Spyker working hard away from the test track

[davewilson]

The team are due to launch their new car on the 5th of February, followed by two private test days at Silverstone circuit. Over the next three weeks the team intend to test for another nine days before packing up and heading off to Australia.

On the official Spyker F1 website, chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne explains why the team have chosen to run so late in the pre-season testing schedule.

"With the late engine call switching from Toyota to Ferrari, and the late arrival of the engine, we couldn’t test earlier than this, so we’re taking a measured approach to testing at the start of the year," he has been quoted as saying on SpykerF1.com.

"We’ve got a programme that will make the car reliable for first few races, but we won’t reach a higher level of competitiveness until later in the season so it makes sense to do a professional job to start with and put our resources to better use later in the year when we have a quicker car."

"We’re not a team with unlimited budget," Gascoyne added, "so we have to make sure we’ve got enough the money going where it’s needed most, which is back at the factory improving the car."

"Races are won back at base and, as such, we’ve balanced the first half of the year to strengthening the team. We looked carefully at the areas that needed restructuring," Gascoyne continues, "We are a small team, not supported by a big manufacturer or engine supplier so we manage our budget carefully."

Most of the grid have accepted the opportunity to run in the warmer climes of Bahrain, but Spyker will not be among them. "The effort that would go into it doesn’t really make sense. Yes, you get to check the systems work in hot conditions, but if you’ve done the groundwork properly, everything should be OK. Our job now is to ensure we have done enough running to make the car reliable enough to finish races and pick up points and positions wherever possible."

So far comment from the fans on the lack of track activity has been rare. Most feel that we are in for another year of difficult races, but I detect a growing feeling of optimism in the light of the teams public admission that they are planning ahead to 2008.


The Stig