German GP Benetton preview

The Mild Seven Benetton Renault Sport team's Technical Director Mike Gascoyne and Engineering Director Pat Symonds preview the weekend's action and discuss technical preparations and race strategy ahead of the German Grand Prix, round 12 of the 2001 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Mike Gascoyne, Technical Director
"In preparation for Hockenheim we tested last week at Monza where we had a useful four day test with both drivers in attendance running the B201 car. We were able to complete more kilometres than at any test we have had this season which puts us in a very positive situation.

"Hockenheim, along with Monza, is one of the two really low down-force circuits that we run at. The cars will be running this weekend with a very low down-force set up, with several new parts designed specifically for this type of aerodynamic configuration. We feel that at Monza we were able to make some significant progress both with the aerodynamic layout of the car and also with several mechanical aspects.

"At Hockenheim last year, Giancarlo qualified in third, so it will be interesting to see what we can achieve this year. Overall, I feel that we are more prepared for the Hockenheim Grand Prix than we have been for any race so far this season, so we certainly have to look to both a more reliable and competitive weekend."

Pat Symonds, Director of Engineering
"Hockenheim is the second longest track in the calendar and where we use the second highest speed. The circuit is unusual in that it is almost two circuits combined. The long outfield section through the woods is a series of very fast straights punctuated by very slow chicanes. Whilst the infield section in the stadium is quite slow and typical of a high down-force circuit.

"This therefore leads to an extreme compromise between running the low drag required on the long straights and the high down-force that we would like to run on the stadium section. The compromise that we have to make will always lead us to a low drag solution which makes the stadium section very difficult and also very hard on the tyres as they slide through the slow corners."

-Benetton