Bahrain Grand Prix
Bahrain International Circuit, 04-06 April 2008
PREVIEW - ROUND THREE
Round three of the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship
takes the Honda Racing F1 Team to the Kingdom of Bahrain for
its only visit to the Middle East of the year. The 56-lap
Bahrain Grand Prix takes place at the Bahrain International
Circuit, which is located 20 kilometres south of the Kingdom's
capital, Manama, and is one of eight tracks on this year's
calendar designed by Hermann Tilke.
The Bahrain International Circuit was built in 2003 at a
cost of US$150 million and has staged the Bahrain GP every
year since 2004. It has five different configurations of which
the Grand Prix circuit is the longest layout at 5.412km (3.363
miles).
The cars average 210kph (130mph) around the lap and reach
a top speed of 314kph (195mph) along the pit straight. The
large asphalt run-off areas at each corner encourage overtaking
and usually result in the Bahrain Grand Prix being one of
the most entertaining races of the year.
BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT - THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGE
There are six long straights at the Bahrain International
Circuit and to achieve the maximum possible straightline speeds,
the cars run with less wing than at either Melbourne or Sepang.
The resultant reduction in aerodynamic grip creates balance
problems through the twistier sections of the lap, where the
overriding handling characteristic is oversteer.
The layout of the 5.412 km (3.363 miles) track shares some
similarities with Sepang, the location of the last race on
the F1 calendar, but the asphalt in Bahrain is smoother and
provides less grip. As a result, Bridgestone bring softer
rubber compounds to this race.
As the circuit is located in the desert, the ambient temperature
can be in the high 30s. It's a dry heat, similar to that experienced
in Melbourne, and shouldn't pose any reliability problems
for the teams. However, sand from the surrounding desert poses
a genuine threat to reliability because tiny particles get
sucked into the car's internal systems and the teams have
to be extra diligent in their cleaning processes.
The key corners of the circuit are Turn 1, where the cars
brake from maximum speed down to first gear, and the final
corner. Both present potential overtaking possibilities.
Full throttle: 68% Brake wear: Hard
Downforce level: Medium - 7/10
Tyre compounds: Soft / Medium Tyre usage: Medium Average speed:
210kph (130mph)
HONDA TEAM TALK
Ross Brawn, Team Principal
Q. Sum up your thoughts following the Malaysian Grand
Prix. "The race in Malaysia last weekend showed
that the Honda team continues to make steady improvements
on our pre-season form. I was particularly pleased to see
both cars finish the race reliably and encouraged by the performance
of the car and our drivers in achieving the maximum possible
from the weekend. The race gave us a very accurate reflection
of the RA108's position relative to its competitors and provided
valuable data with which to continue the development of the
car ahead of the European season."
Q. What do you think the Honda Racing F1 Team can
achieve in Bahrain? "The first two races have
established that the RA108 is capable of competing strongly
in the midfield pack and is close to breaking into the top
ten runners. To score points however, we need to over-achieve
on our current level of performance. Whilst we will aim for
this in Bahrain, the European season when our next developments
arrive, is a more realistic target. Following our encouraging
start to the season, the spirit in the team is very good and
we are all confident that we continue to make progress over
the next few weeks."
Jenson Button
Q. What are your hopes for the Bahrain Grand Prix
weekend?
"We are pleased with our performance so far this season
and it was very valuable to complete the full race distance
in Malaysia last weekend. Our overall position in the midfield
pack is encouraging, however we have to make a further step
to be competing for points on a regular basis. With no opportunity
for testing since the season began, we will be using the data
gathered in Australia and Malaysia to maximise our performance
at what will be another very hot race in Bahrain. I'm hopeful
that we will be knocking on the door of the top ten in qualifying
once again."
Q. You finished on the podium in 2004. What's the
secret to a good lap here? "I'm a big fan of
Bahrain as a country and I also really enjoy the circuit as
there are some great fast flowing sections where you can really
push the car. Confidence under braking is the key to a quick
lap. You have to believe in the car's performance and have
full confidence that you can stop effectively. There are several
overtaking opportunities, particularly at Turn 1 after the
long straight, where you can make up crucial ground as people
tend to brake surprisingly early. The most challenging sector
is probably Turn 14 which has a very quick approach where
you brake as you turn into the corner, so you have to be careful
not to lock the inside front wheel. The sand blowing onto
the tarmac can be a challenge as you never know how the grip
levels will change."
Rubens Barrichello
Q. Were you pleased with the performance of the RA108
in Malaysia? "The first two races of the season
have been very encouraging for the team and I have been pleased
with how the car has performed, particularly that I have completed
both races in the very tough conditions. Malaysia was a challenge
for me after losing the practice running on Saturday, compromising
my race set-up, but overall the RA108 has proven to be competitive
and shown good race performance."
Q. How have you prepared for the Bahrain Grand Prix?
"The first three flyaway races of the season are very
demanding for the drivers from a physical perspective as the
ambient temperatures are usually high in the 30s. I am well
prepared, with an intensive fitness regime to ensure that
I am in peak condition ready for the start of the season.
The races in Australia and Malaysia have provided a good build-up
to the intense dry heat that we can expect in Bahrain next
week. I am not anticipating that the heat will cause any issues
for me or the car."
LAP OF THE TRACK with Alex Wurz
"The Formula One circus likes visiting Bahrain. Everyone's
looking for more than just another paddock and there's a lively
city near to the Bahrain International Circuit, where there
are good places to eat and go out.
"It's usually quite windy in the afternoons, which results
in sand getting blown onto the track. The knock-on effect
of this is felt most in qualifying, when everyone wants to
be the last person on the track, when the circuit is at its
cleanest. Therefore there's usually a lot of traffic to negotiate.
"The BIC is one of the slower tracks that Hermann Tilke
has designed, but it's still quite interesting. From a technical
point of view, braking and traction are crucial, and you break
very hard into Turn 1, from seventh gear - more than 300kph
- down to first gear. This provides the best overtaking opportunity
on the lap.
"Turn 2 is a left kink, which, without traction control,
is going to be quite challenging because you're going to have
a lot of slip. We might see some snap oversteer here as a
result. Turn 3 is easy flat and leads to the right-hander
Turn 4, which is taken in third gear. It's off-camber and
could pose quite a traction problem without TC.
"Then you come to a very interesting part of the track,
the fast right-left chicane. It's enjoyable, but it can be
frustrating from a car set-up point of view because if it
wasn't for this section you'd soften up the car. As it is,
you have to keep some roll stiffness in the car for this quick
change of direction.
"You then come to the hairpin, which picks up a lot
of grip throughout the weekend. The exit goes uphill, into
a long left-hander, which tightens up into a sharp left. Everyone
locks up a bit because it's off-camber and over a crest, so
the inside front is unloaded. Traction is really important
on the exit because the back straight follows, where you get
up to sixth gear before slowing for the third-gear left-hander.
I would set up my car's aero balance - the amount of wing
I carry - for this corner.
"After this corner there's a long uphill stretch into
a flat right-hander. The front left is loaded for a long time
through here and then you come into another right-hander,
which is an overtaking opportunity if the car in front is
using its tyres too much. A very long straight leads to the
last corner, where it's easy to out-brake yourself. You lose
more than you can win through here because it's really important
to have a clean exit onto the start-finish straight."
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