Monaco GP BAR preview

THE CIRCUIT
Monaco is a tight, twisty street circuit that is bumpy, slow and unforgiving when it comes to driver error. Overall speeds are not high - but the circuit poses many challenges. Because it is a street circuit the car requires as much downforce as possible to achieve quick lap times. Braking performance is not so high at this unique circuit but driving the curbs will be a challenge. Securing a good grid position will be very important, as overtaking will be difficult. Overall speeds are not high - drivers can reach speeds of around 280km/h as they race through the historic tunnel before hitting the brakes as they reach the end.

LAST YEAR
The race started dramatically with a multi-car accident at the Loews hairpin involving both Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta. The BAR Honda mechanics then prepared the team's two spare cars in less than seven minutes to ensure Villeneuve and Zonta were able to take the start of the race. Adopting a single, late-race pit stop strategy for fuel and tyres, both drivers climbed steadily through the field once the race eventually got underway 30 minutes later. Unfortunately, Zonta's run came to an abrupt end on lap 50, when he ran wide and hit the barriers at St Devote. Jacques Villeneuve eventually took the chequered flag in seventh place at the conclusion of the race.

Craig Pollock, Team Principal and Managing Director
"There is no doubt that the Monaco Grand Prix is a special event. It is a race that everyone wants to win. We did not perform particularly well last year, we suffered from lack of speed with the cars but Jacques drove a tremendous race and finished in seventh place. We arrive here in optimistic mood. We had a productive test in Valencia, so we will be looking forward to putting ourselves in a position to score points on Sunday".

- BAR