Sauber Petronas complete new C22 test at Valencia

Nick in the C22
By Phil Huff
January 25 2003

Sauber Petronas has completed its three-day test in Valencia with Nick Heidfeld taking over the driving from Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Jacky Eeckelaert (Head of Vehicle Engineering) commented "Weather conditions were perfect in the morning and again very gusty winds in the afternoon. Nick Heidfeld was able to spend the morning validating all the aerodynamic data that we gathered with Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the previous two days. Unfortunately our program was interrupted just before the lunch break after 42 laps when we experienced an engine problem, which has still to be investigated.

We were able to change engine however and Nick resumed running this afternoon to complete a tyre test with Bridgestone."

Nick Heidfeld said "Apart from the engine problem just before lunch we had another good day with the car and gathered plenty of fresh data that will be analyzed in Hinwil prior to our next test back here in Valencia (Spain) from January 29-31 and then in Barcelona Feb 3-5 where we will run the two new Sauber C22."

The fastest times so far at Valencia are...

P	Driver	Team	Engine	Car	Tyre	Best Lap	Gap
1	K Raikkonen	McLaren	Mercedes	MP4-17D	M	1:10.647	-.---
2	JP Montoya	Williams	BMW	FW24	M	1:10.794	0.147
3	N Heidfeld	Sauber	Petronas	C22	B	1:11.778	1.131
4	M Gene	Williams	BMW	FW24	M	1:11.901	1.254
5	A Wurz	McLaren	Mercedes	MP4-17D	M	1:11.910	1.263
6	G Paffett	McLaren	Mercedes	MP4-17D	M	1:12.896	2.249
7	HH Frentzen	Sauber	Petronas	C22	B	1:12.991	2.344