Williams to base test team at Valencia
Test Team at work
By Andrew Hooper
February 9 2008
Reports originating from the Spanish press have the AT&T Williams team setting up a permanent test base for the team near to the Valencia circuit, home of this years European Grand Prix. Part of the proposal would see the team give young Spanish drivers the opportunity to test with the team. Negotiations are currently taking place between the team and local authorities.
| Williams to base test team at Valencia |
|
Reports
originating from the
Spanish press have the AT&T Williams team setting up a permanent test base
for the team near to the Valencia circuit, home of this years European Grand
Prix. Part of the proposal would see the team give young Spanish drivers the
opportunity to test with the team. Negotiations are currently taking place
between the team and local authorities. |
 |
The
move to Spain would allow the team to save time and money as the vast
majority of the testing that is conducted by the team is held in Spain at
tracks like Valencia, Jerez, and the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona.As I understand, Ferrari's track is not goverened by the testing regs? (may be wrong)
All test sessions are regulated by the FIA and every team has the same amount of testt days available to them whether they test at their own track or elsewhere. However, the teams have unrestricted testing upto 60km (?) which is meant to allow them a shakedown of their cars in between the normal test dates but as we have seen, some teams do not follow this and breach the spirit of its intentions by doing straightline aero tests upto the 60km limit.
Some call it maximising potential track time, some say breaking the spirit of the regs.....
As I understand it this new hub will mean Williams will utilise the Valencia track more often than not, either for private tests or open sessions but be within easy reach of the track and not have to send trucks to and frow from Grove. doubt Williams would want to set this up with the aim of saving money and then invest in a costly track build.
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On another thought... was there any mention of where the test base may be? a former race team HQ would be handy, not sure what is available in around Valencia. Would definately help in cutting costs, or is the base simply going to be a warehouse for storage, to save freighting bills, etc.
At present I do not believe there is anything at or near the Valencia track that fits this bill so something wll have to be built or heavily modified to accomodate the team and this is why Williams have asked for some financial assistance from the Valencia government in exchange for us giving Spanish drivers a shot in the teams cars.
This is a very cunning plan which allows the team a free hub in Spains testing heartland whilst also getting a huge Spanish audience to allign themselves with the team for investing into the Spanish economy/sporting development programme. This could see more Spanish sponsors and more money for the team while reducing testing expenditure.
It begs the question - why hasn't this been done before now?
The WilliamsF1 Team - Legendary fighters spanning 4 decades. 16 times World Champions
************** LETS STAY POSITIVE FOR WILLIAMSF1 IN 2012 **************
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:02:09:14:11:36 by Steven.
The WilliamsF1 Team - Legendary fighters spanning 4 decades. 16 times World Champions
************** LETS STAY POSITIVE FOR WILLIAMSF1 IN 2012 **************
Source
Translation:
The bulletins in the media that Williams would set up its own test basis in Valencia to be incorrect. The team of Williams denies compared with F1Today.nl that the tales have been based on truth, because it is practical and financially onhaalbaar for the team from Grove. The Spanish newspaper ASH melde rather that Williams correct money would save with setting up a test basis in Spain. With his own test basis in Valencia the team would prevent logistical problems and less time and spends money back and forth for travelling between their thuisbasis in Grove and the tests in Spain. Moreover Williams would be near an agreement with the municipality Valencia in the buurt of the test circuit their own build test basis. In ruil for that the team regular Spanish hopefuls the chance must give to test in Williams. Communication manager of Williams, Liam Clogger do not communicate exclusively compared with F1Today.nl:"De recover concerning their own test basis for Williams in Spain are where. Its own facility or a test basis in Spain would be for our correctly complete illogical and it is financially absolutely not feasable. It is for our practically unrealizable set up something like that.
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