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The Honda Racing F1 Team continued its intensive pre-season testing
programme in Spain this week with the track activity moving to Jerez.
Race drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, along with Test and
Reserve Driver Alex Wurz, were in action this week as the evaluation
and development of the new RA108 race car continued.
The test programme began on Tuesday with Rubens and Alex at the
wheel. Rubens focused on general set-up evaluation alongside race start
work, covering 75 laps. On his second full test day in the new car,
Alex worked through a driveability programme completing 86 laps.
Rubens
continued his running on Wednesday with chassis set-up work and a
continuation of the race start programme covering 58 laps. Jenson
joined the team to take over the second RA108 and ran through a series
of aero evaluations alongside further set-up work over 85 laps.
The
final day of the test on Thursday saw Alex back in the car alongside
Jenson. Both drivers completed full race distance simulations with live
pit stops in the morning session, before continuing set-up work in the
afternoon. Alex completed 103 laps with Jenson totalling 121 laps.
Jenson Button
“We
have made good progress this week in understanding the car, addressing
the issues that we experienced at the last test and getting the car
balanced for long runs. There is a great deal of work to do over the
two remaining tests before we head to Melbourne, but I am now happier
in the car and have more confidence to push it to the limit.”
Rubens Barrichello
“We
made some good steps with the driveability this week which have given
me more confidence getting on the power. The car balance has improved
with progress on the ride and suspension, and I’m feeling comfortable
in the car and happier with my driving position. We have some hard work
ahead of us but I am looking forward to the new updates which will
specifically target the areas that we have been working on over the
last couple of tests.”
Alex Wurz
“We spent the
test this week working on reliability runs and engine driveability and
I am very pleased that we have found some improvements. We also
completed a full race simulation today which went very well.”
Steve Clark – Head of Race & Test Engineering
“After
this week’s test in Jerez, we now have a full understanding of the
issues which have been affecting the handling of the car. The new
components to address these issues will be ready in time for our next
test in Barcelona. With this in mind, the focus this week was to sign
off the race distance reliability of the car with Jenson and Alex
completing full race distances today. We also made steady progress with
improving the engine driveability and chassis controls which will give
us a good starting point for the next test when we will be in a
position to implement the new updates.”
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