BAHRAIN END OF TEST REPORT
The Honda Racing F1 Team today completed the first of two
final pre-season tests which are being held at the Bahrain
International Circuit.
Testing outside of Europe for the first time this year, race
drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello took part in
all three days of running, maximising their track time in
the new RA107 car before the Formula One season begins with
the Australian Grand Prix on 18 March.
Jenson gave the latest new chassis its first outing on Thursday.
After initial set-up work, he ran through an aero programme
alongside new tyre runs, covering 84 laps. Rubens concentrated
on finding a good set-up before completing long tyre runs
over a race distance for a total of 102 laps.
Jenson spent the second day of the test working through an
aero evaluation, followed by a race simulation, completing
117 laps. Rubens continued to focus on chassis set-up in his
car alongside an aero programme, completing 73 laps.
On the final day, both drivers spent the morning concentrating
on aero evaluations and chassis work. Jenson continued his
aero programme into the afternoon session with Rubens running
through a full race simulation. Jenson completed 79 laps with
Rubens totalling 130 laps.
The Honda Racing F1 Team will resume testing in Bahrain on
Tuesday 27 February.
Jenson Button
"This week we have continued our programme of set-up
work on the car and assessed some new aero parts which we
are running for the first time. We also completed a number
of race distance simulations which went smoothly. We have
one final test now before the start of the season so I'm looking
forward to next week and having some more new parts to test."
Rubens Barrichello
"It's been a good week in Bahrain for us and we have
completed all the mileage that we had planned. The car proved
reliable and it also seems to work well in the hot temperatures
so we have been more competitive here. We have still got some
fine-tuning to do on the car as the balance is not quite there
yet, so next week's test will be important to help us resolve
this before the season starts."
Jacky Eeckelaert - Engineering Director
"The first Bahrain test this week has given both Jenson
and Rubens the opportunity to test some new aerodynamic developments
which will be used for the first race of the season in Melbourne.
Both drivers also completed full race simulation exercises
in the hot track temperatures which has provided useful information
for us. The test programme has gone well and we look forward
to continuing the development with further new parts arriving
for next week."
TEST STATS (All timings are unofficial)
Drivers Chassis Thursday 22 February
Friday 23 February Saturday 24 February
Jenson Button RA107-04 84 laps Fastest lap 01:32.099
117 laps Fastest lap 01:31.807 79 laps Fastest lap
01:32.137
Rubens Barrichello RA107-01 102 laps Fastest lap 01:32.570
73 laps Fastest lap 01:32.614 130 laps Fastest lap
01:32.115
|
