Italian Grand Prix Preview 7 - 9 September 2007
New B-spec challenger to debut at Monza
3 September 2007 - This weekend's Italian Grand Prix will
mark the race debut of the Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One
Team's new B-spec challenger.
Originally scheduled to race last weekend in Turkey, the
introduction of the new car was delayed until the FIA's stringent
crash test requirements were fulfilled. Now compliant with
regulations, drivers Sakon Yamamoto and Adrian Sutil will
give the B-spec its first race weekend appearance during the
opening free practice session next Friday.
Sakon and Adrian will go to Italy with a solid understanding
of the car, having already completed a successful two-day
test last week at Monza. Sakon and Adrian both had one day
each behind the wheel of the B-spec, covering nearly three
race distances between them with no major mechanical issues.
The new B-spec explained
'There are two new main areas where the B-spec car differs
to the A-spec,' explains Spyker F1's chief technical officer,
Mike Gascoyne. 'The first is mechanical, the second is aerodynamic.
Mechanically, we have revised the rear suspension geometry,
specifically replacing the rotary dampers with linear ones.
The gearbox is also a new design targeted at complying with
the new 2008 gearbox rules where each 'box must be used for
four races. Although we won't be running it for four races
this year, it does ensure that we can get lots of data for
next year when the rules come into play. The engine installation
has also been reviewed to make cooling resources lighter,
more compact and much more efficient.
'The other major update is the aero package. Apart from the
chassis and nosebox, every other area has been revised. The
front wing flap, endplate, barge boards, sidepod inlets, radiator
outlets, rear wings, floor and diffuser are all new and the
bodywork has been modified, so everything apart from the monocoque
and nose is new.'
Work for the B-spec started over the winter. 'The team first
mooted the idea of an updated 2007 car after the close of
the 2006 championship. We knew the Ferrari engines could not
be delivered until the New Year, when design work would necessarily
be far advanced with the A-spec car and large modifications
could not be incorporated.'
For any team, not least the smallest outfit on the grid,
such a major update mid-season is no mean feat, but Gascoyne
is confident this was a necessary step. 'We could have produced
updates for the A-spec car but these would have been fairly
minor compared to the step we hope to make now. It's a big
update both mechanically and aerodynamically, and when you
have such a major change, everything interacts with other
areas, so new parts that are developed don't necessarily work
with the original settings. Under these circumstances we decided
to take the jump and bring everything in at once.'
With the updated team wind tunnel at Brackley ready to switch
to 24 hour running imminently, the B-spec car is just the
first step in the team's development cycle. 'We are in the
process of final commissioning of the wind tunnel and very
soon it will switch onto 24 hour running. Combined with the
Aerolab programme, this means the aero development will be
much improved. The B-spec is just really the first step of
the development process. For each subsequent race until the
end of season we have updates in the pipeline leading onto
a very intensive development programme over the winter and
onto next year's car.'
Gascoyne is confident that the recent setback of the car
failing its rear-impact test will have no impact on the success
of the programme in coming races. 'We passed the crash test
at the first attempt after the Turkish Grand Prix. We were
really trapped by the structures we already had in production
before Turkey but we did have structures available after that
weekend which we could incorporate our findings into and make
larger changes, and we passed at the first opportunity as
we were confident we would. Of course it's disappointing not
to have the new car in Turkey, but ultimately this race would
just have been an extended test session for us as we had only
done a 50km shakedown beforehand. Now we have had two days'
testing at the circuit where the car will make its debut.'
Where will the Spyker team be in the next race? Gascoyne
is hopeful of a tangible improvement. 'We could see an increase
in our race and qualifying race pace and be up there in the
mix of the midfield if everything works out. We would like
to think the update could see us competing with people around
us and when you're in that position anything can happen. This
is just the start and there are many areas of the car we will
revisit - there is a lot more to come from this team.'
B-spec technical specification
Chassis: Full carbon fibre composite monocoque
Front suspension: Composite pushrods activating chassis mounted
in-line dampers and torsion bars, unequal length composite
aerodynamic wishbones, front anti-roll bar and cast uprights.
Rear suspension: Composite pushrods activating gearbox mounted
in-line dampers & torsion bars, unequal length composite
aerodynamic wishbones, and cast uprights.
Transmission: In-house Spyker design. 7-speed + reverse longitudinal
gearbox with electrohydraulic sequential gear change
Wheel base: More than 3000mm
Front track: 1480mm
Rear track: 1418mm
Overall height: 950mm
Overall length: Approx. 5000 mm
Overall weight: 605kg (with driver, by regulations)
Clutch: Triple plate AP racing clutch
Wheels: Forged BBS wheels to Spyker specification
Fuel tank capacity: Over 90 kg
Engine: Ferrari F1-056H
Number of Cylinders: 8
Capacity: 2398cc
Horsepower: More than 700bhp
Revolutions: 19,000rpm(by regulation)
Valve actuation: Pneumatic
Throttle actuation: Hydraulic
Spark Plugs: NGK
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