Renault F1 - Jerez Testing, Day 2

Fernando Alonso, R28-05, 106 laps, 469 km, fastest lap 1:19.907

The ING Renault F1 Team remained in Jerez today to continue with its final test of the 2008 season as Fernando Alonso returned to the cockpit of the R28 for the first time since the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix. Despite a chilly start to the day, the team made the most of a warm and sunny afternoon to continue with its technical programme and add further miles to the car. Fernando also sampled slick tyres with a car set up to best simulate 2009 settings. Despite a brief interruption to the programme in the morning, the team completed its objectives for the day. The team now looks forward to the final day of work tomorrow when Fernando will again be on driving duty.

Fernando Alonso: “It was a good day and I’m happy to be back in the car. Unfortunately I damaged the car a little bit in the morning and so we lost some running, but the team did a good job to repair the car quickly and I was able to run almost all of the afternoon without any problems. It was nice to run on the slick tyres as they are more grippy, but when you lose the downforce from the car they don’t feel massively different to grooved tyres.”

Christian Silk, Chief Test Engineer: “It’s good for Fernando to be back in the car and to get some experience on the 2009 tyres. Fernando learnt a lot about the tyres and the engineers learnt a lot from his feedback and setting the car up with him. On the technical side we continued with a similar programme to yesterday, putting mileage on the car and managed to achieve the main objectives for the day.”

BMW Sauber F1 Team - Test in Jerez - Day two

Weather conditions: Chilly in the morning, but sunny all day.
Temperature: Air: 7 – 15 °C, Track: 9 – 20 °C
Number of drivers participating: 9 from 6 teams
Fastest lap overall: Sébastien Buemi (Scuderia Toro Rosso) 1:18.073 min
Circuit length: 4.428 km

Nick Heidfeld
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.08B-03 / BMW 86/9
Test kilometres today: 386 km (87 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:20.365 min

Robert Kubica
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.08B-06 / BMW 86/9 KERS
Test kilometres today: 169 km (38 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:20.954 min

Programme:
Again the BMW Sauber F1 Team ran two interim cars featuring a modified 2008 chassis, with some bodywork complying to the 2009 regulations. Robert Kubica drove the car fitted with KERS for the first time. His day came to a premature end when his car stopped halfway through testing with a mechanical problem. Because of this, the chassis was slightly damaged and the necessary repairs took up the rest of the day.

Nick Heidfeld concentrated on development work on the F1.08B-03 fitted with the conventional engine. He worked on the set-up of the car, collecting more data on the slick tyres as well as the revised bodywork. “It was a productive day”, Heidfeld said. “With the weather being much better, we were able to catch up on some of the development time we lost yesterday. My 87 laps today with a problem free car gave us the opportunity to try a number of different options.”

What comes next:
Tomorrow for the final and third day of the Jerez test the BMW Sauber F1 Team will continue the development work for the 2009 season.

FIA and FOTA Meeting

FIA and FOTA have had the most successful meeting on Formula One matters which any of the participants can remember.

Agreement was reached on measures to meet all the objectives originally put forward by the FIA for 2010 and thereafter in addition to which FOTA have now made proposals for very significant cost saving in 2009 while maintaining Formula One at the pinnacle of motor sport and reinforcing its appeal.

These proposals will be put to the FIA World Motor Sport Council on Friday following which full details will be released.

FIA President Max Mosley said,

“I am delighted with the outcome of this meeting.”

FOTA President Luca di Montezemolo said,

“The unity of the teams was fundamental to meeting the goals for a new Formula One, but with the same DNA, as requested by the FIA.”

Renault F1 - Jerez Testing, Day 1

The ING Renault F1 Team began its final testing session of the year today as Nelson Piquet spent the day behind the wheel of the R28 in Jerez in the south of Spain. Cool and overcast conditions greeted the team this morning with several light rain showers interrupting the team’s programme during the day. However, the team made the most of the dry conditions in the morning to continue its evaluation of the slick Bridgestone tyres while simulating a 2009 car set-up. The team was also able to put some mileage on the engine in preparation for the three race engine rule that will come into force next season. In all, the young Brazilian clocked up a total of 124 laps to round off a positive first day for the team. Nelson will hand the R28 over to Fernando Alonso for the remaining couple of days as the Spaniard returns to
the cockpit for the first time since the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Nelson Piquet: “It has been a good day, I did lots of laps and we completed what we needed to in terms of putting mileage on the car, despite the rain showers. The cool conditions meant that the track conditions were quite cool throughout the day, but the grip was good, which has given us some more valuable data about the tyres.”

Christian Silk, Chief Test Engineer: “It’s been a positive first day here in Jerez. Nelson did a good job completing a lot of laps and so we’ve been able to achieve the main targets for the day, which is always encouraging. The conditions were quite cold today and the weather was quite changeable which meant we had to keep adapting out programme, but overall we can be happy with our day’s work.”

