Test Times :28/11

[narain fan 0]

Barcelona awoke to the sound of F1 engines once more as the first major test of the winter kicked off this morning.

DTM Champion Gary Paffett, driving for McLaren all week, topped the times just ahead of usual Mclaren test-driver Alexander Wurz.

The only other runner today was Nick Heidfeld, back in action for BMW-Sauber after missing the latter part of the 2005 season through injry. Heidfeld was a few tenths shy of Wurz.

While Wurz's time was hardly representative, his car stricken by mechanical gremlins early in the day, Paffett will be pleased with this, his first f1 drive since 2003.

Toyota, with their new car, and Williams are among others expected to join the test tomorrow.

Times:

1. Paffett McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.586 2. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.665

3. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 1:21.356

updatef1.com

Heidfeld delighted to be back on track

First laps for the V8 powered BMW Sauber

Zoom

"First test day for Heidfeld and BMW Sauber

After three months away from the c##kpit Nick Heidfeld was delighted to get back behind the wheel today as BMW Sauber took to the test circuit for the first time. The test was the first for the Sauber C24B chassis with BMW P86 V8 engine and Heidfeld completed 28 laps with a best time of 1:21.634s.

In the morning, the C24B ran without any problems while in the afternoon session at Circuit de Catalunya, the engineers concluded the programme early.

"After an almost three-month break I could hardly wait for the first test," the German racer stated. "The chassis and engine ran without any problems in the morning. All the systems were working perfectly."

"Of course you can tell the difference in performance compared to the V10. That's something you just have to get used to. A positive surprise is that the engine vibrates a lot less than I had expected. In the afternoon we had to break off work early when the engineers spotted a problem in the data and told me to switch off the engine."

On Tuesday the team will resume the test programme as planned with further engine and systems testing."

f1-live.com

[Null 0]

DTM Champion Gary Paffett, driving for McLaren all week, topped the times just ahead of usual Mclaren test-driver Alexander Wurz.

yeeeey go gary

[Senna 0]

Good job.

[nojvnof1 0]

Very good job.

[Karta 0]

Hmm, Wurz only did 10 laps versus Gary over 50. I think we can see better picture today about differences.

[Null 0]

Wurz has been testing and driving in F1 for ages. Gary has done nothing compared to that. For him to go in there and get that time with hardly any F1 experience is great stuff, no question about it. He's a world away from Sh#thikeyan.

[bajo39 0]

He's a world away from Sh#thikeyan.

I don't doubt that but let's not get wound up over testing times...

[pumpdoc 2]

I don't doubt that but let's not get wound up over testing times...

Testing times don't mean Sh#te..........................

[Null 0]

but this is paffett. He would perform in a race situation... seriously. He'll make a damn good F1 driver providing he gets a testing seat with someone soon! And nobody talks bad about gary

[monza gorilla 1]

Meh.

[narain fan 0]

here is a link i just found ,for all those who might want to have access to live test timings

http://aplicacions.circuitcat.com/tempsonl...f1.asp?Idioma=2

[Sato 0]

Thanks for the link, I used this last year, but had lost the link.

[narain fan 0]

Thanks for the link, I used this last year, but had lost the link.

..and almost lost me

[narain fan 0]

Ferrari Mugello/Valencia test notes 2005-11-30

Racing series F1

Date 2005-11-30

First day of testing this week for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, working at the Valencia and Mugello circuits.

On the Tuscan track, Marc Gene was in action, at the wheel of an F2004 M fitted with the V8 engine. On a day when the track was wet, the Spanish test driver covered a total of 39 laps, five of them on the short version of the track, with the quickest lap completed in a time of 1:32.672.

Clear skies in Valencia for Felipe Massa's return to the track, for the first of three days of testing focussing on Bridgestone tyre development. The Brazilian covered a total of 95 laps, the quickest in 1:13.165.

Testing continues at both circuits tomorrow: in Valencia with Felipe Massa and at Mugello with Marc Gene.

Circuit: Autodromo del Mugello, 5.245 km - short course 2.760 km

Driver: Marc Gen

[Kopite Girl 0]

Thanks for that narain fan.

[narain fan 0]

"Comprehensive TOYOTA F1 day 2 report"

11/30/2005 9:37:47 PM ADT (GMT -3)

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Location: Circuito de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

Dates: 29-30-November

Drivers: Jarno Trulli (29-30); Ricardo Zonta (29-30)

Track length: 4.428km

Surprise and Shine

Since the surprise reveal of the TF106 car on Monday, the Panasonic Toyota Racing team has been busy stretching the legs of its new 2006 car at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. Comprising a new rear-end, modified front suspension, new specification RVX-06 engine and new Bridgestone tyres, the entire team faced a series of unknowns in Spain, but midway through this week's four day test session, initial results have proven encouraging.

With three months to go before the opening race of 2006 in Bahrain, the Cologne-based team is under no illusions as to how much development still needs to be done, but is confident that the early launch of the TF106 will prove advantageous in the long-run. A similar strategy was used in 2005 to good effect, highlighted by the consequent string of podium results and Toyota's most successful season to date.

