WilliamsF1 completes Valencia Test
Marc Gene
By Andrew Hooper
November 29 2002
The BMW WilliamsF1 team completed their three day test session at the Valencia circuit. Regular drivers Montoya and Gene would be joined by Vitantonio Liuzzi, with Giorgio Pantano spending the day on the sidelines. Juan Pablo would conduct tyre testing while Marc focused on the 2003 P83 engine.
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| Valencia Test 28:11:2002 Final Day | |
| After three days of
extensive testing the BMW WilliamsF1 Team concluded their test program at
the Valencia circuit. This was the first in what will be many test sessions
that the team will conduct in the run-up to the opening Grand Prix of the
2003 Formula One season. The final day of the test would again see four drivers present for the WilliamsF1 team with regular drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Marc Gené backed up by Giorgio Pantano and Vitantonio Liuzzi. The Italian drivers would complete three full sessions. Juan Pablo and Marc would finish the day with third and fourth fastest times. Juan Pablo would complete a
total of 137 laps, this been almost the length of two Grand Prixs. Juan
Pablo would concentrate on extensive tyre tests for partner Michelin. He
would again improve his personal best time with a lap of 1m:12.147 after
having completed 548.5 kilometres. Sam Michael, Chief Operations
Engineer, WilliamsF1, had the following comments: "Dry weather testing
wrapped up today. We had a useful test with Juan Pablo concentrating on tyre
compounds and casings as well as some brake developments. Marc continued
putting mileage on the new engine and gearbox and although we have some of
the normal teething problems, initial signs are good. We also had Giorgio
Pantano and Vitantonio Liuzzi testing for us in the third car. They both did
a good job, working well with the engineers and making a good contribution
to an extensive job sheet. Now we have two days of Michelin wet testing with
Marc before heading to Barcelona." For the two Italian drivers
Pantano and Liuzzi, both would come away from the three days testing excited
about been given a chance to drive a Formula One car. On Friday and Saturday, Marc Gené will stay in Valencia to continue the tyre tests. As for the other teams
present, McLaren, Renault, and Sauber, it would be McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen who would
continue to head the times. Kimi would complete 114 laps recording a best
time of 1:10.664. Next came team-mate David Coulthard who was having his
first run in the modified MP4-17D, lapping just over a second slower than
Raikkonen. |
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Driver Team
Engine Chassis Tyre Time Laps |
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Test driver Marc Gené focused on engine development testing using the 2003
BMW P83 engine all over the day. The new engine would complete fifty nine
laps without having any problems and with various set-up variations being
tested. Marc would also set his best time with a lap of 1m:13.510.
Dr Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director, added: "We have been testing the
new P83 engine for three days in one of the chassis running at Valencia. We
have been concentrating on the basic functionality of the 2003 engine. The
other two cars were running with the P82 engine, with their programme
focused on tyre testing, suspension and, of course, the evaluation drives of
Pantano and Liuzzi. From our point of view, the Valencia test was a
successful one and we are satisfied with the results."
Vitantonio Liuzzi added: "I will never forget the pure thrill of my first
ever lap and the experience of driving a Formula One car. The team was
fantastic, gave me great support and was very friendly, which resulted in an
amazing three days. I am very grateful to the BMW WilliamsF1 Team for giving
me the opportunity to realise my dream of driving in Formula One."
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