Vallelunga Test Round-Up
Thursday 16 February, 2006
Dates: February 14-16, 2006
Location: Autodromo di Vallelunga, Italy
Track length: 4.095km
Drivers:
Jarno Trulli (Best lap 1m15.900s, total laps 107)
Ralf Schumacher (Best lap 1m16.530s, total laps 142)
Panasonic Toyota Racing today completed its week of testing
at the Autodromo di Vallelunga, just north of Rome, Italy.
The main aim of the week's work was to take a first look at
the brand new aerodynamic package with which the team will
start the season. Unfortunately the weather didn't quite match
up to hopes and both rain and low temperatures interrupted
the programme on two of the days. Still, Jarno Trulli was
able to have his first runs with the new package before the
weather changed. Ralf Schumacher is now scheduled to do so
next week in Barcelona. Both drivers were running on an amended
Vallelunga layout, with a chicane added at the end of the
start-finish straight. Jarno is scheduled to return tomorrow
for a wet weather test.
AERO GAIN
Jarno Trulli was positive after becoming the first driver
to try the TF106's new aerodynamic package, putting in over
100 laps around the twisty Vallelunga circuit.
Jarno Trulli – Chassis TF106/03
Best lap time: 1m15.900s
Total laps: 107
Total distance: 438.165km
"It was a pity that so much of this week was cold and
wet, but we still put in the best part of two days of testing
with the new aero package before the weather set in. My first
impressions are really positive. The car felt good and it
shows promise, enabling us to carry out a tyre test on the
second day. Next week we will go to Barcelona, which will
be a better guide to this car's true potential. There we will
be able to compare our performance with other teams so we
will start to find out where we really stand. So far so good."
ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME
Ralf Schumacher was also making his first visit to the Vallelunga
circuit, situated just north of the Italian capital.
Ralf Schumacher – Chassis TF106/02
Best lap time: 1m16.530s
Total laps: 142
Total distance: 581.49km
"This was our first test at Vallelunga and generally
it's a nice track and facility. The circuit is similar to
Valencia and I think that it would be worth having some tests
here during the summertime. Unfortunately the weather has
been very cold this week and as a result I have not had a
chance to test with the new aerodynamic package yet. We only
started work on it two days ago and Jarno has been at the
wheel. But the first reports are positive and the expected
targets have been reached. Now we hope to have a final evaluation
of the package in the next couple of weeks. Although the low
temperature played against us because it has made it difficult
to get heat into all the tyres, we still managed some successful
running in the rain."
COOL RUNNINGS
After the long awaited appearance of the new aerodynamic package,
Panasonic Toyota Racing's three-day test at a cold Vallelunga
concluded with positive results.
Mike Gascoyne, Technical Director Chassis
"This is our first time testing here at Vallelunga and
it was reasonably productive. Other teams have tested here
in the past, but we were the only team running with a chicane
in the first corner so you can't make comparisons. With both
drivers having to first of all get to know the circuit and
then experiencing rather cold temperatures, it has been fairly
difficult conditions for meaningful running. But from the
work we've been able to do, it's clear that the new package
is working very reliably and we can see the performance gain
that we expected. In parallel with running the new car, we
have also continued running tyre evaluations for Bridgestone.
Although our mileage has been limited due to the track conditions,
we've actually managed to do most of the test items that were
planned for the two days. Overall, the test has been positive
and it was good to get the final Bahrain configuration up
and running."
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