Force India Silverstone test notes 2008-06-26

Silverstone Test - Day three

Adrian Sutil today rounded off Force India's pre-British Grand Prix test at the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit. Adrian continued the team's programme of testing the complete new aero and mechanical package that will be introduced in next week's race, including the new 'shark fin' engine cover, wheel covers, bargeboards, diffuser and inerter damper.

Adrian covered 71 laps over the day, recording a best lap of 1min 21.331 despite the increasingly windy conditions. A brake disc failure just before the lunchtime break led to an excursion into the gravel trap at turn 11, however the car was back out again for further running in the afternoon.

The team will now evaluate this test's findings back in its Silverstone HQ before moving back over to the circuit for the British Grand Prix from 4 - 6 July.

Team quotes

Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer

'A fairly productive final day of testing with Adrian. We again had a useful morning that confirmed some of the gains from the previous days' running. Unfortunately we had a brake disc failure that caused some down time in the garage, but overall we were able to get through our programme and evaluate the new parts, which seem to be working well. We can now look forward to the Grand Prix next weekend.'

Adrian Sutil

'I think it was a useful day. We did some good running and could do a lot of testing with the inerter damper, which was the main target of the day. It will take a little while to feel completely happy with it, but I definitely think there is potential there, we just need to understand how to get the most out of it as all day we had some problems with understeer that we just couldn't seem to get rid of. Aero-wise, I think we did a good step, the engine cover seems to work well and also the front wing. We've got more downforce now, so we need to put it all together, both mechanically and aerodynamically, and I think we will have a step forward for Silverstone next week.'

Testing data
Driver: Adrian Sutil
Track: Silverstone Grand Prix, UK
Best lap time: 1min 21.331
Laps completed: 71
Kilometres completed: 365km

Air temperature:  High of 22C

Track temperature:  High of 30C

Weather:   Dry all day, high winds and overcast.

-credit: force india