BMW WilliamsF1 Japanese GP Preview
Ralf in 2004
By BMW WilliamsF1 Team
September 30 2005
The BMW WilliamsF1 team heads to Asia next week for the penultimate round of the 2005 season, the Japanese Grand Prix. Despite being one of the most challenging tracks on the calendar both team drivers are looking forward to the event. For PIzzonia it is his first time at the Suzuka circuit.
| Japanese Grand Prix: Suzuka |
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Suzuka is the only F1 track designed as a figure of eight. The track offers
a wide range of corners, from the tight Spoon curve to the ultra fast 130R.
The circuit is located in the middle of Suzuka Land, a leisure park created
for the families of Honda employees. This year’s event will be the 19th Japanese Grand Prix to be held at Suzuka. Before Formula One’s debut in Suzuka in 1987, two Japanese Grands Prix were hosted on the race track at the foot of Mount Fuji (1976 and 1977). In 1994 and 1995 the Pacific GP was hosted by Japan’s Aida circuit. |
| Race Preview: |
| Formula One heads to Asia
next week for the penultimate round of the 2005 season, the Japanese
Grand Prix. Despite being one of the most challenging tracks on the
calendar, Suzuka remains one of the drivers’ favourites, requiring the
perfect blend of speed, precision and technical ability to achieve a
successful result. In preparation for next weekend’s event, the team spent two days in Jerez this week carrying out an extensive testing schedule, in particular validating the development of new aero components which the team will take to Japan. Antonio Pizzonia has been confirmed as Mark Webber’s team mate for the last two races of the year, with both drivers keen on securing valuable points to consolidate the team’s position in the Constructors’ Championship. Mark Webber: Suzuka is a fairly unique circuit as it has a figure of eight track
configuration and has a tremendous amount of high speed corners as well
as some slow, technical ones. It’s great we’re going to such a fantastic
venue late in the season as it will provide a good send off for the V10
engines as they can punch out their full potential on a fast, flowing
circuit such as Suzuka. Realistically, I think our own goal for the
weekend is simply to try and score some points so we can maintain a
comfortable buffer between ourselves and BAR." |
"I’ll be heading to Suzuka
after a very busy week. I went straight from Brazil to Spain for two
days of testing at Jerez, which proved very successful. We managed to
achieve a lot of mileage over the course of the two days and made some
electronic and mechanical changes to the car. We also completed a full
programme of tyre testing for Michelin which was my last working for
them, ahead of our switch to Bridgestone next season.
"I am really looking forward to racing in Japan. I don’t know the
circuit at all, so it is going to be a big challenge for me. Driving on
a new track is always very exciting though and I’ve heard a lot of
positive things about Suzuka, especially from other drivers, so I can’t
wait to drive there. I am going to practice in the team’s simulator
which is the best way to learn a track, apart from actually driving it,
of course!
"Suzuka
is one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar for the drivers,
where intense focus is required through the initial Esses section. If
you get the first corner wrong, the penalty grows through the whole
sector. With high speed corners, an hairpin and a chicane, Suzuka has
everything. Strong braking performance is required for the chicane, and
to a lesser extent at the hairpin. However, high speed stability is more
important as is the driver’s confidence to allow him to push hard
through the Esses. Strategy will be interesting because Suzuka is one of
the circuits where carrying too much fuel can be a penalty due to the
high speed corners.
"Not
only is the Suzuka circuit extremely demanding from a driver's point of
view. It is also a major challenge for the oil system of the BMW P84/5
engine, especially in the high-speed 130R where it has to endure
tremendous lateral loads. Last year, we measured 6g in that particular
corner.
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