Formula 1
New concept for Sauber C22
The 2004 Sauber C22 will be a new concept according to team principal Peter Sauber and not just a development of the previous chassis as the C21 was. Sauber, technical director Willy Rampf and drivers Nick Heidfeld and Heinz-Harald Frentzen were ...
Published: Nov 13, 2002, 1:09 PM
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The 2004 Sauber C22 will be a new concept according to team principal Peter Sauber and not just a development of the previous chassis as the C21 was. Sauber, technical director Willy Rampf and drivers Nick Heidfeld and Heinz-Harald Frentzen were present at the Auto-Zurich show last week and spoke of their hopes for next season.
Peter Sauber.
Photo by Sauber Petronas.
"The C22 is a new concept," said Sauber. "All the knowledge that we have gathered in the past years will be incorporated in the design of the new C22. When we went from C20 to C21, it was more a question of logical development. But for the C22, it is quite a new concept and the car has been completely redesigned."
The new shape and aerodynamics of the C22 will show the work of the design team but Rampf thinks the drivers are important for feedback in development: "We will also have the assets of Nick Heidfeld and Heinz-Harald Frentzen," he said. "The two combined are very strong drivers. They are not only very quick but have sufficient talent to be able to give a lot of excellent feedback to their engineers. This way we can achieve an excellent development of the car. We have all reasons to be very optimistic for the future."
Heidfeld and Frentzen themselves are also optimistic: ""We can expect some good surprises with the C22," said Heidfeld. "Everything I hear about the new car is very encouraging. I have great confidence in Willy Rampf and in the team around him. If we can combine the reliability of the C21 with the qualities and the progresses of the new C22, then we will definitely be in good shape for the season to come."
Frentzen drove this year's C21 on one occasion, at the US Grand Prix, and is happy to be back with the team: "I look at my new contract with Sauber Petronas as a reward for not having stopped racing," he said of his difficult past 18 months with no less than three different teams. "I am simply very pleased to be back with the Team. It has not taken me a long time to discover that it had developed very well and harmoniously in the last years and is even more professional than it was when I started my career."
His single race at Indy helped Frentzen have an understanding of how the team works, ready for 2003: "I have the impression that I have understood much quicker than I expected how the team works and how to get to work very harmoniously and efficiently with everyone. See you soon next year!"
Nick Heidfeld will kick off Sauber's winter testing at Valencia on 26th November while Frentzen will take to the track at Jerez early in December.
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