfavourable conditions.
Jenson Button: "We tested a few new aerodynamic parts at the test this week with positive results, however I was unable to carry out any of our planned tyre testing due to the bad weather; it kept raining off and on and this interrupted our programme."
Anthony Davidson: "We were troubled by the weather a bit this week but I did have a very good day on Wednesday when both Enrique and I covered a lot of laps. I focused mainly on aerodynamic testing and was pleased with the positive results which we saw."
Enrique Bernoldi: "I had a good day at Paul Ricard on my first visit to the track on Wednesday. We completed the full day's test schedule, covering 176 laps and looking at tyres for the next races. The car felt good and I am happy to have helped the team collect so much data."
Andrew Alsworth, Test Team Manager: "We've had mixed fortunes at Paul Ricard this week. The first day was the most productive for the team with both drivers completing their full test programme. Jenson joined the test for the second day and although the wet track conditions limited our running, we did manage to gather some useful data. Overnight rain meant a damp track this morning for the start of the final day, and with the 30 day test limit in mind, we decided to save a day's running. The cars will now be prepared for the next test in Barcelona in two weeks time."
Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development: "We're confident that there won't be a repeat of the engine problems that we had in Malaysia after these two days of testing in Paul Ricard."