BMW WilliamsF1 Team-Valencia test summary
Valencia Test: 25th 28th November 2003 Summary: After the lifting of the test ban which has been in place since the end of September, winter testing got underway in earnest in Valencia for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team this week. Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher & Marc Gené shared testing duties with three chassis running for three days, followed by Marc Gené conducting a day of wet tyre testing on Friday. The test team ran in excess of 2,500km of evaluation work, aimed mainly at bringing components on stream for the January 5th, 2004 launch of the WilliamsF1 BMW FW26. Both the new BMW P84 engine and transmission were thoroughly trialed over long run simulations, and other valuable work including tyre testing and practice starts to account for new regulations, were undertaken. Next week the test team switches its attentions to Jerez, where it will be testing on the 2nd 4th of Decemeber inclusive. Ralf Schumacher and Marc Gené will spearhead the test, but they will be joined by Nelson Piquet Jnr and Nico Rosberg, both of whom will be undergoing evaluation tests with the team. The test team stays in Jerzez into mid-December, and on December 11, Ho-Pin Tung will also undergo an evaluation test, making history as the first Chinese national to ever test a Formula One car. The significance of this test drive, a prize for an outstanding achievements in winning the 2003 Formula BMW Asia Championship, is heightened by the anticipation surrounding the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai in 2004. Sam Michael (Chief Operations Engineer, WilliamsF1): "We started our winter testing program in Valencia with all three drivers. Marc was driving the 25B with the new engine and gearbox. He spent the test doing systems checks and reliability running. The majority of the components performed well and we will continue with mileage on these parts through the next few tests. "Ralf and Juan spent the test working on electronics, traction control, suspension set ups and tyre testing for Michelin. Manual starts and gear shifting were high on the test list as well given that they cannot be automatic in 2004. It took the drivers some time to get used to it again and now they are making progress." Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): "The Valencia test provided perfect operating conditions to run three cars. The focus for the test was set-up and tyres, and a range of engine related tests supported by BMW. These included manual starts and the further development of traction control. The test provided useful engine data from the new BMW P84 and the information the test has provided has proved very useful." Valencia daily best times - Best lap time of the day in bold - Number of laps completed Driver / Car Tyre 25.11.03 26.11.03 27.11.03 28.11.03 (Wet Test) D Coulthard McLaren Mercedes M 1.12.035 9/47 1.11.075 22/59 1.10.021 51 - JP Montoya BMW WilliamsF1 Team M 1.10.081 55/69 1.10.349 30/66 1.10.218 57 - R Schumacher BMW WilliamsF1 Team M 1.10.718 27/37 1.10.321 57/81 1.10.601 70 - J Trulli Renault M 1.11.950 85/89 1.10.418 8/66 1.10.419 109 - A Wurz McLaren Mercedes M 1.11.229 50/53 1.10.759 8/93 1.11.252 95 1.30.465 75/92 M Gené BMW WilliamsF1 Team M 1.11.224 27/57 1.11.741 6/20 1.11.013 88 1.30.661 60/100 F Montagny Renault M 1.11.823 19/84 1.11.205 64/68 1.11.035 115 1.30.585 56/93 M Webber Jaguar Cosworth M 1.11.876 34/37 1.11.262 90/104 1.12.133 79 - R Briscoe Toyota M 1.12.660 60/71 1.11.999 59/68 1.11.562 107 1.31.143 50/91 J Wilson Jaguar Cosworth M - - 1.11.866 124 - C Klien Jaguar Cosworth M 1.11.955 81/84 1.11.934 52/86 - - T Bell Jaguar Cosworth M 1.12.330 57/63 - - -