Hungarian GP preview - BMW WilliamsF1
Team
Hungarian Grand Prix - 17/18/19-08-01- PREVIEW
The BMW WilliamsF1 Team heads to Hungary for the Grand Prix on the 19th
August with three victories, two pole positions and five fastest laps from
the first 12 races. However, the team is aware this race will present it with
a difficult task, as the low-downforce Hungaroring track is almost equal to
Monaco in being tight, twisty and one where a good grid position is vital, as
overtaking opportunities are very rare. The Hungarian race has been one of
highs and lows for WilliamsF1. The team won the first race there in 1986 with
Nelson Piquet and has won seven of the 15 races. Meanwhile Nigel Mansell
clinched his World Championship there in 1992, but in 1987 started from pole,
led for 70 of the 76 laps and then lost a rear wheel in sight of the
chequered flag.
Ralf Schumacher
"It is a small, narrow circuit, but it is very challenging for the drivers as
there is one corner after another and no time to relax. As it is also usually
hot, it is a physically demanding race. It is a race where having a good car
is a deciding factor and if it is hot our tyres should work well. Budapest is
a beautiful city and it is a shame we don't have enough time over a race
weekend to enjoy the beauty of it."
Juan Pablo Montoya
"This is only my second visit to the Hungaroring. Last time in '98 I finished
third, but one of the things I remember most is the heat. Because of this you
get hot driving the car, as you are working all the time with no long
straights to really cool down. It is a tight, slow track but a very
challenging one and obviously one where a good qualifying position is
important. As for the city of Budapest, it is really different and has a
special charm - I like it a lot."
Sam Michael (Chief Operations Engineer)
"Hungaroring is a complete contrast to the last race in Hockenheim. It is
dominated by slow to medium speed corners, requiring maximum levels of
downforce and tyre grip. Mechanical set-ups are usually geared towards
maximizing slow speed grip and traction, but maintaining a good change in
direction for the high-speed chicanes. Michelin are taking two good tyre
options that we have had experience with. Degredation should not be a major
concern because the tyres do not see the high speed loading of other
circuits, but the effects of traction can be an issue. Qualifying well is as
important as Monaco, because overtaking here is extremely difficult, even if
you have a 2 or 3 second car advantage. This places top priority on the race
strategy for a good race result."
Gerhard Berger (BMW Motorsport Director)
"The Hungaroring is supposed to be the last venue this year with a circuit
layout that does not suit our package. The outcome there is the
more downforce you have, the better your lap times are. This means Budapest
is an extreme contrast to Hockenheim or Spa, where we will go with higher
expectations. Nevertheless it is our task to develop a package good enough to
score for points under every circumstance. This also includes finishing races
regularly with both cars. An improvement in reliability is our main target
for the season's final sprint. A decisive factor in Hungary will also be how
much of an advantage Bridgestone's experience will be compared to our tyre
partner Michelin's."
· The Hungarian Grand Prix is one of the youngsters on the World Championship
calendar, as this is only the 16th event there, with the first in 1986. The
only country to have held its first race more recently is Malaysia, with the
first one there in 1999. However, Hungary did run one race before the start
of the current World Championship, this being in a park on the edge of
Budapest in 1936 and it was won by Nuvolari in an Alfa Romeo. The circuit has
been changed several times over the years and shortened fractionally, but the
current one is 2.470 miles (3.975 km) long and the 77 lap race will be
190.227 miles (306.075 km) long. The race will start at 14.00 local time
(12.00 BST) on Sunday, 19th August. The lap record was set in 1992 by Nigel
Mansell in his WilliamsF1 with a time of 1m 18.308 (113.349mph/182.418km/h).
The fastest time in last years race was set by winner Mika Hakkinen in his
McLaren with a time of 1min 20.028s (111.108mph/178.812km/h).
Ralf Schumacher # 5 Juan Pablo Montoya # 6
Nationality German Colombian
Born 30 June 1975 20 Sept. 1975
Marital status engaged to Cora Brinkmann single
Lives Salzburg (Austria) Monte Carlo (MC), Oxford (UK)
Height 1,78 m 1,68 m
Weight 73 kg 72 kg
F1 debut 1997, Melbourne, Australia 2001, Melbourne, Australia
Best qualifying 1st: France 1st : 2001 Germany
Best GP fin. 1st: 2001 San Marino, Canada, Germany 2nd: 2001 Spain,
European
GP starts 78 12
Points 2001 41 15
Total points 127 15
Fastest laps 4 2
2001 FIA F1 Championship
Qualifying Race Qualifying Race
Australia 5th DNF 11th DNF
Malaysia 3rd 5th 6th DNF
Brazil 2nd DNF 4th DNF
San Marino 3rd 1st 7th DNF
Spain 5th DNF 12th 2nd
Austria 3rd DNF 2nd DNF
Monaco 5th DNF 7th DNF
Canada 2nd 1st 10th DNF
European 2nd 4th 3rd 2nd
France 1st 2nd 6th DNF
Great Britain 10th DNF 8th 4th
Germany 2nd 1st 1st DNF
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Sylvia Proudfoot
spur07@cs.com
403 287 3945