BAR Barcelona test notes 2004-01-22

Jenson Button and Takuma Sato resumed testing of the '04 Concept cars in Barcelona on Thursday morning. The focus was on further tyre and reliability testing ahead of the launch of the B.A.R Honda 006 on 1 February.

Jenson completed 86 laps, and his time of 1m 14.588s, recorded in the morning session, set a new lap record at the revised Circuit de Catalunya, more than a second faster than the previous record.

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director:

"We have had another positive day testing with the '04 Concept car, continuing our tyre development and reliability testing programme. We ran a lower fuel level with Jenson this morning, which confirmed our performance predictions for the car."

"Whilst we are very pleased that Jenson posted a new record lap for the revised Barcelona circuit, this is still pre-season testing and it is always difficult to know what fuel levels the other teams are running. It is however gratifying to see that we are on target for meeting our own objectives and that the Concept car is quick and responsive."

Takuma notched up 90 laps today, recording a fastest time of 1m 16.559s in the process. Anthony Davidson will rejoin the test alongside Jenson tomorrow, for the final day of the team's work in Barcelona.

-bar-