FW: BMW WilliamsF1 Team - Canadian GP - Preview
Although the BMW WilliamsF1 Team was disappointed not to convert Juan Pablo
Montoya's pole position in Monaco, Ralf Schumacher provided the
BMW/WilliamsF1 partnership with their finish and points score in the
Principality. Historical precedent is with the team as they travel to
Canada, with Ralf's victory in Montreal in 2001 very much in mind. The
relative performance of WilliamsF1, McLaren and Ferrari in Canada is
closely run, with Ferrari and McLaren having recorded eight race wins
against WilliamsF1's tally of seven. After a week of intensive testing at
Silverstone this week, the BWM WilliamsF1 Team will be looking to redress
this balance.
Juan Pablo Montoya:
"Montreal is an interesting circuit, and its character is a bit like
Melbourne. The circuit is quite technical in the way you need to be very
precise where you put the car on the track, and to get best results, you
have got to be very gentle with the car, all of which makes it good fun.
Last year I raced there for the very first time and in spite of the result,
I quite liked it. We should look good for this year's race, thanks to the
BMW engine - which will be able to give his best on the Gilles Villeneuve
circuit - and probably also to the Michelin tyres, which behaved well there
already in 2001. I am looking forward to this race."
Ralf Schumacher:
"I am very happy to go racing in Canada. I had a good result there last
year and if it is possible, I would be obviously very pleased to repeat the
outcome. Due to the rain and many stops, the last test we had in
Silverstone wasn't really the best preparation, but still, it took us
forward a little bit. As the Monaco qualifying session has shown, we are
there at the top as well, even though we must admit that Ferrari made a big
step forward in the race. If we will manage to transfer our good qualifying
performance to the race, then we will have a very good chance of winning."
Sam Michael (Chief Operations Engineer, WilliamsF1):
"Montreal is a low to medium downforce circuit dominated by a lot of
traction and braking. A large demand is placed on aero efficiency, braking
performance, engine power and traction. Selecting your downforce level is a
critical choice for all the engineers throughout the weekend.
"Strategy can be varied here because of the overtaking opportunities, so it
should provide for an interesting race on Sunday. Michelin provided a good
tyre for Monaco and should do the same for Canada. We are going to the race
optimistic of a good performance having won there in 2001, but also being
mindful of how strong Ferrari and McLaren are this year."
Mario Theissen (Director, BMW Motorsport):
"We have fond memories of our strength in the Montreal race last year.
However, compared to 2001, the situation is now different as there was no
team dominating races like this year. But the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
should still suit us and we hope to compete with the fastest again.
"In Monaco we have been quite pleased with our performance, especially as
it was the first time we did so well on a narrow and windy circuit. Of
course the engine failure on Juan Pablo's car hampered the result, but now
we know why it happened. An engine backfire had caused a fire inside the
airbox."
- The Canadian Grand Prix gets underway at 1300hrs local, 1800hrs GMT
for 70 laps of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The anticipated pole time in
Canada is expected to be approximately 1.2s quicker than Michael
Schumacherís 1.15.78s 2001 pole lap around the 4.361km circuit, although
the track has undergone some minor modifications since last year. Ralf
Schumacher holds the lap record at 1.17.205.
Ralf Schumacher #5 Juan Pablo Montoya #6
DOB: 30/06/75 - H¸rth (DEU) 20/09/75 - Bogota (COL)
Nationality: German Colombian
Residence: Salzburg (AUT) Monte Carlo (MCO)
Marital status: Married to Cora, one son (David) Engaged to Connie
Freydell
Height: 1.78 m 1.68 m
Weight: 73 kg 72 kg
F1 debut: 1997, Melbourne 2001, Melbourne
Poles: 1 5
Wins: 4 1
Points (total): 162 58
Points 2002: 27 27
Fastest laps: 6 5
2002 Qualifying Race Qualifying Race
GP Australia 3rd accident 6th 2nd
GP Malaysia 4th 1st 2nd 2nd
GP Brazil 3rd 2nd 1st 5th
GP San Marino 3rd 3rd 4th 4th
GP Spain 3rd 11th 4th 2nd
GP Austria 2nd 4th 4th 3rd
GP Monaco 4th 3rd 1st Dnf
Notes: The BMW WilliamsF1 Team media briefings will be hosted at
12.00-12.30pm with Ralf Schumacher on Thursday 6th June 2002.