Six Appeal

After two days of testing, Jarno Trulli has amounted an impressively reliable and relatively trouble-free 147 laps and leaves Barcelona buoyed by the work of his team and the positive initial results of the TF106.

Jarno Trulli - Chassis TF106/02

Best lap time on 29-November: 1.18.641

Total of laps on 29-November: 82

Best lap time on 30-November: 1.17.019

Total of laps on 30-November: 65

How was your feeling in your first day testing the V8?

"In general it was very positive. I was extremely surprised by the car handling and the engine power and the general feeling of the car. In the straight away the car was correct. It was running well and it was competitive. A very good start!"

What about the new tyres?

"It was a very good, very positive start. We have done several laps which have been consistent, reliable. The first feeling has been good. We still have some work to do with the front suspension in terms of response. But I am confident as the engineers are already working on these matters since a long time for fixing at the tests. We hope to solve this before the first race."

Fuel If You Think it's Over

Ricardo Zonta, recently confirmed as Panasonic Toyota Racing's third driver for 2006, is only halfway through his testing programme for the week. After a strong first outing, Ricardo's second day was hampered by a fuel pump problem that cut his running short. Not a man to be kept down for long, Ricardo was soon back out on track in the afternoon and is confident that normal service will resume tomorrow.

Ricardo Zonta - Chassis TF106/01

Best lap time on 29-November: 1.17.821

Total of laps on 29-November: 58

Best lap time on 30-November: 1.17.440

Total of laps on 30-November: 20

Ricardo, what were you concentrating on today and yesterday?

"Yesterday I have tested tyre set-up and today I have not made so many laps. We still have a lot of work to do but I am here until Friday."

Why did you not drive many laps today?

"I had some difficulties with my fuel pump and the team has decided to change it. As it takes some time, I was not able to drive in the morning."

What was the first impression of the V8 comparing to the V10? Do you feel less power?

"It was very positive. Barcelona is a good track for testing the V8 with fast corners where we do not feel the lost of power".

What is the summary of testing new car, new engine and new tyres?

"I am very impressed with the job done on the new car until now and of course we need to work hard to understand how all these 3 points work together."

Into the Groove

The Barcelona test sees Panasonic Toyota Racing test for the first time with Bridgestone tyres and initial results are looking promising.

Mike Gascoyne, Technical Director, Chassis

What were the main programmes of the two first test days?

"We did not really have any major mechanical problems. Jarno especially had two reasonably trouble free days running. On Ricardo's car we had hydraulic leak on the first day and problem on the second day with a development fuel pump, but nothing that really affects our test programme. Over all the cars have been very reliable for the two days."

What were the conclusions of the tests?

"The conclusion for us is it was very positive. We have made good progress. The laptimes look competitive, which is pleasing, but I think there is still a lot to come from improving the car further."

Could you tell in this stage that the Bridgestone tyres are fitting with the new TF106?

"In general we worked with Bridgestone, our technical partner, to understand the tyres. We still have a lot of work to do, but on the other side we did not have real problems to achieve a balance on the car with the new tyres."

What is the advantage to test a new car before the competitors?

"For us the fact that we are testing early we can work on the reliability of the new car and the V8 engine, and we've got time to fix any major issues. Plus the fact that our development work with Bridgestone is with the new car, which will avoid any further changes. I think this gives us a good advantage over our competitors, combined with the ability to introduce last minute changes up to the first race."

Ricardo will be joined by Ralf Schumacher for the remaining two days of this week's Barcelona test, when the German will get his first taste of the TF106

toyota f1 press release

[narain fan 0]

FINAL TEST DAY A WASHOUT

Last Updated: Friday, 02, December, 2005, 18:36

Just three drivers completed any meaningful mileage at a rain-lashed Barcelona today.

The inclement weather set in early and did not clear as the day went on, prompting McLaren and Toyota to cut their losses and pack up early.

Renault and Honda stayed on and the Japanese team’s test driver Anthony Davidson set the pace with a best lap of 1m25.542s – some 11 seconds adrift of team-mate Jenson Button’s dry-weather benchmark from yesterday.

Davidson’s time – set in one of the team’s 007 chassis with a V10 engine – still left him more than five seconds clear of Button, who was at the wheel of a hybrid car fitted with Honda’s 2.4-litre V8 motor.

Giancarlo Fisichella made his return to the Renault c##kpit after the post-season break but was not all that happy with his experience of a restricted V10 engine (which simulates V8 power levels).

The team elected not to run test driver Franck Montagny as it was felt no productive information would have been gleaned by doing so.

“It was impossible to learn anything today because of the very bad and cold conditions,” said chief test engineer Christian Silk.

“Anyway we ran as we could because we wanted Giancarlo to acclimatise himself to the car and especially to the new power output.

“It helped him to have feelings of the engine changes and he got some understanding of the different chassis set-ups.”

Friday testing times from Barcelona

1. DAVIDSON Honda 1m25.542s

2. BUTTON Honda 1m30.807s

3. FISICHELLA Renault 1m30.854s

itv-f1.com