MCLAREN TEST REPORT VALENCIA - DAY FOUR
Date: Friday 3rd February 2006
Location: Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia, Spain
Drivers: Juan Pablo Montoya and Pedro de la Rosa
Weather: Clear and sunny all day
Track temperature – high of 18.9 degrees Celsius
Air temperature – high of 14.5 degrees Celsius
Laps run today: 167
Kilometres covered today: Juan Pablo Montoya approx. 280km
Pedro de la Rosa approx. 380km
Best lap time of the day and week: Fernando Alonso, Renault,
1m10.552
Total number of laps driven during the test: 573
Total number of laps driven during the test in the MP4-21
227
Total number of km driven during the test: 2250km (Kimi 105km,
Juan Pablo 785km,
Pedro 740km, Gary 620km)
Total number of km driven during the test by the MP4-21 890
The Valencia test ended today, the final session of an intensive
four day test that saw Team McLaren Mercedes cover over 2250km
in total, about 900km in the MP4-21.
Kimi Raikkonen began the week in the MP4-21, on Tuesday 31st
January. Wet weather conditions dominated the day, and as
a result the Finn's work focused on systems checks. However,
having completed just over 100km during the day, Kimi returned
home with a bad cold at the end of the session.
Juan Pablo Montoya took over from Kimi in the MP4-21. As
weather conditions improved, the warmer, dry environment allowed
Juan Pablo to cover a good distance in the team's 2006 car.
The Columbian’s programme for the week was running long
stints.
In today's session Juan Pablo continued to work on achieving
longer runs and putting good mileage on MP4-21. In the morning,
Juan Pablo completed two runs of 26 laps. On his third long
run of the day, his engine failed and Juan Pablo stopped out
on track. The test team replaced the engine, however just
before Juan Pablo was due to go back out on track, an issue
with the hydraulics system was identified. Because this happened
late in the session and the team had achieved the primary
engineering objectives for the day, the decision was taken
to end running for the week. In total today, Juan Pablo covered
280km and set a quickest time of 1m12.802.
Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett have also been testing
with the team this week, at the wheel of the interim MP4-20.
The sole focus for both drivers over the four day session
has been key Michelin tyre development programmes.
Gary was in Valencia on Tuesday and Wednesday, completing
over 620km in total. Pedro assumed driving duties on Thursday
and Friday and the Spaniard covered 740km, with 380 of those
today.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA
"The distances we are covering is allowing us to complete
some key programmes with the car and I am looking forward
to continuing this process next week in Jerez. The car is
getting better the more we run it and develop it, and the
team are doing a really good job. We have had a couple of
technical issues this week, but this is why we test and everything
like this helps us learn more about the car."
KIMI RAIKKONEN
"The rain we had in Valencia on Tuesday meant that general
testing was not really possible as we would not get any useful
results from running. So we used the opportunity to complete
some of the tests that we need to do before the start of the
season, such as wet launches, various fuel systems checks
and so on. Because of my bad cold, I was not able to test
on the Wednesday, which was a shame as it was not raining.
However I will be back in the car in Jerez on Thursday and
will hopefully be able to start putting in some good distances
in MP4-21."
PEDRO DE LA ROSA
"We have had another interesting week at the Circuit
Ricardo Tormo, we have been able to put further mileage on
the MP4-21 and from what the team are saying and the time
I spent in the car last week, I think it has a lot of potential.
Although we are not in the 21, me and Gary are continuing
the Michelin development programme"
GARY PAFFETT
"I had a pretty uneventful week at the test, as there
were no issues or stoppages for me, however it was a really
useful weeks testing. We are getting some good feedback from
the on-going Michelin work and as the weather has improved
during the week, the conditions have become more favourable
for the programme we had to complete."
Unofficial times*:
Pos Driver Constructor Time Laps
1 Fernando Alonso Renault 1m10.552 144
2 Heikki Kovalainen Renault 1m10.952 168
3 Nico Rosberg WilliamsF1 1m11.404 55
4 Pedro de la Rosa Team McLaren Mercedes – V10 1m11.667
96
5 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1m11.797 89
6 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1m11.851 77
7 Ricardo Zonta Toyota 1m11.934 115
8 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1m12.219 89
9 Juan Pablo Montoya Team McLaren Mercedes 1m12.802 71
10 Joao Paulo de Oliveira WilliamsF1 1m13.920 32
*no official times available
|
