Rivals Join SAUBER at Valencia this Week

SAUBER PETRONAS C24
By Jamie Makin
January 19 2005

Problems with the new track surface at the Circuite de Catalunya in Barcelona have prompted team SAUBER PETRONAS to remain in Valencia for this week's three-day test.

Jacques Villeneuve will be at the controls of the new C24 Wednesday and Thursday. The team has had several days to cure the hydraulic and electrical problems that hampered his first day in the new car on Sunday. He hopes the next two days will allow him to run more laps to acclimate himself to the new car. Teammate Felipe Massa will take over for the final day of testing on Friday.

Rivals BAR Honda and McLaren Mercedes have left Barcelona due to the track problems and will join SAUBER for the test in Valencia. This will be the first chance to see how the C24 stacks up against what are expected to be two of the strongest teams for the coming season. BAR Honda will be running their new BAR007 while McLaren is still working with an evolution of last year's MP4/19B.

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