2010 pre-season winter testing Valencia 1st - 28th Feb

[icegirljenni]

The line-ups are:

BMW: Alexander Rossi (2008 Formula BMW Americas champion) and Esteban Gutierrez (2008 Formula BMW Europe champion).

Mercedes GP: Mike Conway (2004 British Formula Renault and 2006 British F3 champion) and Marcus Ericsson (2007 Formula BMW UK champion and 2009 Japan F3 champion).

Ferrari: Jules Bianchi (French Formula Renault 2.0 champion and F3 Euroseries champion), Daniel Zampieri (2009 Italian F3 champion), Marco Zipoli (2009 Italian F3 Championship runner-up) and Pablo Sanchez Lopez (third in the Italian F3 Championship).

Force India: J.R. Hildebrand (2009 Indy Lights champion) and Paul Di Resta (23006 F3 Euroseries champion).

Red Bull: Daniel Ricciardo (2009 British F3 champion).

Renault: Bertrand Baguette (2009 Bertrand Baguette champion) and Lucas Di Grassi (2007 GP2 Series runner-up).

Toro Rosso: Brendon Hartley (2007 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion) and Mirko Bortolotti (2008 Italian F3 champion).

Williams: Andy Soucek (2009 F2 champion) and Nico Hulkenberg (2009 GP2 Series champion).


Renault announces Jerez test line-up

Quote:The Renault team will test Bertrand Baguette, Lucas di Grassi and Ho-Pin Tung in the upcoming testing session at the Jerez circuit in Spain.

Baguette, the current Formula Renault 3.5 champion, will be joined by Renault's reserve di Grassi an Chinese prospect Tung, who had already driven F1 machinery during a test with Williams.

Belgian Baguette will be on track on Tuesday, December 1 as his prize for winning the World Series title this year.

"Testing is so restricted nowadays, but this young driver test is the perfect opportunity for us to assess rising stars such as Bertrand, Ho-Pin and Lucas," said team boss Bob Bell.

"All these drivers have shown great promise and we look forward to seeing what they are capable of as we complete our test programme for the year."

[icegirljenni]

Turvey to test for McLaren at Jerez

Quote:Oliver Turvey is to make his Formula 1 testing debut behind the wheel of a McLaren at Jerez in Spain this week.

The young Briton, who has been handed the drive as part of his prize for winning the 2006 McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Young Driver Award, says he cannot wait to get out on track during the young driver test days.

"I've gone over this moment so many times in my mind, so it's very exciting to be getting this opportunity to test with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team at Jerez this week," he said.

"My aim is to enjoy the experience, but also to learn as much as I can from it. If possible, I'd also like to be able to help the team with their preparations for the 2010 season."

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh added: "We're extremely proud of our commitment to young talent and the efforts we've made to ensure the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver winners are given the experience of a lifetime when they test with us.

"A drive in a race-wining Formula 1 car is every racing driver's dream, and I'm sure Oliver will use this week's test as the perfect opportunity to broaden his experience as he continues his successful single-seater career."

[Tension_36th]

And so it begins

Day 1 at Jerez

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Soucek Williams 1m19.158s 87
2. Di Resta Force India 1m19.369s + 0.221s 46
3. Paffett McLaren 1m19.426s + 0.268s 54
4. Ricciardo Red Bull 1m19.534s + 0.376s 112
5. Bianchi Ferrari 1m19.626s + 0.486s 90
6. Conway Brawn 1m19.920s + 0.762s 58
7. Rossi Sauber 1m20.227s + 1.069s 82
8. Ericsson Brawn 1m20.333s + 1.175s 49
9. Baguette Renault 1m20.511s + 1.363s 105
10. Hildebrand Force India 1m20.537s + 1.379s 49
11. Turvey McLaren 1m20.856s + 1.698s 27
11. Hartley Toro Rosso 1m21.325s + 2.167s 69

I will be looking into the developmental parts they were testing especially Ferrari's. These teams are fooling nobody when they say they are doing this to help young drivers, what they are really interested is in the parts they will be testing for 2010.

