Winter Testing

[J.Clark]

Since nobody seems to have started a thread to specifically discuss Winter Testing, let me do it now.

This thread can run all the way to the end of testing with updates as testing sessions continue.  Other forums run similar threads and it makes sense to me.  Photos should be permitted if you have some.  I am not familiar with how to download and upload them from other places, but I have seen a few on other sites.

Jerez is winding down.  Day 3 times:
Testing day 3 times:

1. Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso) 1:17.258 (139 laps)
2. Takuma Sato (Toro Rosso) 1:17.520 (119)
3. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 1:18.049 (96)
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 1:18.782 (82)
5. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 1:19.050 (72)
6. Fernando Alonso (Renault) 1:19.319 (124)
7. Nico Rosberg (Williams) 1:19.388 (130)
8. Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren) 1:19.499 (47)
9. Robert Kubica (BMW) 1:19.559 (134)
10. Christian Klien (BMW) 1:19.738 (101)

There are a couple of things that have surprised me.
A. Klien seems as fast as Kubica.
B. Taku has shown remarkable speed in a car that he has no experience in, despite the rules changes since he last raced, or testing of them at least.  He has had to deal with drastically changed aeros and slick tires and has remained near the top of the time sheets for the entire test period.

[Steven Roy]

If you have a photo you should click on the Additional Options tab at the bottom left of the box you type your comments in.  You then browse through your hard drive until you find the file and click post.

If you see a photo you like and it is not copyrighted right click on it and in the menu that pops up select "save image as" and save the photo to your hard drive.

If you run into problems doing this let me know and I will try to help.

[Dare]

a few pictures

[Dare]

and a few more

[Dare]

and the last,they aren't so bad

[Andy B]

Looking at the pictures there seems to be a mix of 2008 rules and 2009 rules so the time will not mean a lot!

Merry Christmas all!!

[J.Clark]

Right, I yet to see a  photo of a car that is fully compliant with the 2009 regs on aeros.  All seem to be running the combination packages.

It would seem to me that having known what the requirements would be, and having so little time in which to find the best package, that they would all be compliant renditions that the team could begin playing around with.  Running a 2009 front wing and a 2008 rear, or vice-a-versa seems to be a bit of a waste in many respects.

[Dare]

pic 1 shows the BMW with both 2009 wings
pic 2 show Ferrari with no barge boards,ugly ain't the word

[cosworth151]

It looks like the Ferrari has the new front wing, too

[Scott]

I don't know the regs that well, but I think BMW and Williams look like they are both running 2009 specs

[johnbull]

So how are they going to test all this stuff if no testing is allowed before the Friday of GP weekend ?

You mean Ferrari are going to race dogs at their Fiorano circuit from now on ?

[Dare]

one more

[J.Clark]

Williams and BMW look a bit retro.
I could be wrong, the STR looks like it is running the 2008 front and rear wings AND grooved tires.

If it makes them better "race" cars and produces better racing, I'm all for it.

[Dare]

Why not just bring back the early 80's cars and make
them safer,at least they were nice looking

[J.Clark]

Yep - the Williams and BMW both look like they have the 2009 package, or a version of it.
The Williams also looks to have grooved tires.

All of this is why I say that the testing right now is very hard to get anything from with regard to performance comparisons.  One thing that seems to be interesting to me is that STR seem to not be running anything related to KERS.   This could be a very smart move on their part since it will not be required in 2009.