Full summary from the three-day test at Spa-Francorchamps.
The Honda Racing F1 Team completed a three-day test at the Spa-Francorchamps
circuit in the Ardennes region of Belgium today. The main focus for the test
programme this week was to gather chassis set-up data and evaluate the tyres in
preparation for the Belgian Grand Prix which returns to the Formula One
calendar in September of this year.
Reserve and Test Driver Christian Klien began the test on Tuesday. Christian
spent the morning establishing the baseline set-up of the RA107 car on the damp
and green circuit before working through a series of aerodynamic evaluations
once the track had completely dried out. Christian ended the day with race
start simulations and completed a total of 63 laps.
Jenson Button joined the team in Spa on Wednesday. The track was still wet for
the start of the morning session as a result of overnight rain allowing Jenson
to complete a short evaluation on the Bridgestone wet tyres. By mid morning,
the track dried out sufficiently to switch to dry tyres and Jenson worked
through an aero programme alongside chassis set-up work. The changeable Spa
weather hit once again in the afternoon as the rain came down to limit the
amount of dry running possible. Jenson completed 53 laps over the day.
Rubens Barrichello took over the car for the final day of testing. Further
overnight rain limited dry running in the morning although the weather did stay
dry for most of the day. Rubens worked through an aero evaluation alongside
running the two tyre specifications provided by Bridgestone for this event. He
finished the day with race start simulations completing 78 laps in total.
Jenson Button
"The weather was very changeable for my day in the car with the track
conditions going from wet to dry and wet again. However that is actually quite
useful preparation for the race here in September as the weather is always so
unpredictable. We therefore concentrated on tyre testing to understand how the
tyres operate in the different conditions."
Rubens Barrichello
"We were able to complete a good number of laps today as the weather
stayed fairly dry and this has provided some useful data on the new aero parts
that we ran this week. I had some difficulties with the set-up of the car and
the balance is not yet where I would like it to be, however it was a useful
test to see how we need to prepare for the race at this circuit. "
Christian Klien
"Spa is one of the most exciting tracks on the Formula One calendar for a
driver so I really enjoyed testing here this week. We focused mainly on
aerodynamic evaluations during my day in the car on Tuesday. The track was a
little damp at the start of the day but luckily the weather stayed dry which
enabled us to get through the planned programme. "
Jacky Eeckelaert – Engineering Director
"With the return of the Belgian Grand Prix to the calendar this year, we
will be racing at the Spa Francorchamps circuit with V8 engines and Bridgestone
tyres for the first time. Therefore the first part of our test programme this
week was dedicated to finding a good set-up for the RA107 car around this
particular track. The second part of the programme was the evaluation of
different aerodynamic parts in preparation for the forthcoming European races.
The changeable weather conditions have made it more difficult to complete our
planned programme, although the weather has affected all of the teams and you
have to expect such conditions at Spa. Nevertheless we have the data now and
plenty of time to analyse it in advance of the race in September. "