Bridgestone Jerez test review

Bridgestone Motorsport concluded its final winter test of 2004 last Friday at the Spanish circuit of Jerez de la Frontera. Conditions for the test were cold but bright, enabling the tyre manufacturer to complete its scheduled dry test programme, despite the previous week's wet weather.

Bridgestone's engineers spent the four day test (7-10 December) working solely with the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro team. Luca Badoer drove on all four days. He was joined by Ferrari's new test driver Marc Gene for the first two days before the Spaniard handed over the reins to race driver Rubens Barrichello. It was Barrichello's first test since the final round of the 2004 championship in Brazil and his first opportunity to try Bridgestone's development specifications for 2005.

Bridgestone Motorsport Technical Manager Hisao Suganuma commented: "After so much wet weather in the first week, I was very pleased with the progress we made in the second week. We completed all our dry tyre programmes, managing also to include several long runs with encouraging results."

"We obtained some very useful data which will be fed into our system. Overall, I am very pleased with what we have achieved so far and although there is still much to be done in January and February, we are looking forward to the next phase of development."

Suganuma concluded by saying: "Luca Badoer and Marc Gene both worked extremely hard over the past few tests in Barcelona and Jerez and as a result, Rubens was able to spend the final two days confirming their conclusions and assisting us by narrowing down our selection of development tyres."

Bridgestone Motorsport will resume its on track testing in the New Year.

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