|
Toyota - Jerez Test: Day 1
Tuesday 07 February 2006
Location: Circuito Permanente de Jerez, Spain
Track length: 4.428kms
Panasonic Toyota Racing started this week's three-day test
programme in Jerez with third driver Ricardo Zonta joined
by test driver Olivier Panis. The team furthered its Bridgestone
tyre test programme and will have race drivers Jarno Trulli
and Ralf Schumacher on hand to continue work over the next
two days. With the first race in Bahrain just over a month
away, the testing is all-important to the team's performance
in the first three 'flyaway' races in March and early April.
ON THE REBOUND
Ricardo Zonta worked on suspension set-ups as well as tyre
evaluation.
Ricardo Zonta – Chassis TF106/01
Best lap time: 1m20.162s
Total laps: 85
Total distance: 376.380kms
"We did some long runs and it was a successful day in
terms of learning more about the car. We tried some different
dampers and made good progress, so that was satisfying. The
rear of the car felt almost perfect and we have some other
interesting developments which the race drivers can try tomorrow."
BACK TO FRONT
Olivier Panis was happy with the latest Bridgestone rear tyre
developments.
Olivier Panis – Chassis TF106/02
Best lap time: 1m20.339s
Total laps: 79
Total distance: 349.812kms
"This morning I evaluated some tyres that the team tried
in Valencia at the last test. They look pretty promising and
I am happy about everything. I think Bridgestone has made
a good step up but let's wait until we can evaluate the whole
package over the remaining tests, when we will also have the
new aerodynamic parts."
GRIPPING STUFF
With tyres one of the most crucial performance parameters
on the car, it is logical that Toyota's Bridgestone programme
constitutes the most significant part of its pre-season test
agenda.
Gerd Pfeiffer, Test Team Manager: "It
was a good day. We tried different set-ups with the tyres
and shock absorbers and collected a lot of information which
Jarno and Ralf will be able to use tomorrow. We are still
concentrating on tuning the car to the tyres and vice versa,
but a good positive point about today was that both engines
exceeded their maximum life requirements."
|
