BMW WilliamsF1 Team - Malaysia Preview
Malaysian Grand Prix -- 21/22/23 March 2003 - PREVIEW
The BMW WilliamsF1 Team enjoyed a profitable start to the 2003 Formula One
season,
but in spite of a podium finish in Melbourne, the team is taking nothing for
granted after a
unpredictable Australian GP that was affected by the weather and the new
rule changes.
As the team moves on to Malaysia for the second leg of the early Asian
season, all
attention will turn to the expected extreme weather conditions. While the
team scored a
one-two victory at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur in 2002, last year's
ambient
temperatures of 330C and track temperatures of 390C, together with the
ever-present
threat of flooding tropical rain mean that the race can be something of a
lottery.
Juan Pablo Montoya:
"It is pretty difficult to say how we will perform in Malaysia. We might be
really good or we
might be tenth! The Barcelona circuit is the only fast track we tested on
over the winter
and we haven't been very quick there. On the other hand we have historically
always been
really quick in Malaysia. Sepang is a very smooth track and last year we had
our first and
only one-two finish there.
"I think the hot weather should suit our package and especially our tyres
and with the
improvements Michelin have made, I am not concerned about the rain. I had
some time
off this week in Australia with my wife and some friends, and I will be
flying out to
Malaysia on Monday, in time to fulfill some marketing commitments for a
sponsor."
Ralf Schumacher:
"Reflecting on the Australian Grand Prix Result, I am quite content with our
start to the
year. We showed that the car has potential but I have no doubt that we have
a lot of work
to do. We also have to see where Ferrari and McLaren are with their new
cars.
"I'm really looking forward to Malaysia. I love the country, I love the
track and even the
extreme weather conditions don't matter to me. I'm well prepared and I think
that this track will work perfectly with our tyres and our car. And of
course I have good memories of last year's race, and I hope I can repeat the
experience."
Patrick Head (WilliamsF1 Technical Director):
"We are returning to the venue of our last victory and 1-2 finish, which was
a strong
performance from Ralf and a colourful second position coming from Juan after
a first lap
accident with Michael. That performance was strongly supported by an
advantage from a
Michelin tyre, which we hope will be repeated this year. Meanwhile, we are
encouraged
by the last race performance of the FW25 and we have made further tests yet
we
appreciate that we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us.
"The Malaysian facility is a superb circuit. It is the most modern and best
grand prix that
we visit. It demonstrates a remarkable commitment and foresight from the
Malaysian
government to give its support and we always enjoy visiting Sepang."
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
"The season's opener was a nice surprise for us. Now the car has proven
competitiveness,
even though one has to consider that there were special circumstances. In
Malaysia the
weather conditions will play an important role. It will be hot, very humid
and one can
experience heavy tropical rain which can arrive quickly and completely
change the race
order. I think in Australia we looked better than we actually were, and it
would be a
success for us if we could maintain a front running position in Malaysia."
Facts and Figures
- Kuala Lumpur is the commercial, cultural and political focus of
Malaysia.
The city combines an elegant Colonial past, typified by 19th
century British
architecture with the 1,453 ft Petronas Towers, one of the highest
buildings of the world, reflecting the Asian tiger spirit of
modern Malaysia.
- Kuala Lumpur is situated midway along the west coast of the
Peninsular
Malaysia, at the confluence of the Klang and Gombek rivers. It is
approximately 35 km from the coast and sits at the centre of the
Peninsula's extensive and modern transport network. Kuala Lumpur
is the
largest city in the nation, with a population of over one and a
half million
people drawn from all of Malaysia's many ethnic groups.
- The Sepang circuit is hosting a Grand Prix for the fifth time in
its short
history. The purpose-built facility is located to the south of
Kuala Lumpur,
a 30-minute car drive from the city.
- In the heat of last year's Grand Prix weekend in Sepang, the BMW
WilliamsF1 Team and its guests consumed 3,200 litres of water and
soft
drinks in the paddock.
- As a purpose-built, modern facility, Sepang provides the visiting
Formula
One teams with more space for their operation than virtually any
other
circuit on the calendar. Only the new Nurburgring pit buildings
offer a
comparable 650m2
- The track length is 3.445 miles (5.543 km) and the race distance
will be
56 laps or 192.919 miles (310.408 km).
- The Grand Prix commences at 1500hrs local on Sunday, March 23 -
0700hrs
UTC, 0800hrs in Central Europe.
- At the 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix, the BMW WilliamsF1 Team
celebrated its first
one-two victory with Ralf Schumacher crossing the line ahead of
Juan Pablo
Montoya. In 2001, Ralf has finished in fifth position after Juan
Pablo had spun off
in very tricky conditions with sudden and heavy rain. In 2000, the
Malaysian
Grand Prix was the season's final race and Ralf Schumacher and
Jenson Button
retired due to technical failures
- Juan Pablo Montoya is holder of the current lap record - 1m38.049s
in 2002. Last
year's pole position was taken by Michael Schumacher in his
Ferrari (1m35.266).
- The tyre degradation is expected to be low to medium in Sepang.
The BMW
WilliamsF1 Team pit stop strategy last year was a single stop for
Ralf and two
stops for Juan.
Juan Pablo Montoya #3 Ralf
Schumacher #4
DOB 20/09/75 - Bogota (COL) 30/06/75 -
Hurth (DEU)
Nationality Colombian German
Residence Monte Carlo (MCO) Salzburg
(AUT)
Marital status Married to Connie Married to
Cora, one son
Height 1.68 m 1.78 m
Weight 72 kg 73 kg
F1 debut 2001, Melbourne 1997,
Melbourne
GP starts 35 101
Poles 10 1
Wins 1 (01 ITA) 4 (01 SMR,
CAN, DEU, 02
Points (total) 89 178
Points 2002 50 (3rd) 42 (4th)
Fastest laps 6 6
Paddock Media Briefings:
Thursday
14:00-14:30 JPM (TVs followed by print media)
14:30-15:00 RS (TVs followed by print media)
Friday
15:45 - 5 minutes after Qualifying is over: 5 minutes of TV interviews at
the back of the garage (both
drivers)
Saturday:
5 minutes after Qualifying is over: 5 minutes of TV interviews at the back
of the garage (both drivers)
16:45-17:15 RS (TVs followed by print media)
17:20-17:45 JPM (TVs followed by print media)
17:45-18:15 Frank Williams / Mario Theissen (print media only)
Sunday:
30 minutes after Race ends: Sam Michael available for media questions at the
back of the garage
(15 minutes)
