Minardi Silverstone test notes 2002-04-18

SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND, April 18, 2002 -- On the menu for the second day of the KL Minardi Asiatech team's two-day Silverstone test was chassis set-up, software development and further reliability testing of its new power-steering system. As it transpired, Mark Webber, who took over the driving chores from Alex Yoong today, was able to carry out some useful running, but the morning session came to a premature halt as the result of an engine-related problem, followed by a small fire. The damaged car was quickly retrieved, but spent several hours in the garage while repairs were carried out. Webber then went out again late in the rain-interrupted afternoon session. The test, the Faenza squad's first at Silverstone in two years, nonetheless yielded some useful data and permitted the team to put track mileage on its new power-steering system, developed in just over two months by staff at the Ledbury-based Research and Development Department.

MARK WEBBER
"It was certainly good to have some testing mileage instead of just the usual short periods we have with the car on race weekends. We experienced a frustrating problem this morning, followed by the fire. How the guys turned it around in the time, I don't know. We then did some light data and software evaluation during the showery afternoon session. The work we've done will undoubtedly help us for Barcelona."

DR JOHN DAVIS, Deputy Technical Director, Head of Research and Development
"It was back to typical British weather at Silverstone today, which allowed us to evaluate the power-steering system in the slippery, low-grip conditions and sample its ability to be 'tuned' to the track conditions. This will undoubtedly stand us in good stead for the upcoming races. In addition, a lot of fundamental work was done on launch control and traction control software, again making the most of the variable track conditions, while suspension configurations were further evaluated as part of our race preparations for Barcelona."

KL Minardi testing details, Silverstone, England, April 18, 2002
Weather: cool, cloudy, heavy showers at times
Air temp: 13 deg C
Track temp: 20 deg C

Driver: Mark Webber
Chassis allocated: KL Minardi Asiatech PS02- 01

Laps completed: 24
Fastest lap: 1 min 26.182 secs

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