Jerez Test: Round-Up
Thursday 09 February 2006
Location: Circuito Permanente de Jerez, Spain
Track length: 4.428kms
The final day of Panasonic Toyota Racing's three-day test
at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez ended with grey skies
and high chances of rain. Although the heavens threatened
to bring work to a halt the rain held off allowing Ralf Schumacher
and Jarno Trulli to complete the tyre testing programme that
was the main focus this week. Next week the team will head
to Vallelunga, where the TF106's new aerodynamic package will
be introduced.
DOUBLE CENTURY
For the second successive day Jarno Trulli completed more
than 100 laps of the Spanish track.
Jarno Trulli – Chassis TF106/01
Best lap time: 1m19.083s
Total laps: 103
Total distance: 456.084kms
"At the moment we are pretty happy about the behaviour
of the car. Compared to the others we are not that quick but
we know very well that we are going to get a major aerodynamic
step next week. We have done good, solid winter testing, especially
on the development of the tyres because the switch from one
tyre manufacturer to another was our biggest technical challenge.
Understanding the best way to run the Bridgestones and which
compounds and constructions best suit our car has been quite
a complicated process and there is still work to be done,
although we have done the major part of the job."
WEIGHTY MATTERS
Ralf Schumacher wound up Toyota's final day of testing ahead
of next week's new aero package.
Ralf Schumacher – Chassis TF106/02
Best lap time: 1m19.320s
Total laps: 107
Total distance: 473.796kms
"We got through a lot again today because an integral
part of tyre testing is experimenting with the car set-up,
which includes such things as suspension settings and weight
distribution. Quick lap times were never part of the agenda
and we were again satisfied with what we learned. Next week
we will have the new aero package, which will be interesting."
MARATHON RUNNING
Test Team Manager Gerd Pfeiffer summarised the week's activity.
"We completed more than 100 laps with both cars today
and at this stage of proceedings, with the new season ever
closer we have to be very pleased with the level of reliability
that we are seeing. In the morning we experimented with the
weight distribution and suspension and then we made some good
progress with the tyres in the afternoon, when temperatures
were more suitable. Next week we will have more performance
parts for the car in Italy."
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