[Tension_36th]

Day 2 at Jerez

Jerez - 02/12/2009
1 . G. Paffett - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 1:18.718 (+ 0.000 ) - 80 laps
2 . N. Hulkenberg - Williams Toyota FW31 - 1:19.184 (+ 0.466 ) - 94 laps
3 . D. Ricciardo - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 1:19.243 (+ 0.525 ) - 92 laps
4 . P. di Resta - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 1:19.411 (+ 0.693 ) - 58 laps
5 . E. Gutierrez - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 1:20.190 (+ 1.472 ) - 68 laps
6 . M. Conway - Brawn Mercedes BGP 001 - 1:20.222 (+ 1.504 ) - 83 laps
7 . M. Ericsson - Brawn Mercedes BGP 001 - 1:20.440 (+ 1.722 ) - 37 laps
8 . JR. Hilderbrand - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 1:20.517 (+ 1.799 ) - 49 laps
9 . J. Bianchi - Ferrari F60 - 1:20.586 (+ 1.868 ) - 113 laps
10 . L. Di Grassi - Renault R29 - 1:20.898 (+ 2.180 ) - 54 laps
11 . H. Tung - Renault R29 - 1:21.492 (+ 2.774 ) - 67 laps
12 . M. Bortolotti - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR4 - 1:21.761 (+ 3.043 ) - 79 laps.

[Tension_36th]

The only noticeable activity in the last two days is that Redbull is definitely considering some big push on the front wings for next year, because as you can see in the pics below they are measuring downforce generated along the end plates and edge surfaces.






This is because the front wheels will be narrower, so there is no need to waste too much time focusing on to directing the airflow around these drag causing large front tyres of 2009. We have already gone over this in detail in the 2010 F1 technical analysis <--- here

[TheProdigalSon]

Ferrari have been doing long runs in the second test, I read somewhere they were doing something to their engine? Probably trying to solve the fuel consumption problem. I hope they have made progress.

[Tension_36th]

They dont need to be running on a real track to reduce fuel consumption it can be done at the bench in the factory. This sort of work would be on every engine maker's agenda already right from the end of the last race.

So I would put that down to just random theorization.

[icegirljenni]

Yes, Ferrari somehow were trying to get the fuel consumption test right at the beginning of the test. Heard that the outcome was totally not something they expecting. But they dont need to really test it here anyway.

[Chrissie]

While it's great to know that there's some form of on-track action going on, I want PROPER testing with PROPER drivers

[Tension_36th]

I hear ya Chrissie, but the longer the wait the better the time for last moment introductions of the very latest development in the windtunnel for all teams. But of course for this to work well the car should not be a lemon to start with.

Day 3 Jerez

1 D. Ricciardo Red Bull 1:17.418 77laps
2 P. di Resta Force India F1 1:18.736 53laps
3 G. Paffett McLaren 1:18.746 59laps
4 M. Conway Brawn GP 1:19.096 77laps
5 N. Hulkenberg Williams 1:19.226 106laps
6 B. Baguette Renault 1:19.356 70laps
7 O. Turvey McLaren 1:19.358 32laps
8 M. Ericsson Brawn GP 1:19.382 49laps
9 L. Di Grassi Renault 1:19.602 123laps
10 J.R. Hildebrand Force India F1 1:19.873 41laps
11 P. Sanchez Lopez Ferrari 1:21.147 39laps
12 D. Zampieri Ferrari 1:21.279 42laps
13 M. Zipoli Ferrari 1:21.725 41laps
14 B. Hartley 1:22.493 50laps
15 M. Bortolotti Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:23.271 34laps
16 H. Tung Renault 1:32.477 4laps

[Tension_36th]

Kubica overseeing Renault tests.

[Tension_36th]

Teams are already testing without the wheel fairings namely Ferrari and Redbull, wheel fairings will be banned in 2010












A better view of the downforce/load measuring device on the nose tested by Redbull

[Chrissie]

Wow Kubica went to the tests, that's dedication for ya, eh?

Thank GOD they've lost those awful, awful wheel fairings

[Tension_36th]

Mclaren think they are somehow very funny.



Guess they think Santa will gift them and their preciooouusss the title on a platter.

[icegirljenni]

LOL

[Tension_36th]

Upcoming 2010 winter testing schedule

February 1st-3rd - Circuito Ricardo Tormo in Valencia
February 10th-13th - Circuito de Jerez in Jerez
February 17th-20th - Circuito de Jerez in Jerez
February 25th to 28th - Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona

[icegirljenni]

Now bring it on the real test...

[icegirljenni]

Lotus will join second Jerez test

Quote:Lotus is scheduled to get its new Formula 1 car out on track for the first time at Jerez in Spain from February 17, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

The Hingham-based team, which is continuing its preparations for a return to grand prix racing in 2010, will join the final two F1 tests of the winter that take place before the first race of the season in Bahrain.

Chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne told AUTOSPORT: "We are actually a week ahead of schedule. When we got the entry on September 12, our schedule said we would fire up on February 12 - and we are now scheduled to fire up on February 5.

USF1? tension favorite will not be there though...

[Tension_36th]

US F1 is busy evaluating what shape and color their desks and chairs will be.

Its a very serious challenge you see.

[icegirljenni]

tension