Successful First Test Completed


Aero Testing today

By Phil Huff
December 5 2002

The first Sauber Petronas test for 2003 has finished, with team members happy about the results so far. Nick Heidfeld again drove for day three of the Valencia test, managing to set the fifth fastest time of the day. His effort of 1:13.725 was only two tenths of the pace of long term BMW Williams driver Marc Gene.

Heidfeld ran a total of 83 laps, enabling the team to gather further critical data that will be used in the 2003 car, the C22.

Jacky Eeckelaert commented "We had an extremely good day. This morning the car ran like clockwork and we were able to make the most of an incident-free session to complete our aerodynamic program. In the afternoon we switched our attention to a tyre program with experimental and development tyres on behalf of Bridgestone which proved productive."

Heidfeld is confident of good results in 2003, saying "Having seen all the work going on with the C22 in Hinwil I am feeling very excited about our prospect for the new season."

P Driver Team Engine Car Tyre Best Lap Laps
1 K Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes MP4/17D M 1:10.664 114
2 D Coulthard McLaren Mercedes MP4/17D M 1:11.833 65
3 JP Montoya Williams BMW FW24 M 1:12.139 137
4 M Gene Williams BMW FW24 M 1:13.510 45
5 N Heidfeld Sauber Petronas C21 B 1:13.725 83
6 V Liuzzi Williams BMW FW24 M 1:14.026 71
7 J Trulli Renault Renault R202 M 1:14.173 55

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