WilliamsF1 back testing after Brazil

By Andrew Hooper
April 10 2003


	Paul Richard Test 08:04:2003 Day One of Four

	Once again the BMW WilliamsF1 team was back out testing after having run in the Brazilian Grand Prix just two days before. Present at the Paul Ricard circuit was Ralf Schumacher and regular test driver Marc Gene. Both drivers would work on the continued development of the FW25. The drivers, in particular Ralf who had to contend with a weekend of rain in Brazil, would have to deal with cold, windy and overcast conditions. This track is new to the team having not used it for quite some time so some time was spent finding a setup for the circuit. Despite the less than ideal conditions Ralf would complete eighty one laps of the circuit, with a best lap time of 1m:08.454s which placed him second behind Toyota's Ricardo Zonta. For Marc he would also work the FW25. Marc would complete fifty three laps with a best time of 1m09.209s, third fastest. Neither driver had any problems and the test will continue until Friday. WilliamsF1 Test Team Manager Tim Newton commented on the days testing by saying: “The drivers were getting used to the Ricard circuit having not driven here before. The weather was dry, overcast but cool all day - top temp ambient 10 degrees, track 22 degrees. We were running two cars and two drivers. Chassis FW25-01 was piloted by Mark Gené and FW25-05 was driven by Ralf. We focused on set-up for the forthcoming European season“. For Toyota's Ricardo Zonta he would complete a total of one hundred and eight laps around the short version of the French circuit. Olivier Panis was also in present for the Toyota team, the Frenchman finishing as fourth fastest. Testing continues tomorrow, when the McLaren and BAR teams are scheduled to join.

	Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Zonta Toyota (M) 1:08.277 108 2. R. Schumacher Williams-BMW (M) 1:08.454 81 3. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:09.209 53 4. Panis Toyota (M) 1:09.355 49