BMW Sauber F1 Team - Test in Jerez - Day one

Weather conditions: Heavy fog in the morning, some rain in the afternoon.
Temperature: Air: 9 – 16 °C, Track: 11 – 15 °C
Number of drivers participating: 9 from 6 teams
Fastest lap overall: Sébastien Buemi (Scuderia Toro Rosso) 1:18.742 min
Circuit length: 4.428 km

Nick Heidfeld
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.08B-03 / BMW 86/9
Test kilometres today: 217 km (49 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:20.678 min

Christian Klien
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.08B-06 / BMW 86/9 KERS
Test kilometres today: 67 km (15 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:22.098 min

Programme:
Due to heavy fog early in the morning, the BMW Sauber F1 Team did not start today’s testing until around 11.00 hrs. Nick Heidfeld and Christian Klien ran two F1.08B interim cars featuring a modified 2008 chassis with some of the bodywork complying to the 2009 regulations. Only Klien’s car was fitted with BMW’s own KERS device. His test schedule was curtailed by a precautionary engine change. The Austrian stopped off track when sensors indicated a mechanical problem.

Heidfeld today concentrated on setup work with the suspension as well as the new aero package. Although the session came to a premature end when it started to rain at around 15.00 hrs, he collected valuable data with the F1.08B running on 2009 slick tyres. “Based on the results of the last test in Barcelona we changed the mechanical setup of the car,” Heidfeld said. “It looks like we are moving in the right direction.”

What comes next:
The BMW Sauber F1 Team will continue testing in Jerez for two more days. Tomorrow Nick Heidfeld will again be at the wheel of the BMW Sauber F1.08B, along with Robert Kubica. On Thursday Robert Kubica and Christian Klien will be on duty.

Nick Craw Elected FIA Deputy President for Sport

Nick Craw, President of the Automobile Competition Committee for the US, has been elected as the new FIA Deputy President for Sport. At its annual meeting in Paris today, the FIA General Assembly, the supreme executive body of the FIA, voted unanimously for Craw’s election.

Craw has been involved in motor sport for over 30 years. As a driver, he raced touring cars as well as single-seat formula cars and was twice IMSA National Champion. Following a two-year stint as Director of the US Peace Corps in the early 1970s, he joined the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), the largest amateur motor sports club in the US.

Craw, who has an MBA from Harvard Business School, was President and CEO of SCCA for 17 years and was pivotal in organising Formula One races and sanctioning motor racing events throughout the US.

Through his role at the SCCA, Craw became a board member of ACCUS, which serves as the interface between the national racing bodies in the US and the FIA. He left the SCCA in 2001 to become Executive Director of US Sailing, the national governing body for sailing. But he always retained his strong links with motor sport and was elected as ACCUS President in 2005.

As well as serving as FIA Deputy President for Sport, Craw will continue to sit on the management committee for the FIA Motor Sport Safety Development Fund.

The FIA General Assembly, which consists of the presidents of each of the FIA’s member clubs and national organisations, also elected the following to fill vacated positions.

Vice President of the FIA for Sport

Mohammed Ben Sulayem ATCUAE (United Arab Emirates)

Member of World Motor Sport Council

Enrico Gelpi ACI (Italy)

Vice President of the FIA for Mobility and the Automobile

Jorge Rosales ACA (Argentina)

Member of World Council for Mobility and the Automobile

Karen Bryden AASA (South Africa)
Tim Shearman CAA (Canada)
Rudolph Zumbühl TCS (Switzerland)
Augusto Lagman AAP (Phillipines)

FIA Honorary Deputy President

Marco Piccinini ACM (Monaco)

President of the FIA Academy

Rosario Alessi ACI (Italy)

The FIA General Assembly unanimously approved the appointment of Carlos Barbosa, President of ACP (Portugal), as the FIA Representative to the European Commission for the interests of motor sport.

13-Jul-08: Sato Discusses His Future Plans

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Today is the 13^th July 2008, and you’re listening to F1 Minute.

Although his team had to leave the sport early, Takuma Sato is doing his best not to become an ex-F1 driver. The former Super Aguri star has said he’s looking at all opportunities that come his way and deciding which will be the best route back.

Talking to Autosport, he said that he doesn’t really want to do anything other than race. “That’s our main target, but we will consider a test driver seat if there is nothing else available. That’s something I would have to think about much later on if everything else was closed off. Until then I will wait and see.”

Sato also said that he’s had some interest from other single seater series, particularly from the US. Although he hasn’t flat out refused the offers, his main focus lies on getting back into Formula 1. He didn’t want to name names when it comes to who he is talking to within the paddock, saying it’s too soon for lineups to be decided for next year. I would have to argue and say that teams are constantly assessing their future drivers, as the recent Red Bull announcements show. Let me know what you think at F1Minute.com.

Thanks for listening, and I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.