2006 Brazilian Grand Prix - Preview
2006 BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX
INTERLAGOS
13 OCTOBER
PREVIEW
The final race of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship, Round 18 - the Brazilian Grand Prix, takes place next weekend at the Interlagos circuit in the city of Sao Paulo. A unique and exciting circuit, infamous for its bumps and occasionally torrid weather conditions, the race at Interlagos will bring to a close one of the most exciting Formula One seasons in recent years.
As well as being the home grand prix for the Honda Racing F1 Team's Rubens Barrichello, the weekend will also be particularly poignant for the team as it marks the final race for former team owner and title sponsor British American Tobacco after nine years of involvement in Formula One.
The Honda Racing F1 Team hopes to end the season on a high as it continues to close the gap to 3rd place in the Constructors' Championship with an impressive run of form that has seen a points finish in every race since the German Grand Prix. Not only that, but Jenson Button has scored the most points of any driver since his first victory in Hungary in August.
RUBENS BARRICHELLO "My home race in Brazil is very special to me and always gives me a little bit of extra motivation. I was born very close to Interlagos and whenever I dream about racing, it's always around this track. The first race that I saw there as a spectator was in 1980, when Rene Arnoux beat Elio de Angelis, and I've wanted to win it ever since. It is frustrating that I've never won at home, especially as I should have won in 2003, but there was a problem with the fuel. I had such a robust car that year, yet it decided to let me down in my home race!
"The track is physically very tough because it's left-handed and quite bumpy. Some people say it's easy, but that's not the case because you need to have a good compromise between the low and the high-speed corners. You can't concede straight-line speed for extra grip through the slow corners, otherwise you will be overtaken.
"Away from the track, there are many advantages to racing in my home city. I have my family around me and I can go home every night and sleep in my own bed - all of that is a huge plus. The race weekend itself always goes by so fast because it is really hectic but it's one of the most enjoyable weekends of the year for me."
JENSON BUTTON "It's great to be heading into the final race of the season with a run of solid points finishes under our belts. It really goes to show just how much progress we've made in the second half of the season. I know no one is thinking too much about 2007 yet but it's always important to end the season on a high note as it's a great motivator as the team prepares for next year's campaign.
"I think we can expect the same level of performance in Brazil that we have enjoyed in the past few races. The engine was looking strong in Japan and I think the car will be well suited to the track. It's a circuit I enjoy, and it can be tough because of its anti-clockwise layout and notoriously bumpy surface. It should be a great climax to the season."
GIL DE FERRAN Sporting Director "Interlagos is a challenging circuit because it is one of the few anti-clockwise tracks on the calendar. Furthermore, the circuit is notoriously bumpy, placing particular emphasis on mechanical set-up, however we expect that this should suit our car. Clearly our second half of the season has been much-improved and we have been competitive in most of the races. Jenson has delivered a fantastic string of results of late, and for Rubens, this promises to be an emotionally-charged weekend in front of his home crowd at a circuit where he has always performed well. The latest specification of Honda engine showed good performance last time out in Japan, so there is no reason why we should not be able to continue our current form next weekend and end the season on a high note."
Interlagos, Brazil Race Distance 71 laps Circuit Length 2.677 miles (4.309 kms)
The anti-clockwise Autodromo José Carlos Pace was built in a natural bowl that has gradually been absorbed by the sprawling city of São Paulo. The original track, first used in 1940, twisted around itself between two lakes hence the name Interlagos. The new shorter version misses out much of the old track but maintains the stand-out feature - a steep start line straight.
Also notable for its difficult corners and tight infield section, Interlagos is a very bumpy circuit, despite regular relaying of the racing surface. Chassis set-up therefore needs to ensure that the car rides well and has high levels of grip in the corners, with as little drag as possible so that straight-line speed remains high.
A lap of Interlagos with... Rubens Barrichello
"The Interlagos circuit is used anti-clockwise for the Brazilian Grand Prix making it physically demanding for the drivers as it tests muscle groups which are rarely used on the conventional clockwise circuits.
We aim for a nice clean exit out of the last corner to ensure maximum speed along the main pit straight. Next, hard braking down from 300km/h for the left-hand turn one, Descida do Sol, taken in second gear, being careful not to lock the inside front wheel on the very bumpy entry. We fall downhill with a quick change of direction into the right-hand turn two, the Senna S, which we take flat at 140km/h in third gear, and then into the long left-hand turn three, the Curva do Sol, where we build up speed to 290km/h as we exit onto the only other straight on the circuit, Reta Oposta.
This takes us down to Curva do Lago which is a demanding and tricky medium-speed left-hander taken in third gear at 150km/h and which leads into the tight infield section. Next, the double-apex right-hander, Curva do Laranjinha. This is taken at 200km/h and has been the downfall of many drivers over the years, so we're careful on braking over the harsh bumps, then precise to keep the right line for the exit toward the tight second-gear right-hander at 90km/h.
This next section is a slow, flowing right-left-right combination through Pinheirinho and Bico de Pato. Leaving this section, we accelerate hard through a fast left-hander Mergulho - the lowest point of the circuit - which is on the limit at 200km/h and made all the more exciting by the various bumps at its apex. Then we brake hard from 250km/h to 120km/h and down to second gear for the final corner, Junção, which leads us onto the long sweeping left-hand drag up the steep hill toward the finish line."
Honda in Brazil
· Honda currently has 4% automotive market share and 81% motorcycle market share in Brazil
· The strongest selling automotive models in Brazil are the Civic and Jazz, both of which are produced in Brazil
· The Sumare plant produces 70,000 automotive units per year and the Manuas motorcycle plant produces 1 million units per year
· By the end of 2007, the Sumare plant will have increased its production capacity to 100,000 units per year