Honda F1 Jerez test report
Dates: 11-13 January
Location: Circuito de Jerez, Spain
 The
Honda Racing F1 Team began its 2006 testing programme at the
Circuito de Jerez in Southern Spain this week. With new race
driver Rubens Barrichello joining the team for his first test
and with Anthony Davidson confirmed as third driver, it was
an exciting week for the team as it continues preparations
for the 2006 season. Building on his experience of testing
for the team in 2005, one of the team’s Young Drivers
James Rossiter also completed a one-day test programme on
Wednesday, making excellent progress.
Anthony and James began the test on Wednesday. The cold weather
meant that there was little running in the early part of the
morning with both drivers completing installation laps and
system checks only. Once on track, Anthony concentrated on
a tyre evaluation programme completing an impressive 113 laps
while James conducted a series of aerodynamic evaluations
alongside a tyre programme, covering 105 laps.
Rubens arrived in Jerez on Thursday for his first test session
with the team. He began the day running in the team’s
2005 car with a V10 engine in order to acclimatise himself
to the car and tyres. The circuit was again very cold in the
early part of the morning so Rubens used the opportunity to
complete installation runs and establish his driving position.
Once the track temperatures started to rise, he went back
out to complete his first full runs to evaluate the car and
provided some valuable feedback to the engineers. Rubens completed
45 laps in the 2005 car, concluding the team’s V10 engine
programme and setting the equal fastest time of the day. Rubens
then moved over to the 2006 Concept car for his first run
with a V8 engine and completed 8 laps to prepare himself for
the following day’s programme. Anthony continued his
running in the second Concept car and, after initial set-up
work, completed a tyre evaluation covering 107 laps.
The frequent afternoon rain showers caused some interruptions
in Jerez on Friday. Rubens continued to acclimatise himself
to the V8 car, completing further familiarisation runs and
working on set-up. He completed a couple of dry runs in the
afternoon session, followed by a wet run at the end of the
day on intermediate tyres, completing a total of 38 laps over
the day. Anthony continued his work in the V8 car running
through further aerodynamic evaluations alongside general
set-up work and completing 69 laps.
Rubens will remain in Jerez on Saturday to complete a wet
tyre programme with Michelin. The team will be testing at
Jerez again next week from Wednesday 18 - Friday 20 January.
Rubens Barrichello
“It’s been a fantastic time for me this week.
Everyone has been really enthusiastic and the relationship
has been good so I hope that keeps going. We couldn’t
do as many laps today as I wished because of the weather but
it’s looking good. Any laps that I can get with the
V8 engine prior to starting with the new car in a couple of
weeks will be very very important. So I’m happy as even
with only 39 laps and the experience that I have with the
car, we moved forward today. I know I will be very happy here.”
Anthony Davidson
“We’ve completed lots of tyre testing this week
looking at new compounds and constructions for Michelin. We’ve
found some good results from the long runs as well as the
performance runs and I’ve been really quite happy with
the pace of the car all week. It’s been good having
Rubens here for the first time, to work with him and hear
some different views and ideas, I’ve really enjoyed
that. It’s been a good week to get to know each other
and already I can feel there is a strong working relationship
there so I’m very happy about that and it’s positive
for the year ahead.”
James Rossiter
“It was good to be back in the car and helping the team
out at the first test of the year. I concentrated mainly on
aero evaluations and a short tyre programme and we found some
encouraging results. The car felt good and was reliable so
overall I had a very positive day on Wednesday.”
Mark Ellis, Chief Test Engineer
“We have made solid progress this week adapting the
car to the new regulations. Tyre testing with Michelin has
yielded some very encouraging results which will provide a
good direction for 2006. It is good to welcome Rubens to the
team and he has spent a couple of days acclimatising to the
new engine and tyres and has provided excellent feedback as
expected. It was very valuable for us to have one of the Young
Drivers James at the test continuing to gain experience and
mileage in the car and providing very high quality feedback.”
Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing
Development
“The three-day test has been very successful this week
and we have completed the whole engine programme. Rubens joining
the team is very interesting for us and will be a big help
with the engine development.”
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