Sauber complete the first test of the new C22

The new C22
By Phil Huff
January 16 2003

Sauber Petronas completed a successful first test for the new C22 which has generated a great deal of data which will be processed in Hinwil in readiness for further tests at Valencia later in the month.

Willy Rampf (Technical Director) said "Our program with the new car today was with Heinz-Harald Frentzen to continue the aerodynamic validation that we started with Nick in the previous two days. This afternoon we also completed a tyre test program on behalf of Bridgestone. Overall we are satisfied with the performance of the C22 in this first test and also with its on-going reliability.

Nick Heidfeld commented "It was interesting getting back in the C21 today for its last test with the Team. It confirmed all my deep-feelings about the improvements we have made with the C22."

Heinz-Harald Frentzen said "I was very excited to get my hands on the C22 for the first time today, after the way Nick spoke about it yesterday. I have to say he was right. The car feels more stable than the C21 and easier to drive. It's going to be good."

Testing times so far, for all teams, appear below...

P	Driver	Team	Engine	Car	Tyre	Best Lap	Gap
1	D Coulthard	McLaren	Mercedes	MP4/17D	M	1:15.266	-
2	A Wurz	McLaren	Mercedes	MP4/17D	M	1:15.511	0.245
3	K Raikkonen	McLaren	Mercedes	MP4/17D	M	1:16.158	0.892
4	M Gene	Williams	BMW	FW24	M	1:16.568	1.302
5	HH Frentzen	Sauber	Petronas	C22	B	1:16.656	1.390
6	N Heidfeld	Sauber	Petronas	C22	B	1:16.688	1.422
7	JP Montoya	Williams	BMW	FW24	M	1:16.828	1.562
8	O Panis	Toyota	Toyota	TF102	M	1:16.884	1.618
9	C da Matta	Toyota	Toyota	TF102	M	1:18.124	2.858
10	J Button	BAR	Honda	BAR005	B	1:18.388	3.122
11	M Webber	Jaguar	Cosworth	R3	M	1:18.732	3.466
12	O Beretta	Williams	BMW	FW24	M	1:19.160	3.894
13	R Schumacher	Williams	BMW	FW24	M	1:19.637	4.371
14	F Alonso	Renault	Renault	R202	M	1:20.515	5.249
15	A McNish	Renault	Renault	R202	M	1:21.157	5.891