First run for FW27 at Barcelona

On a day that would start off cold the BMW WilliamsF1 team would return to the Barcelona Catalunya circuit for what would be the team's penultimate test prior to the start of the 2005 Formula One World Championship in Australia. Present were Mark Weber and test driver Antonio Pizzonia.

For the team this would be the first time the new FW27 had run at this circuit so a large part of the first day was spent evaluating setups. It was also Antonio's first run in the FW27 so he would focus on getting use to the new car. Mark would complete ninety seven laps with a best lap time of 1m:16.514, while Antonio would complete forty six laps, with a best time of 1m:17.551.

WilliamsF1 Test Team Manager Tim Newton commented: "Mark and Antonio were testing for the team today, our first day in Barcelona with the FW27. Since this was Antonio’s first outing in the new car, he spent the day getting used to his surroundings and concentrating on set-up work. Mark, meanwhile, also focussed on set-up options as well as completing some tyre testing. Mark will be joined by Nick tomorrow.“

With the start of the season rapidly approaching team driver Nick Heidfeld has spoken of the new FW27 and how he feels it will be competitive.

Nick said: “The car is good enough to be at the front. It has improved each day, little by little. The car is very, very competitive. The speed is lower, but the balance is much better than last year.”

Driver		Team		Best	Laps	Tyres

F Alonso		RenaultF1 Team	1:14.981	66 / 108	M
K Raikkonen	McLaren Mercedes	1:15.239	27 / 89	M
R Zonta		Toyota Racing	1:15.360	77 / 81	M
J P Montoya	McLaren Mercedes	1:15.390	62 / 65	M
G Fisichella	RenaultF1 Team	1:15.631	58 / 60	M
D Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	1:15.714	93 / 94	M
V Liuzzi		Red Bull Racing	1:16.140	62 / 71	M
M Webber		BMW WilliamsF1	1:16.514	95 / 98	M
J Trulli		Toyota Racing	1:16.550	67 / 100	M
M Schumacher	Scuderia Ferrari	1:16.624	100 / 101	B
A Pizzonia		BMW WilliamsF1 	1:17.551	30 / 46	M
T Monteiro		Jordan Grand Prix	1:20.031	69 / 90	B
N Karthikeyan	Jordan Grand Prix	1:20.454	63 / 76	B