BMW WilliamsF1 team completes Barcelona Test

The test involved tyre work with Michelin, brake systems set-up, chassis development, and the continuation of last week's P83 engine and gearbox programme at the Jerez circuit. By the end of the week the team had been able to work through an extensive schedule and came away pleased with the results.

After the announcement by the FIA that the use if driving aids including traction and launch control will be banned for the 2003 season the WilliamsF1 team quickly started to test the systems without these systems in operation. On the Thursday the team practiced starts with the launch control disabled.

The following day would again see the team working with the cars based on the new 2003 rules. Dr Mario Theissen confirmed this by saying: “From Thursday on, the programme also got under the influence of the results produced by the FIA meeting on Wednesday. Besides automatic launches we also tested manual starts.”

The starts without launch control all worked without any problems.

The team continued to cover plenty of ground in preparation for the launch of the teams 2003 contender the FW25, which is now two weeks away on the 31st January.

Drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher joined test team driver Marc Gené on his home track alongside Olivier Beretta who was also driving at the test for the team. Beretta took over from Ralf who rested a back condition as a precautionary measure. Ralf ‘s condition is being assessed daily but is not a cause for concern and he is expected to return to testing duty shortly.

Olivier will be back testing for the team next Sunday in Valencia for a wet test with Michelin

WilliamsF1 Test Team Manager Tim Newton commented on the five days of testing by saying: "It has been a productive week for the test team in Barcelona. Despite the cold weather the conditions have been constant which has provided a good platform to assess various tyres. We have also made progress with the intermediate chassis FW24D and are on course to meet our objectives for the introduction of the FW25 at the end of the month."

For BMW Motorsport Director Dr Mario Theissen he was pleased with the results of the test. he added: "We have experienced an all round successful test. The team completed a huge programme in terms of engine and chassis development as well as tyre testing. Altogether we achieved a mileage of 3572 km this week in Barcelona. In view of the proposals announced by the FIA on Wednesday we modified our programme from Thursday onwards to include manual starts."

The BMW WilliamsF1 Team will be running a full test schedule from the 19th through to the 24th January at the Valencia circuit.

Monday 13 Jan 2003
Pos. Driver Team/Engine Time Laps

1 JP Montoya WilliamsF1 BMW 1:17.791 31/46
2 M Gene WilliamsF1 BMW 1:18.395 24/63
3 Heinz H. Frentzen Sauber Petronas 1:18.710 27/37
4 N Heidfeld Sauber Petronas 1:18.896 50/62
5 R Schumacher WilliamsF1 BMW 1:19.650 3/5

Tuesday 14 Jan 2003
Pos Driver Team/Engine Times Laps

1. D Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:15.271 26/55
2. M Gene WilliamsF1 BMW 1:16.570 65/70
3. N Heidfeld Sauber Petronas 1:16.687 76/83
4. JP Montoya WilliamsF1 BMW 1:16.821 32/40
5. A Wurz McLaren Mercedes 1:16.976 37/53
6. O Panis Toyota 1:17.071 29/35
7. HH Frenzten Sauber Petronas 1:17.895 9/69
8. C Da Matta Toyota 1:19.081 26/38

Wednesday 15 Jan 2003
Pos. Driver Team/Engine Times Laps

1. D Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:15.276 19/40
2. A Wurz McLaren Mercedes 1:15.513 32/66
3. K Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes 1:16.164 25/38
4. HH Frenzten Sauber Petronas 1:16.658 71/75
5. O Panis Toyota 1:16.886 14/33
6. M Gene WilliamsF1 BMW 1:17.114 30/68
7. JP Montoya WilliamsF1 BMW 1:17.277 39/76
8. N Heidfeld Sauber Petronas 1:17.775 27/30
9. C Da Matta Toyota 1:18.118 84/96
10. J Button BAR Honda 1:18.375 8/31
11. M Webber Jaguar 1:18.718 36/71
12. O Beretta WilliamsF1 BMW 1:19.395 12/48
13. F Alonso Renault 1:20.513 23/47
14. J Trulli Renault 1:21.201 16/24

Thursday 16 Jan 2003
Pos. Driver Team/Engine Times Laps

1. D Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:15.390 29/53
2. K Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes 1:15.999 24/65
3. JP Montoya WilliamsF1 BMW 1:16.153 15/66
4. O Panis Toyota 1:16.388 12/47
5. C Da Matta Toyota 1:17.001 52/59
6. A Wurz McLaren Mercedes 1:17.485 33/95
7. M Gene WilliamsF1 BMW 1:17.581 8/69
8. A Davidson BAR Honda 1:17.630 11/27
9. F Alonso Renault 1:17.857 11/51
10. A.Pizzonia Jaguar 1:18.815 47/52
11. A McNish Jaguar 1:20.206 5/6
12. J Trulli Renault 1:20.770 33/77

Friday 17 Jan 2003
Pos Driver Team/Engine Times Laps

1. F Alonso Renault 1:16.915 28/80
2. M Gene WilliamsF1 BMW 1:17.296 26/103
3. T Sato BAR Honda 1:17.757 40/44
4. JP Montoya WilliamsF1 BMW 1:17.875 9/44
5. A Pizzonia Jaguar 1:18.723 43/85
6. J Trulli Renault 1:18.899 16/62