Pre-2007 Season Testing

Ed · Post by Ed » Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:09 pm

There are a number of tests scheduled.

McLaren will be presenting their new car from the 14th at Valencia.

There is also a test scheduled at Jerez from the 16th of this month.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:35 pm

F1greyhound wrote:so when are the next tests before Melbourne?

Thanks for info

Sob.........15th.......sigh

Ed · Post by Ed » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:05 pm

2 test sessions have been announced in Bahrain prior to the season opener in Melbourne. Many of the Formula 1 teams are expected to take part. The tests will run from the 22nd to the 24th of February and from the 27th of February to the 1st of March.

The season starts on the 18th of March in Melbourne.

While not pre-season but testing related, a test session has been confirmed at Sepang to fill in the big gap between the first 2 races of the season. The test session is scheduled for the 27th to 29th of March while the Malaysian Grand Prix will be held on the 8th of April.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:46 pm

Fisi was only a tad faster than "Nackers"

jacfan · Post by **jacfan** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 3:56 pm

Probably..... pre testing can do that to you.... back on topic.

Ed · Post by Ed » Wed Jan 17, 2007 6:28 pm

Testing at both Jerez and Valencia commenced on Tuesday.

Renault shook down their new car with Fisichella driving. The new car ran for 32 laps before running into trouble.

The team will have 2 new cars for testing on Wednesday with Fisichella and Kovalainen driving.

The Williams team were also testing. Test driver Kazuki Nakajima completed 86 laps.

While there were no official times, unofficial times were in the mid 1:20's.

The best time at Jerez by Renault in the old car but with Bridgestone tyres was a 1:19.685.

We should see more competitive times on Wednesday.

BMW Sauber will be testing their car at Valencia on Wednesday. McLaren are also scheduled to shakedown their car on Wednesday at Valencia.

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:35 pm

Ed wrote: The best time at Jerez by Renault in the old car but with Bridgestone tyres was a 1:19.685.

You mean Michelin? Or the car from last season running on Bridgestones?

Ed · Post by Ed » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:33 pm

I am referring to the tests at Jerez last December when the Michelin runners ran the 2006 cars with the '07 spec Bridgestone.

You can't really compare these times with the times set on last year tyres, they were around 3 seconds quicker at Jerez!

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:41 pm

Ed wrote:I am referring to the tests at Jerez last December when the Michelin runners ran the 2006 cars with the '07 spec Bridgestone.

You can't really compare these times with the times set on last year tyres, they were around 3 seconds quicker at Jerez!

Makes sense. I just wanted to make sure I understood right. Thanks Ed.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 10:20 am

Davo, in the SA is not far off the pace

Ed · Post by Ed » Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:32 pm

Testing continued at Jerez and Valencia.

At Jerez, 3 teams were present with Renault becoming the first team to test 2 2007 specification cars. Super Aguri and Williams were also present.

Fisichella set the fastest time ahead of Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima. Kovalainen in the 2nd Renault was 4th.

According to the unofficial times, all 4 set times in the 1:20's

Fisichella completed 115 laps on the new car including a race distance. Impressive given that this is just the 2nd day for the new car.

Fisichella said:

This is a brand new car, so to complete a full race distance on the first proper day of running, without any problems, is a very good achievement. It means that we are already in a strong position with reliability, although there is still a lot of work to do ahead of the first race. The track conditions were still not good today, but the situation is improving a little. It didn't matter so much today because we were focusing on reliability work, but tomorrow we will start to make some set-up changes.

Kovalainen who drove the R27 for the first time said:

This was my first day in the car, so we didn't complete many laps today as we checked everything over and got comfortable. The first feeling this morning was very good, and also during the longer runs this afternoon. The characteristics are similar to the R26, but I can feel that we have improved in the areas we had targeted during the winter.

At Valencia Fernando Alonso shookdown the MP4-22 while Nick Heidfeld completed the first full day of testing for the F1.07. Robert Kubica was also present testing with a F1.06B.

Fernando Alonso set the fastest time of the day with a 1:12.053 ahead of Kubica with a 1:12.169 and Heidfeld with a 1:12.571. (times according to the Valencia circuit)

The session was stopped twice, first when the McLaren had smoke coming out of the car which the team identified as a minor oil leak and the new BMW stopped on the track with a minor problem.

Fernando Alonso said:

I am very happy after today's shakedown in the MP4-22. We achieved our principle objectives, with regards how the car felt to drive. I am familiar with the MP4-21 as I tested it for one day last year, so there were no great surprises. It has the same philosophy, which is good as I felt comfortable in this car. Working with the team so far has been really positive and I feel that the atmosphere is really enthusiastic. Everyone is really focused on preparing the car for the first race and we are approaching the start of the new season in a good way.

Willy Rampf said:

One day after the launch this was a very productive day of testing in Valencia with the new BMW Sauber F1.07. We almost completed our system checks. Beside this Nick started with some set-up work. This had a good impact on the handling of the car. We are happy so far.

jacfan · Post by **jacfan** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:38 pm

Thanks for keeping us all informed Ed. You do a great job.

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:30 am

Julian Mayo wrote:Davo, in the SA is not far off the pace

I have confidence in Ant

Ed · Post by Ed » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:15 pm

3rd day of testing at Jerez saw Anthony Davidson setting the fastest time of the day in the interim Super Aguri. He set a 1:19.628. Fisichella in the R27 was second with a 1:19.754 with Nico Rosberg in the 06 Williams with a 1:20.049. Kovalainen was 4th fastest.

Both Renault cars suffered from problems with Kovalainen only starting his programme in the afternoon due to electrical problems.

(times according to each team)

At Valencia, BMW Sauber were alone at the track. Kubica tested the F1.07 and set a fastest time of 1:12.310 while Vettel in the F1.06B set a time of 1:13.490

Testing continues at both tracks tomorrow.

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:49 pm

Ed wrote:3rd day of testing at Jerez saw Anthony Davidson setting the fastest time of the day in the interim Super Aguri. He set a 1:19.628. Fisichella in the R27 was second with a 1:19.754 with Nico Rosberg in the 06 Williams with a 1:20.049. Kovalainen was 4th fastest.

Both Renault cars suffered from problems with Kovalainen only starting his programme in the afternoon due to electrical problems.

(times according to each team)

At Valencia, BMW Sauber were alone at the track. Kubica tested the F1.07 and set a fastest time of 1:12.310 while Vettel in the F1.06B set a time of 1:13.490

Testing continues at both tracks tomorrow.

Imagine Davidson winning a race

How that'd upset the predictions