Power loss & fuel pressure to blame this time

Testing next week
By Huw Alban
April 29 2002

OrangeArrows have to cope with yet another difficult and result-less weekend today, as for the second race in a row the team has seen both cars retire from the race. Both Frentzen and Bernoldi were running strongly, with Frentzen on a one stop strategy and possibly with a shot at some points today.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen was the first to go when around lap 26 when the UK TV coverage suddenly cut away to the German's A23 running on the grass. It appears that Frentzen suffered a sudden power loss from his Cosworth engine, and although the team does not specify the reason for the loss, it is probable that it was linked to electrical systems in the car.

"I had a tough start to the race as, while I was defending my position from Fisichella, his team-mate Sato got past," described Frentzen in the teams post race press release. "I managed to retake him on the next lap though. The car felt good until I experienced a sudden loss of power a couple of laps before I was due to come in for my pit-stop. We have a lot of work to do at Silverstone next week."

Enrique Bernoldi also had a strong race, and had worked his way up to 10th, when the same problem also retired his car. Again the TV coverage cut away from the race leaders, to show Bernoldi's A23 drive straight on into the gravel at the second Rivazza corner.

"I was approaching Rivazza, shifted down, and had no power so had to pull off the track," Bernoldi explained. "For sure it is disappointing to have my race cut short as I was enjoying myself out there today."

Technical Director, Mike Coughlan, expressed fustration at the reliability of the teams package mainly because the car has definate race pace and both men were performing well today. "Heinz-Harald was going well on a one-stop strategy but experienced a sudden lost of fuel rail pressure. Enrique’s problem is currently unexplained as we lost telemetry.

"Both drivers had the pace today and it’s annoying that we are having these reliability issues. We are testing at Silverstone next week so believe me we will be putting in a few race distances !"