Montagny tests wets at Valencia!

By role
March 10 2004

Renault F1 tester Franck Montagny was back form Australia and started to test with the team today at Valencia. Testing was limited however due to the fact that the track was wet early on the morning because overnight showers and latter on because a storm developed.

The French was able, however, to complete 54 laps (217 kms) of the Spanish track with the R23B to set a best time of 1.12.660 good enough to finish 5th just behind the Toyota of Ricardo Zonta.

Anthony Davidson with the BAR 04 finished quickest of the day with a best time of 1.11.962 after 71 laps.

As dry tyre testing was impossible to be conducted the team worked on the validation of the wet tyres taken to Melbourne as wel as conducting shake-downs of power steering developments and software development.

“We had a problem-free day,” commented Chief Test Engineer Christian Silk. “The conditions were difficult, and Franck coped very well, conducting some useful programmes and producing consistent, quick times in the R23.”