WilliamsF1 returns to Jerez for more testing

It would be back to testing for the BMW WilliamsF1 team aiming to try and work through the problems that has confronted the team with the updated FW27 at both the French and British Grand Prix. For the team this would be the last test before the testing break in August.

Present for the days testing was test drivers Antonio Pizzonia and Nico Rosberg. Mark Webber was meant to be testing but had withdrawn from these duties as he tries to recover from the burns to his hip that he received during the French Grand Prix.

On a day that was hot and sunny the team would continue testing the FW27 as well as preparing for the next rounds of the championship the German and Hungarian Grands Prix. The team would also take the opportunity to test for the first time BMW's 2006 V8 engine.

But for the team, who had worked through into the early hours of the morning prior to the start of testing fitting the new V8 engine into the current chassis, the days test would be hindered by Nico Rosberg becoming ill with stomach pains and been unable to complete his part of the test program. This would see Antonio Pizzonia taking over Rosberg's car.

Pizzonia's testing of the new V8 had lasted only four laps in the morning after succumbing to problems. Antonio would focus on set-up and comparison work. Nico would focus on testing the FW27 with its new body work. He would complete forty laps, with a best lap time of 1m:19.484. Antonio completed sixteen laps with a best lap time of 1m:20.102. Tomorrow will see  Nick Heidfeld will join Antonio.

WilliamsF1 Test Team Manager Tim Newton commented on the days testing by saying: "Nico spent the majority of today’s test investigating the issues we are trying to resolve on the current chassis. He also completed some systems checks and set-up development work. Antonio drove the FW27B this morning, in which we are running the new BMW V8 engine for the first time, but returned to the FW27A chassis in the afternoon when Rosberg was forced to withdraw from the test with stomach problems. Antonio will be joined by Nick Heidfeld for the second day of the test.”

Driver		Car/Engine	Best	 Laps	 Tyres

A Wurz		McLaren 	1:16.901 29 / 89 M
R Schumacher	Toyota Racing	1:17.614 51 / 57 M
F Montagny	RenaultF1 Team	1:17.684 60 / 69 M
J Button	BAR Honda	1:17.689 46 / 75 M
F Massa		Sauber Petronas	1:17.993 68 / 77 M
G Fisichella	RenaultF1 Team	1:18.034 21 / 74 M
C Klien		Red Bull Racing	1:18.217 75 / 82 M
A Davidson	BAR Honda	1:18.390 62 / 64 M
V Liuzzi	Red Bull Racing	1:18.397 15 / 79 M
J P Montoya	McLaren		1:18.535 13 / 27 M
R Zonta		Toyota Racing	1:18.747 36 / 41 M
N Rosberg	BMW WilliamsF1	1:19.484 31 / 40 M
A Pizzonia	BMW WilliamsF1	1:20.102 12 / 16 M
O Panis		Toyota Racing	1:22.429 11 / 23 M