Honda Racing F1 Team - Bahrain Test Report
Bahrain Test Report
Thursday 16 February 2006
Dates: 13-16 February
Location: Bahrain International Circuit
The Honda Racing F1 Team moved to Bahrain this week for the
first Formula One testing session to be held at the Sakhir
circuit. The team took the opportunity to test on the track
which will host the opening race of the 2006 F1 season in
just over three weeks time. Four consecutive days of testing
on the technically demanding 5.417km circuit and in the warm
climate of Bahrain has proved invaluable preparation for the
new season with the team's four drivers completing 854 laps
and covering 4638kms in total.
Anthony Davidson and Young Driver James Rossiter began the
test on Monday as the brand new chassis RA106-03 was given
its first outing. Anthony had a productive day working on
the set-up of his car, alongside tyre and aero evaluations,
completing 114 laps and setting the fastest time of the 2006
cars. James also focused on set-up work in the new chassis,
alongside a short aero evaluation in the afternoon session.
James completed 68 laps over the day, adapting very impressively
to the new RA106 and quickly setting competitive lap times.
Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello joined the team on Tuesday.
Both drivers spent their early laps completing familiarisation
and set-up runs in their respective cars before working on
tyre and aero evaluation programmes in the afternoon. Jenson
completed 88 laps, with Rubens totalling 105 laps, as the
two race drivers set almost identical times to finish fastest
of the 2006 cars.
The race drivers continued the test programme on Wednesday
concentrating on tyre and aerodynamic evaluations, followed
by a race simulation exercise in the afternoon session. Jenson
completed a very impressive 140 laps, setting the second fastest
time overall, with Rubens completing 104 laps.
Both Jenson and Rubens had a particularly productive final
day on Thursday. Jenson spent the day focusing on a tyre evaluation
programme, with live pitstops in the afternoon session, followed
by a chassis set-up evaluation to conclude the day's running.
Jenson completed 133 laps and set the fastest time of the
V8 runners for the third day in succession. Rubens completed
a second successful race simulation, along with a suspension
and aero programme. He completed 101 laps in total.
Summary of Testing R Barrichello J Button
A Davidson J Rossiter
Chassis RA106-03 RA106-01 RA106-01 RA106-03
Mon 13 Feb Laps - - 114 68
\- - 01:32.571 01:32.864
Tues 14 Feb Laps 105 88 - -
Fastest time 01:31.483 01:31.451 - -
Weds 15 Feb Laps 104 140 - -
Fastest time 01:31.631 01:31.265 - -
Thurs 16 Feb Laps 101 133 - -
Fastest time 01:31.588 01:31.248 - -
Rubens Barrichello
"Testing in Bahrain has been very useful this week and
I'm really pleased that we decided to come here. We did a
lot of work on the tyres and the engine and covered many laps.
We have had a few minor issues which was good because we could
learn what the problems are and then fix them before the race.
The tyres are competitive and once again I spent my time concentrating
on race distance runs. I am definitely happy with the results
this week and am looking forward to coming back in three weeks
time."
Jenson Button
"The test has gone very well over the last few days.
We have completed a lot of laps, mostly focusing on tyre testing,
but also doing reliability work and finding a good set-up
around the Bahrain circuit before the first race. It's been
nice to test in the hot conditions for a change which helps
to prepare you physically. The car has been reliable and we've
made a lot of progress with Michelin so overall a very positive
week."
Anthony Davidson
"We had a good first day on Monday with the car proving
very reliable enabling us to complete 114 laps. The circuit
was in reasonably good condition for the first day of running
so we were able to get some useful aero and tyre evaluations
completed. The car was generally fast and on the pace which
is good. I had only done 50 laps at the Bahrain circuit before
this week on the Friday running of the 2004 season and turn
3 had changed slightly since I was last here. It was a refreshing
change to be somewhere outside of Spain for testing and with
the good weather, these were perfect conditions for testing."
James Rossiter
"It was a great experience to drive the RA106 for the
first time this week and my first impressions of the car were
really good. I spent the day adapting to the car and running
through some set-up work in the morning and an aero evaluation
in the afternoon. I raced here in F3 at the end of 2004 but
it was great to be able to drive an F1 car here."
Mark Ellis, Chief Engineer Vehicle Performance
"It was good to be in Bahrain for our first test at this
circuit, not only because it is the venue for the first Grand
Prix of the year, but also because the circuit layout is technically
very good to test the car and of course the weather is much
warmer than in Europe! We have learnt a great deal about the
car and the tyres this week to be really prepared for the
first race of 2006."
Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing
Development
"The Bahrain circuit is quite hard on the engine and
we have had a couple of problems as we seek to run the engines
for longer at higher revs. On the other hand, two engines
have run over 1000kms without any problems, so we are heading
in the right direction. We have more improvements to come
for next week in Barcelona."
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