C23 Passes Crash Test


Safe to Race

By Jamie Makin (3/2/2004)
February 3 2004

At the launch of the C23 last month, Sauber's technical directory Willy Rampf admitted that the C23 had failed the side impact test required by the FIA. "We have tried to make everything smaller and I think we paid the price for it," Rampf remarked. "The 2003 season soon made us realise where our weakness was."

The car had successfully passed all other required tests on the first try, but the team had to strengthen the monocoque to retake the side impact test. This re-test has now been carried out and the C23 has passed.

This is good news for the team, as the first two C23 chassis are already on the track testing. With the start of the formula one season just a month away, it would have been disasterous for the team if they had not been able to pass the test.

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