BMW WilliamsF1 Team Launches its 2004 Campaign

BMW WilliamsF1 Team Launches Its 2004 Campaign

Radical new FW26 takes to the track in Valencia


Valencia, January 5, 2004. The BMW WilliamsF1 Team unveiled its 2004 race
car, the WilliamsF1 BMW FW26, at the Valencia circuit today. After a
ceremonial presentation for assembled press, the inaugural laps will be
completed by team drivers Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya later this
afternoon.

"I have tested some of the new elements of the FW26," commented Schumacher,
"And individually, they all have been a real step forward, whether the
engine, the new gearbox, or all the other smaller but none the less
significant components. So I am really fascinated to see how all of this
works together, and it would be fair to say that my expectations are very
high."

Schumacherıs enthusiasm was matched by his team-mate, Juan Pablo Montoya.
"We had a great deal of anticipation about last yearıs car, and it turned
out to be justified anticipation. This season, there is an even greater
degree of expectation about the potential of this car, and the great advance
the team has made is to bring the whole validation process forward by a
significant amount. I hope the car will be quick from the off, but now we
have the benefit of a clear two month test programme in Spain before the
first race."

No sooner than the FW26 had been unveiled than the commentary about its
radical treatment of the front design profile began. The FW26ıs Chief
Designer, Gavin Fisher commented, "It will be immediately evident to
onlookers that a high degree of innovative design has gone into the FW26."

The FW26 features a distinctively short nose cone, with the front wing main
plane and associated assemblies mounted on extended Œtusksı. The startling
interpretation of the front profile has been conceived in tandem with a twin
keel monocoque design, aiding air flow both under and over the front
geometries of the car, and improving global aerodynamics right through to
the rear wing of the FW26. The front profiles of the car are augmented by a
narrower sidepod footprint, enabled by revised cooling packaging, all
assisting aerodynamic performance.

The aerodynamics have been conceived under the supervision of the Chief
Aerodynamicist, Antonia Terzi, working in tandem with the Chief Designer and
WilliamsF1ıs structural design specialists to meet and exceed stringent
structural requirements demanded by the new chassis concept, as well as the
FIAıs crash test demands.

Prior to the car conducting its inaugural laps at the Valencia circuit,
Fisher commented, "There has been a great deal of anticipation on our part
about this new car. It has challenged us throughout its development and
there is certainly a sense that today is a more significant launch day than
in previous years."

Sam Michael, the teamıs Chief Operations Engineer explained the decision to
launch the FW26 early in 2004. "In 2003 it became evident that we suffered
performance-wise as a consequence of launching our car relatively late on in
the winter. Refining the car took some time, and as a consequence of this
(as well as other factors), we didnıt win a race until Monaco, seven races
into the year. The reason we are here unveiling the FW26 in order to bring
our test programme forward really doesnıt need any more explaining," he
said.

As well as visually marking a step change in aerodynamic treatment, the
WilliamsF1 BMW FW26 also benefits from a complete sweep of new major sub
assembly designs. At the heart of these changes is the all-new BMW P84
powerplant allied with a new gearbox and differential.

BMW in Munich completed a rigorous design and validation process to comply
with the new FIA regulations that have effectively doubled an engineıs
lifespan to 800km. Implicitly, these new regulations would normally mean an
increase in weight and packaging size, but BMWıs engineers have worked
energetically to ensure the most competitive solutions. "If an engine has to
have a longer service life, especially the components that are highly
challenged, mechanically and thermally, must be designed to be tougher.
Bigger and heavier engines compromise power. Minimising these losses while
still guaranteeing the increased endurance are the goals we have worked
towards," explains BMW Director of Motorsport, Mario Theissen.

The BMW WilliamsF1 Teamıs sponsors have also played a critical role in the
development of the FW26, not least Michelin in the perennial tyre
development campaign, but also HP in the provision of a world-class hardware
platform consisting of a cluster of Proliant DL360 servers which has played
a major role in the predictive aerodynamic process to develop the radical
geometries of the new car.

Petrobras too has worked hard to develop a new fuel for the 2004 season with
properties to improve performance, reduce fuel consumption and, importantly,
a new blend featuring specific additives to assist the engine to cope with
the new regulations. Conceived and tested in Petrobrası s Cenpes Research
Facility and produced in the companyıs Brazilian refineries, the new fuel
will begin track testing during the P84ıs winter test period.

Following the FW26ıs launch, a major test programme with the new chassis
will commence on Wednesday January 7th in Jerez until January 13th. The BMW
WilliamsF1 Team Principal, Frank Williams said, "Our ambition can be nothing
other than winning most races, steal Ferrariıs crown and add another
Championship title to the record. Having any less ambition at the start of
the year would be wrong."

A quote sheet containing post-test comments from the drivers and other team
members will be issued at 1630 CET.

Photographs of the FW26 are available at www.press.bmw.com