BMW Sauber F1 Team - Test in Jerez

BMW Sauber F1 Team - Test in Jerez - Day one

Test in Jerez.

December 9th – 11th 2008
Day one – Tuesday

Weather conditions: Heavy fog in the morning, some rain in the afternoon.

Temperature: Air: 9 – 16 °C, Track: 11 – 15 °C

Number of drivers participating: 9 from 6 teams

Fastest lap overall: Sébastien Buemi (Scuderia Toro Rosso) 1:18.742 min

Circuit length: 4.428 km

Nick Heidfeld
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.08B-03 / BMW 86/9
Test kilometres today: 217 km (49 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:20.678 min

Christian Klien
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.08B-06 / BMW 86/9 KERS
Test kilometres today: 67 km (15 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:22.098 min

Programme:
Due to heavy fog early in the morning, the BMW Sauber F1 Team did not start today’s testing until around 11.00 hrs. Nick Heidfeld and Christian Klien ran two F1.08B interim cars featuring a modified 2008 chassis with some of the bodywork complying to the 2009 regulations. Only Klien’s car was fitted with BMW’s own KERS device. His test schedule was curtailed by a precautionary engine change. The Austrian stopped off track when sensors indicated a mechanical problem.

Heidfeld today concentrated on setup work with the suspension as well as the new aero package. Although the session came to a premature end when it started to rain at around 15.00 hrs, he collected valuable data with the F1.08B running on 2009 slick tyres. “Based on the results of the last test in Barcelona we changed the mechanical setup of the car,” Heidfeld said. “It looks like we are moving in the right direction.”

What comes next:
The BMW Sauber F1 Team will continue testing in Jerez for two more days. Tomorrow Nick Heidfeld will again be at the wheel of the BMW Sauber F1.08B, along with Robert Kubica. On Thursday Robert Kubica and Christian Klien will be on duty.

BMW Sauber F1 Team - Test in Jerez - Day three

Test in Jerez.

December 9th – 11th 2008
Day three – Thursday

Weather conditions: Very cold in the morning, sunny all day.

Temperature: Air: 6 – 15 °C, Track: 5 – 22 °C

Number of drivers participating: 10 from 6 teams

Fastest lap overall: Sébastien Buemi (Scuderia Toro Rosso) 1:17.258 min

Circuit length: 4.428 km

Robert Kubica
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.08B-06 / BMW 86/9
Test kilometres today: 594 km (134 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:19.559 min

Christian Klien
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.08B-03 / BMW 86/9
Test kilometres today: 448 km (101 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:19.738 min

Programme:
Running interim cars – 2008 chassis and engine configuration with some body work complying with the 2009 regulations – the BMW Sauber F1 Team today continued its development work in preparation for next season. After sitting out the chilly early morning, when temperatures of around five degrees Celsius made any meaningful testing impossible, Robert Kubica and Christian Klien worked on the mechanical set-up of the F1.08B. Both drivers also did tyre evaluations for the different compounds of the 2009 slicks.

“I could do a lot of laps today and covered nearly 600 kms, which was very good. Our main goal at this stage is to understand what we can do with the set-up options for next year’s car,” said Kubica.

What comes next:
There is only a short break over the weekend before the BMW Sauber F1 Team starts testing again in Jerez. Another three days session is scheduled to begin on Monday.