"... we should be able to qualify in the top 12."

Good test last week
By Huw Alban
May 7 2002

The OrangeArrows team are more focused and more determined now due to an excellent result in Spain, and a successful test at Silverstone. Historically Austria has always been a kind circuit for the team - hopefully adding to the points haul by the end of Sunday ?

"I like Austria very much," Heinz-Harald Frentzen said in the teams post Grand Prix press release. "The circuit is mainly made up of slow corners, which makes it quite a high downforce track so it should suit the A23 well. On the downside, the slower turns and big kerbs can often disrupt your pace over the whole lap, so you really have to stay focused here. Obviously with getting the team's first point in Spain, we are all really determined to keep the drive and the rhythm going. Hopefully we can have another good race here this weekend."

Enrique Bernoldi had a good test with the team at Silverstone last week, and is hoping that the improvements will show at Austria. "Our test at Silverstone last week went well and we completed a good number of laps, which of course always helps us to gather more data and helps us to prepare for the next race. The mileage on the car is really important to us now. The team realised some of the car's potential with Heinz-Harald in Spain so hopefully I will have the opportunity to show it this time around."

As for the race itself, Bernoldi is going to concentrate on qualifying position and keep an eye on the weather. "The A1 Ring is a very smooth track with little grip and is made up of mostly slow corners with a few quick ones thrown in. It's fun to race on though as there are opportunities for overtaking but I would still prefer to get a good spot in qualifying. Last year I had a great start to the race but retired with a hydraulic problem, which was a shame as the car was running really well. It's
worth noting that the weather can change fast there as the circuit is up in the mountains."

Mike Coughlan, Technical Director, "We hope to have the engine spec we used on the Saturday in Spain again for qualifying here as well as for the race which is a definite step forward for us. Engine power is at a premium at the A1 Ring as it is one of the highest full throttle races on the calendar. We were able to run the new engine spec for two days at Silverstone, completing well over race distance and we were very pleased with its performance. We also tested a rear suspension upgrade over the two days and that also went very well.

"Historically, we have always run well in Austria - Enrique had his best qualifying performance of the year in 2001 and we got our first point here last year - but we are aware that past performances aren't always an assurance, however I think we have good cause to be optimistic. We will be working very hard to make sure that we get the best out of the car in qualifying and I would
say we should be able to qualify in the top 12."