FW34 looks very encouraging

As the Williams F1 team prepares to shown their 2012 contender, the FW34, to the world the Williams team has revealed that they are well on track with the development of the car with it having already passed the necessary FIA crash tests back in December.

Williams’ Chief Operations Engineer Mark Gillan was quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport in regard to the testings saying: “We passed all the various crash tests before Christmas. General performance trends look very encouraging and the processes, in terms of development and on the design side, have dramatically changed. So it’s looking very encouraging."

Passing these test has become even more important as a result of the the FIA introducing a new rule this year that all cars must have passed every test before being able to run.

As for the season added Gillan added that the team hoped the FW34 was a regular top ten finisher: "Going forwards, I’d say we are on target. We want to be consistently in the points and in the top ten. We want to be through to Q3 and scoring points at the end of the race. I am confident that we can achieve that goal.”

With all the development work on track the FW34 is on schedule for an early February debut. This was backed up by comments from Gillan, who said the actual track debut of the Renault-powered FW34 will take place during an aerodynamic test before the opening test at Jerez on the 7th February.

Gillan also spo0ke of how he welcomed the FIA’s banning of exhaust blowing. Gillan added
“It (the ban) neutralises the lead that some teams had achieved in this area. So the field should move closer together now, at least at the beginning of the season. After that it’s a matter of time before someone comes up with the next F-duct or double diffuser.”

Overall the Williams are confident that their 2012 car will help them to return to the top of the Formula One teams, after several years of seeing the Williams team drop down the order.

As for the pre-season tests they are follows:
Jerez:        February  7-10
Barcelona: February  21-24
Barcelona: March     1-4