WilliamsF1 Silverstone Test Day One

With the Monaco Grand Prix only two days behind us the BMW WilliamsF1 team was back out testing with both Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya at Silverstone for the first day of a three day test. The day was to see wet conditions affect the track with rain falling during the day, making conditions for any serious testing very difficult. The intention was to start setup work for the cars for the Canadian Grand Prix.

Such were the conditions that several drivers would spend time in the gravel after spinning. In the afternoon Juan Pablo Montoya had a moment at the Abbey chicane. He had to take to the gravel at the first corner and looked to be heading straight for the tyre wall, but he managed to turn his Williams and just managed to make it back onto the track. This was right in front of some WilliamsF1 corporate guests who were view the afternoons proceedings from the public stand areas in that location.

Tim Newton, WilliamsF1 Test Team Manager, commented on the test by saying: "The weather, plenty of red flags and unfortunate timing in taking to the track prevented a clean run at the job sheet today, which is in part reflected by our progress."

Instead of trying different compounds of dry weather tyres for the Grand Prix in Canada, the two concentrated on set-up tests and the adjustment of the electronic system. Fast lap times were only a secondary aim. Thus Ralf finished his first testing after thirty one laps in 1m:37.339 as his best lap time and as eleventh in the ranking. Juan Pablo made altogether thirty laps, the fastest clocked at 1m:38.346.

Of the other teams present it would be Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella who would set the fastest time of the day. The Jordan could be seen with a front wing similar to the others seen been curved rather than angular in shape. Fisichella was almost a second quicker than Andre Lotterer who was second in his first ever Jaguar R3 appearance. Next came Ferrari's Luca Badoer in third. Fourth would see McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen with team test driver in sixth. Raikkonen would suffer an engine failure during the day and Wurz would go off into the gravel at Brooklands during the morning session.

Felipe Massa managed to set the 5th fastest time of the day. 'It was good to be back in the cockpit so soon after Monaco, but irritating that the running I did was interrupted frequently by red flags as several people spun,' he commented. '

This was not the only incident of the day as Toyota's tester Stephane Sarrazin came off the track as well: "Unfortunately I had a spin towards the end of the session. I do not know how it happened, but it resulted in some damage to the car." His Toyota was severely damaged with both front and rear wings and front suspension in need of repair. As for his Toyota team-mate Ryan Briscoe he was to have a better day. He said: "We got some good work done on traction control and also on mechanical set-up."

Several drivers had off track excursions, including Jarno Trulli who would spin at Stowe corner. For the Michelin runners it was an opportunity to gain more experience under such wet conditions. The BMW WilliamsF1 Team will continue testing until Thursday.