Formula 1
Grey damp day at Silverstone for BMW Williams FW24 launch
On a grey, damp day at Silverstone circuit, the BMW Williams team this morning launched their 2002 challenger - FW24. Sir Frank Williams (Team Principal), Gerhard Berger and Dr. Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Directors), Patrick Head (Technical ...
Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
On a grey, damp day at Silverstone circuit, the BMW Williams team this morning launched their 2002 challenger - FW24. Sir Frank Williams (Team Principal), Gerhard Berger and Dr. Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Directors), Patrick Head (Technical Director), Sam Michael (Chief Operations Engineer), and Gavin Fisher (Chief Designer) took to the stage along with drivers Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya.
After a brief question and answer session the FW24 was unveiled and a photo call took place, first with Williams and BMW representatives on stage. Then the car with the drivers and finally the car alone. As the day was on a tight schedule, the car was spirited away to make ready for its run in the afternoon. Initial work on the FW24 started as far back as March 2001 and although the team are quietly optimistic, the drivers were cautious about predicting instant results.
Juan Pablo Montoya testing the new 2002 WilliamsF1 BMW FW24.
Photo by Mark Gledhill.
Juan Pablo Montoya:
"I hope the car will be more competitive. From what I understand it's definitely a step forward and the question mark is, how much is it going to be a step forward compared with everyone else. Everyone made different approaches with this year and I think the way we went is all right. We will really know where we are at the next test in Barcelona."
Ralf Schumacher:
"For us, for myself, the main focus at the moment is to get out testing and to get where we can finish the first few races without any reliability problems, and then we'll see where we are."
After the conclusion of interviews and a break for lunch, the FW24 took to the track for its first public laps in light rainfall. The drivers used the National circuit which is approximately 1.6 miles and incorporates the pit straight, through Copse Corner and down to Maggotts, straight along past Priory to Brooklands, Luffield and round Woodcote back to the start/finish.
Ralf Schumacher did one installation and one flying lap then the car was changed over to Juan Pablo Montoya's set-up. Montoya did his installation lap then five flying laps; hammering down the pit straight and howling like a demon, the FW24 looked and sounded like it meant business.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article SBRS: CHAMPCAR/CART: Montoya interview as Barber alumnus
Next article Barcelona BAR test notes 2002-01-29
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Juan Pablo Montoya
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
IndyCar
IndyCar
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
More from
Williams
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Formula 1
Formula 1
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
James Vowles explains request for review of F1 cost cap
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
James Vowles explains request for review of F1 cost cap
Latest news
Marc Marquez puts his chances of retiring within three years at 70%
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
8 min
Marc Marquez puts his chances of retiring within three years at 70%
Audi hands F3 runner-up Freddie Slater F1 practice debut
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
43 min
Audi hands F3 runner-up Freddie Slater F1 practice debut
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Brazilian GP
2 h
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Raul Fernandez still compromised after Indonesia finger injury: “I’m not at 100%”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
2 h
Raul Fernandez still compromised after Indonesia finger injury: “I’m not at 100%”
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe