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Tyre wear and risk of graining in Silverstone
By BMW Sauber F1 Team July 4 2008
The 2008 Formula One season continues this weekend with the British Grand Prix. The BMW Sauber F1 Team, like all the other teams, will race on hard and medium tyre compounds at Silverstone. Hirohide Hamashima, Director of Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development, explains why.

"Silverstone is one of the more harsh circuits on the calendar, which is why we bring the hardest compound Potenza tyres from our range," says Hamashima. "It is a tough circuit for tyres, in the sense of the layout and track surface, which is one of the more abrasive we use. For this reason we must always take graining into consideration - particularly in the closing sector."

If the teams cope with the blistering on the tyres, then Hamashima believes that "the medium compound could be the preferred option in the race." During the test sessions last week, it became clear that particularly fast lap times were possible on these tyres.

Avoiding graining is, however, just one important tyre aspect for the drivers at Silverstone. Hamashima points to other criteria that are essential to a successful race in Great Britain: "Drivers require good stability from their tyres to give them confidence through the high-speed turns. Good heat and wear resistance are also desirable here," says the man from Japan.

 

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