Monza testing, Day 1, 28/08/07 - 28 AUG 2007
The ING Renault F1 Team kicks off its test session on the
Monza circuit in Italy
Nelson Piquet Jr, R27-01, 94 laps, 542 km, fastest lap: 1'25.360
After the summer break the ING Renault F1 Team got its development
programme under way again today on the Monza circuit in the
north of Italy. It is an important test session as it comes
just one week before the Italian Grand Prix, so its aim is
abundantly clear!
While the priority was obviously to prepare for the next
two races on European soil, in particular the Italian GP,
the ING Renault F1 Team decided to concentrate on the 2008
electronic set-up on its first day of testing. So Nelson Piquet
at the wheel of the R27 went out without any driver aids to
provide the team with his initial impressions. He did several
runs - generally long ones - and concentrated on setting up
the car in this configuration. The data recorded will be analysed
by the team this evening, and again when it gets back to the
factory in the framework of its 2008 project development programme.
As the clouds began to gather this afternoon the team decided
to partially revise its programme and began testing for the
Italian Grand Prix as the weather forecast for the next two
days is not very promising.
The early data seem very positive and the team was able to
complete its programme without any difficulties. Nelson quickly
got back into his stride in the R27 in this set-up. By the
end of the day he had covered 94 laps, almost 542 kms, and
set the 7th-fastest time in 1'25.360.
Nelson Piquet Jr: "The car was not really different;
it was just a bit less predictable and slightly trickier to
drive as it is less forgiving! It's difficult to be consistent
as the laps unfold but I think I got to grips with it fairly
quickly. We've revised the braking load to adapt the car to
2008, and we concentrated on setting it up in this configuration.
I think we've done a good day's work today with a lot of laps
covered."
Christian Silk, chief test engineer: "It was really
heavy today at Monza. Our programme went off with any hitches,
and we've recorded interesting data on our first day's testing
in 2008 configuration. The car was reliable and the new on-board
electronic systems worked without any problems so we managed
to cover a lot of laps. In the late afternoon we began our
preparation for next week's race as we're afraid that track
conditions will disimprove from tomorrow onwards."
Tomorrow, it will Heikki Kovalainen's turn to drive the car
in preparation for the Italian Grand Prix next weekend. He
will run in 2007 set-up.
DRIVER TEAM BEST LAPS
1 HAMILTON McLaren 1'24.112 53
2 RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1'24.258 60
3 HEIDFELD BMW 1'24.277 76
4 TRULLI Toyota 1'24.523 61
5 NAKAJIMA Williams 1'25.052 98
6 VETTEL Toro Rosso 1'25.106 63
7 PIQUET ING Renault F1 Team 1'25.360 94
8 BARRICHELLO Honda 1'25.377 85
9 WEBBER Red Bull Racing 1'25.427 64
10 ROSSITER Super Aguri 1'25.538 69
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