Canada: Hopeful of a better showing

By BAR Honda
June 6 2005

The Lucky Strike BAR Honda team heads across the Atlantic this weekend to the cosmopolitan city of Montreal for the first of the two long-haul, back-to-back races which mark the mid-point of the 2005 season.

The Canadian Grand Prix is always a firm favourite on the race team's calendar, as the carnival atmosphere of downtown Montreal is only a short distance away.

BAR Honda conducted an intensive four-driver, three-day test this week in a bid to return to competitive form in Canada. The test team were in action in Monza for two days, whilst the race team conducted a one-day test at its home circuit of Silverstone. Following intensive evaluation of some aerodynamic evaluations for the next two races and further development of the Honda engine, the team plans to make a solid step forward at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve next weekend.

Long-haul races always present their own special logistical challenges for the race team, and when they arrive in Montreal it will be the start of an intensive 15-day schedule. The team has been working 24/7 preparing to freight 26 tonnes of chassis, engines and equipment across the pond from its headquarters in Brackley, England.

Gil de Ferran, BAR Honda's Sporting Director commented "The two days we spent testing at Monza were for the purposes of determining tyre specification for the US Grand Prix and evaluating our aero package for the Canadian Grand Prix. The test was successful on both counts and the test drivers were pleased with the way the car was performing. We are hopeful of a better showing in both of the North American races as a result."

Shuhei Nakamoto, Honda Racing Development's Engineering Director added "We have an engine upgrade ready for Canada, so we are looking for a good result at this power circuit."