Spanish Grand Prix Preview 25 - 27 April 2008
After three long haul races in four weeks, the Force India
Formula One Team now returns to the relative comfort of the
European season, with regular intervals and shorter distances
between races and the benefit of its own fully-equipped trucks
and motorhome.
The Spanish Grand Prix, held at the 4.655km Circuit de Catalunya
on the outskirts of the vibrant Catalan city of Barcelona,
will be the first race on the European continent. It's a track
all the teams know inside-out and back-to-front from the laps
they pound round there in pre-season testing: Force India
alone put in a total of six calendar days and nine car days
over two winter tests, covering 3,491km or 750 laps, more
than 11 race distances.
Force India now looks to carry forward its momentum from
the first three races, which showed the team racing in the
midfield and getting ever-closer to going into Q2 for the
first time since the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix. At the last
race in Bahrain, the team achieved its first double finish
of the year and, with new developments honed in a further
three-day test at the Circuit de Catalunya last week, there's
reason to hope the upward trend will continue.
Team quotes
Dr. Vijay Mallya, chairman and managing director
'A tenth of a second has never mattered as much as now. All
the guys at the track and back at the factory are doing everything
they possibly can to get every millisecond and we are now
tantalisingly close to that competitive midfield group. I
have every confidence and no doubt that it will come. If you
look at what we have achieved over the winter in just five
months, which isn't very long in the context of this sport,
you'll see just how much we've come on. We're no longer at
the back and though it will get tougher here on in, it's a
golden opportunity for us.
'Our relative success has led to the popularity of Formula
One growing exponentially in India. We've attracted a lot
of positive print and TV coverage back home and everyone is
congratulating the team on the progress we have made. We are
deploying all our resources to keep it up and make sure that
the team, and in turn the sport, retains this wave of support.
'No one expects miracles, but the fact that we qualified
close to the top 16 and finished in the top 12 in Malaysia
and Bahrain demonstrates everything is happening strongly
and positively. At this stage of the season everything counts
and that's the challenge we face now.'
Colin Kolles, team principal
'Unfortunately we missed out on Q2 in Bahrain by just over
a tenth, but again Giancarlo put in a very impressive race
with very competitive lap times to finish 12th. Adrian had
unfortunately an incident at the start that compromised his
race, however he managed to finish the race with a strong
performance.
'This outing in Bahrain demonstrated our improving form,
which we hope will continue in Barcelona. Our targets this
time out will be to reach Q2 in qualifying and to score points.
We are working very hard to reach these targets and I am confident
we will reach them sooner rather than later.'
Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer
'For the Spanish Grand Prix we will introduce some more aerodynamic
updates, which is really a continuation of our cycle of aero
development that has produced new parts for every race so
far this year.
'We tested these parts, and also some new parts for suspension
set-ups and some improvements on the braking system, at the
test in Barcelona last week. In general we had three very
productive days with a lot of laps and worked through the
whole of our test programme and certainly found some positive
steps forward. This culminated in the dramatic improvement
in lap times from the previous test, with all the drivers
reporting improved downforce and grip.
'We have been very close to getting into Q2 and that has
to be a target. We have also shown that we can race very competitively,
so now we have to be racing to get into the top 10 and maybe
even pick up a point. Overall we can go to Barcelona feeling
very positive.'
Driver quotes
Giancarlo Fisichella (car 21, VJM01/05)
'The VJM01 for sure seems to be moving forward with each race,
and the Barcelona test confirmed this very clearly. It has
more grip overall, but especially under braking, so it is
more stable and we are able to push. We've gone from a 1min
22.2 lap round Barcelona in February to a 1min 20.7 at the
test last week, which even if some is down to improved track
conditions, it is still a step forward.
'With new aero parts coming in Spain too, I am pretty sure
we can carry on with this progress as all the parts that have
been fitted to the car so far have worked really well - our
aero department has got the right ideas!
'This week's Spanish Grand Prix will be as close as it has
been in the past. I enjoy the track, it is one of my favourite
circuits so if we play it right, I think we have a good chance.
Our closest opponents at the moment are probably Toro Rosso
and Honda; we are all just outside the point scoring area
and are fighting for any chance. I want to be there fighting
again this year and taking advantage of anything that comes
our way.'
Adrian Sutil (car 20, VJM01/02)
'Bahrain was a difficult race for many reasons. At the first
corner I came together with Coulthard and lost my front wing
and picked up a puncture in my front left tyre, and the race
was over really. I was very disappointed, but the most positive
thing to take away was that I could finish the race. I could
do some mileage, and just try different things with all the
settings. It was like a test session really, and I tried to
push to do it like a race simulation.
'When we could push the race pace was not bad. It's very
close, and I'm now looking to have the opportunity where I
can really race with other cars. Unfortunately in the first
three races there hasn't been a chance, but if you see the
race pace, compared with other cars we were really on it.
'Let's see how it is in Barcelona. We had a very good test
last week where we tried out some new parts, which worked
well and gave an increase in grip and stability. I think with
the small steps we have made we really have a chance go in
to Q2 this time out.'
Spanish Grand Prix information
The 2008 Spanish Grand Prix will be the 18th time the event
has been held at the Circuit de Catalunya. Other venues have
been used for the Spanish race, but the flowing 4.655km track
just outside Barcelona has been used since 1991. It was originally
constructed as part of Barcelona's Olympic programme - the
city hosted the 1992 games - with former Minardi driver Luis
Perez Sala advising on the track configuration.
The circuit is typical of a high downforce F1 circuit, featuring
a mixture of corner speeds and types, but has been neutered
somewhat since the last race in 2006 by the addition of a
chicane. Now, instead of defined turns 12 and 13, two of the
fastest corners on the calendar, there's a new complex that
slows the rhythm of the lap.
Nevertheless, the chicane still presents its own challenge
with a blind entry and perhaps a better chance to overtake
on the following straight. As a result, the circuit is now
quite hard on brakes and remains tough on tyres.
The area around the track is notorious for its changeable
weather, with rain, high wind and sun all possible within
minutes of each other thanks to the circuit's proximity to
both the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. It doesn't put
the fans off though, who flock through the gates to cheer
on local favourite Fernando Alonso. Superb viewing opportunities
and facilities also attract foreign crowds, making for an
electric atmosphere whenever the cars take to the track.
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