Markus Niemela Firebird test preview

Brooks Associates Racing preparing for Long Beach race at Firebird, AZ

Brooks Associates Racing will be testing at Firebird racetrack, Phoenix, on 3.-4. April. This will be the final pre-season test session before the season starts on legendary Long Beach street track on April 20.

BAR driver, Markus Niemela, is looking forward to the test at Firebird, especially as he was unable to contribute in the last official pre-season test because of injury. Markus injured his heel training 4 days before the Houston test and he completed just 6 laps as stitches were too painful to drive with.

Niemela: "I was really disappointed not being able to drive in Houston. But to be fair, I can only blame myself for that-- I did a few laps but the racetrack at Houston was so bumpy it was impossible to drive with the stitches as your heel keeps banging on the car floor all the time. Anyway I'm happy we are instead going to Firebird before the race as then we can do our final tune-up before the season. It will be good to get back in the car and to test with my new teammate, Andreas Wirth"

-credit: Markus Niemela Racing