Reliability the biggest wildcard at San Marino

H-H Frentzen
By Huw Alban
April 29 2002

Imola 2001 was a one car finish affair for OrangeArrows, and with the season that the team have had so far it is almost impossible to predict how the team will fare there next weekend. The team were already talking confidently after Brazil, but reliability has to be the major factor against the team

Starting from 16th and 17th on the grid in 2001, the OrangeArrows team must have been hoping for a rain shower to turn their fortunes around. Dark rain clouds had threatened all weekend, but the rains didn't come.

Both drivers started well, running line-astern for most of the first laps, but then Jos Verstappen started his usual charge through the pack and began making up places. The Dutchman's charge came to an early halt, when on lap 7 soaring temperatures forced his car to retire. It was later found that an exhaust fault was to blame.

Team mate Enrique Bernoldi continued his race, and completed his first race condition pit stops with the team. His early practice stops had not gone well with cones (simulating the team members) suffering many 'deaths'. All the practice paid off with the real stops taking place without a hitch. Enrique eventually finished the 2001 race in 10th position.

Next Sunday the team return to Imola, and appear to be in an optimistic mood, boosted by the obvious race pace of the A23. Heinz-Harald Frentzen stormed through the mid-field at Interlagos before his rear suspension gave way, retiring him to the pit garage. After the Brazilian Grand Prix, a disappointed Mike Coughlan said, "We have had no problems with that part until today so we are obviously very disappointed. Both drivers were running strongly in the race so we look forward to Imola where temperatures should suit us more."

Reliability, and start line dramas have been the major weakness for the team so far in 2002, and if they can be overcome then there is no reason why the team cannot achieve consistent points finishes. With the absense of the test team from the F1 test venues, there also does not seem to be a huge amount of obvious effort going into improving these issues. The fans at the moment are understandably nervous about the team chances this weekend, and this site fears that we will see yet again a strong Friday practice followed by a weaker Saturday. If the team are true to form then the race pace will be good. How long the OrangeArrows cars stay on the timing charts tracking the race is anybodies guess.