Enrique Bernoldi at a tech test for Arrows

On arrival at a sunny but windy paddock, there were indeed two groups of lorries from Arrows and Jordan. In addition there were a large number of GT racing team trucks and assorted hospitality tents. In addition to the F1 team trucks there were also trailers for Bridgestone and Honda (as you would expect). Prior to the session starting the GT teams were working frantically to set up their pit lane gear, and in the background Arrows fired up and revved one of their Cosworth engines in the garage.

Quick peaks inside the two garages showed one car a-piece for each team, both up on jacks with mechanics all round fitting parts, checking and tightening bolts. Arrows had a large number of spare body parts (car ones!) in the garage next door, mostly consisting of front wings and engine covers. Sergio Rinland popped out into the pit lane for a quick look - this suggests that Arrows will be looking at some aero parts today. Enrique Bernoldi came out of the Arrows garage for a look at the track (which was mostly dry, with damp patches), but didn't look particularly happy on his return.

Enrique Bernoldi was first out onto the track 15 minutes into the morning session. As the Arrows garage shutters went up it was easy to see at least two bits of technological wizardry (see picture below) bolted onto the front of the car. The front wing had a package taped onto one of the support struts, and bolted to the nose cone was a light emitting device with the light beam projecting onto the ground. Jaguar used something similar last year projecting down through the front wing that was alleged to have measured front ride height and ground speed.

Enrique completed his installation lap on intermediate tyres. Once back in the garage, his car was lifted up, the tyres changed and a swarm of mechanics lifted the engine cover and examined the contents of the engine bay minutely using little Maglite torches. Meanwhile a Jordan pulls out of the garage driven by Takuma Sato, who completes his installation lap.

Enrique is soon back out this time on grooved tyres, and completes 3 timed laps before returning to the pit lane. At the start of his run Enrique stops in the pit lane exit road and performs a practice start, which all goes smoothly. At the end of his run the Brazilian pulls level with the garage (unusual as normally the car sweeps around towards the pit wall ready to be pushed back into the garage) and seems to be preparing to do another practice start. Suddenly his Cosworth engine dies and the A23 in pushed forward, and then backwards into the garage. Once in the garage bay smoke starts to billow from the front nearside brake, and the team lower the garage shutters to avoid prying eyes.

Around 11:00 the Arrows shutters roll up again to reveal the team making adjustments to the front suspension and the front wing. Hovering in the back of the garage is Technical Director Mike Coughlan - a heavy technical and aerodynamic presense for the team today. Enrique soon takes to the track, but returns to the pits one lap before his pit board tells him to. He is soon back out again, but part way round his lap the engine note suddenly dies away and he can be heard touring around the circuit. The A23 tours up the pit lane and parks outside the garage. As the car is pushed back into the garage the mechanic at the front give the instruction to lower the shutters immediately. Through an open doorway it was possible to see a group of mechanics huddled around the front offside wheel. They appeared to be having problems in removing the wheel nut, and the wheel itself looked loose. A few minutes later the entire wheel hub had been stripped, and was in the process of being re-assembled.

Enrique finished the morning session with 3 short 3 lap runs.

Takuma Sato started the afternoons action with two attacking laps from the Japanese driver. Viewing his run from the Vale and Club corner, Taku really braked deep into the corners and used every millimetre of kirb. Enrique Bernoldi came out about 10 minutes after Taku's run and completed a slow out lap. His next lap didn't look at all committed and he took to the pit lane at the end of it.

Around 14:30 an F1 engine could be heard revving as a car made it's way down the pit lane. Suddenly the noise died away, and the recovery landrover from the top of Maggotts & Becketts made it's way towards the pit lane exit road. It was all quiet at Silverstone for a good half an hour, before Takuma Sato again ventured out - suggesting perhaps that it was Bernoldi that had had a problem.

During the next hour Sato and Bernoldi did about 3 short runs each, with Sato looking the more committed. Around 16:00 Bernoldi finished his run and on his last laps looked much more 'on it' than before. View him from the Abbey chicane, it was possible to see him throw his A23 deep into Club corner and then right to the outside of Vale before approaching Abbey.

By 16:30 Jordan were all done for the day and were packing up their garage. Arrows meantime were putting their test car through a 10 lap run, with Enrique posting 1.26's and low 1.25's (according to his pit board). A quick visit to the garage for an adjustment under the engine cover and Enrique was off again, for probably the last run of the day. Just after 17:00 Enrique pulled back into the pit lane, got out of the car and started talking to the mechanics. Apparently he had completed 73 laps and the team seemed very pleased with the days work.

The next test at Silverstone starts on the 28^th of May and runs through until the 30^th. As this is the last test session before the British Grand Prix, it is normal that the test is attended my most (if not all of the grid). If you want to see your favourite team for free at Silverstone then you’d better get yourself down there during the last week in May.