16/04/2008
NEWS STORY
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Renault's Fernando Alonso was quickest on the third day of testing at Barcelona, however, it was Toro Rosso's Sebastien Bourdais who attracted all the attention having wrecked the new STR3 just hours after its unveiling.
After a grey morning at the Circuit de Catalunya, the sun burnt through the clouds in the afternoon but it remained cool. Rain is forecast for tomorrow.
Fernando Alonso remained in the car for his second day of running this week and completed a programme of set-up work before taking the opportunity to sample slick tyres just before lunch. The Spaniard immediately set the fastest time which remained unbeaten until the conclusion of the session.
Nelson Piquet returns to the cockpit tomorrow for the final day of testing, the Brazilian looking to build on the work he did with the team earlier in the week, although rain showers are expected to disrupt the final day.
"The day has been good and I was happy with the developments to the car," said Alonso. "But we still need to keep improving because it seems that our competitors have also improved and so it is still difficult to say how we really compare with them. We have to wait until next week to get a full picture of where we stand. It was fun to try the slick tyres, which gave very good grip."
"We did some set-up work in the morning as part of our preparation for the Grand Prix and took a look at the slick tyres just before lunch," added Christian Silk. "Overall we are happy with the way the test is developing, although the weather forecast for tomorrow is not very good, but we have had three good days and completed most of what we wanted to achieve."
Second quickest was seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, who took over from Felipe Massa for Ferrari. The German's programme centred on trying various different types of Bridgestone tyre aimed at 2009, using an F2008 modified to try and reproduce the levels of aerodynamic downforce expected next season.
World Championship leader Kimi Raikkonen takes over tomorrow for the final day of testing.
Force India's Adrian Sutil was third quickest, the Italian taking over from Giancarlo Fisichella who was second quickest on Tuesday. The German's best lap, a 1:19.424, was set on slick tyres with 2008 aero, and was just 0.101s slower than the time set by Schumacher. As with Liuzzi and Fisichella on the previous two days, Sutil ran with 2008 tyres and aero configuration in the morning to test settings for next week's Grand Prix, and also tried 'slick' tyres in preparation for their reintroduction next season.
The test team will now return to the factory in Silverstone to integrate this week's findings into race team preparations for the Spanish Grand Prix.
"I was quite happy with today," said Sutil. "We did a lot of running, which wasn't bad considering the small problem we had in the morning, and the car has improved a lot since the last time we were here in February. I think it looks good for the race. I also tried out slicks, which was my first time this year, and was really impressed. The grip is just amazing, especially in the last sector, but it is also very physical on your neck muscles. I'm looking forward to it already!"
"A useful day to finish what has been a very productive test," added Mike Gascoyne. "We had a minor clutch problem in the morning that caused a small delay in running, but we nevertheless completed the day's programme. Adrian tested the 2008 configuration in the morning in preparation for next week's race and also ran on a couple of sets of 2009 tyres. Overall, the test has been very useful, we've finished our scheduled work and we look in good shape for the Grand Prix."
For BMW, Robert Kubica's work concentrated on two different areas. The first one included testing of different setups and aerodynamical solutions in preparation for the forthcoming Grand Prix. The second part consisted of early base work for the 2009 World Championship. To collect vital data for the development of next year's car the team used the 2009 slick tyres for the first time this week.
With one hour remaining, the Pole went off at Turn 5 due to a technical problem. The collision with the tyre barrier caused some damage to the front suspension and front wing of the car. The reason for the technical problem will be analyzed by the team's engineers.
Nico Rosberg continued for Williams, the German finishing fifth quickest having completed 65 laps. "Today Nico worked with the standard 2008 race tyre and carried out set-up preparations for the Grand Prix here next week," said Test Team Manager Dickie Stanford. "A minor mechanical problem hindered progress this morning, but the issue was quickly resolved and we had a productive session in the afternoon. Kazuki Nakajima will take over for the last day of running tomorrow, during which we will continue set-up work for the race."
Busiest driver today was Rubens Barrichello who completed 140 laps of the Circuit de Catalunya. The Brackley outfit's programme saw the Brazilian continuing the aerodynamic and set-up evaluations he began yesterday in preparation for the Grand Prix. He spent the morning working on the new aero developments before completing a tyre evaluation in the afternoon using the 2009 specification slick tyres.
With the full test programme successfully completed, Rubens' final lap tally for the day was an impressive 140 laps around the demanding Barcelona circuit.
Jenson Button will join the team in Barcelona tomorrow for the fourth and final day of the test.
The focus of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test team remained on the proving process of the pre-Spain upgrade package. Aerodynamic work ran alongside set-up programmes for the race next week.
Of the four drivers who ran only on 2008-spec tyres, Lewis Hamilton was quickest, albeit over 2s off Fernando Alonso's pace. The focus for McLaren today remained on the proving process of the pre-Spain upgrade package. Aerodynamic work ran alongside set-up programmes for next week's race.
It was a day of mixed emotions fro Toro Rosso. Just hours after unveiling its 2008 car, scheduled to make its race debut at Istanbul, Sebastien Bourdais had wrecked it, and it will not be repaired in time for the final day of testing tomorrow.
Up until this afternoon's crash, Bourdais had completed 71 laps, with a quickest time of 1:20.715. Speaking during the lunch break - before the accident - the Frenchman said: "The baseline is quiet good and I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised. However, the track conditions might be extremely good so I need to be careful with everything I say but so far the car has had no problems at all, which is a very encouraging point. The feeling is good and I felt comfortable in the car straight away. From a driving point of view you can feel it has more downforce than the current one and it's a big step forward on the aero package."
Prior to today's test, the STR3 underwent its first aero test in the hands of Red Bull Young Driver Brandon Hartley at Vairano in late March, when the New Zealander covered 983 km.
Red Bull's focus was on the forthcoming races today, with no slick tyre testing on the agenda as Mark Webber stepped into the cockpit occupied by David Coulthard for the past two days.
Because of a threat of rain for the final day tomorrow, the team slightly modified its track programme, which all went off without any problems. While assessing the prime and option tyres that will be available to him in two weekends time, the Australian also evaluated some new aerodynamic components.
Jarno Trulli took over at Toyota as the team amended its programme to make the most of the dry track ahead of tomorrow's predicted rain showers. The Italian spent most of the day working on the TF108's new aerodynamic parts along with set-up for next week's Grand Prix. He also carried out work on dampers and suspension, interrupted only by a gearbox control issue before lunch.
"We started very well this morning and we were producing some very good lap times," said Trulli. "Then unfortunately we had a problem late in the morning and we had to stop for a while, so that made it a harder day for us. When we went back out after lunch the track was very windy and dusty so it was hard to make real comparisons with the data. Still, I'm not concerned because our car set-up is good. By the time we get here next week for the race the track conditions will be completely different."
"That was a more difficult day of testing for us," admitted Test Team Manager, Gerd Pfeiffer. "We had hoped to fit in a full programme because we are expecting rain at the circuit tomorrow. In the end we lost some running time around lunch after we suffered a gearbox control issue. Then we hit a couple of red lights on new tyre runs in the afternoon. Still, we made the best of the mileage that we were able to get through. Jarno looked at different set-ups for the grand prix - even if the wind was gusting and track conditions are likely to change by then. He also did some work on aerodynamics, dampers and suspension so we collected some helpful data."