Paul Ricard test day four

F1 TEAMS PREPARE MELBOURNE AND IMOLA AT THE PAUL RICARD HTTT

The Paul Ricard HTTT welcomed this week the Renault F1 Team, McLaren Mercedes, BMW Sauber and Panasonic Toyota Racing teams for a private test session.

During four days, the four teams and their nine drivers shared the 3Esc track solution (3.818km) of the Paul Ricard HTTT, under spring-like weather conditions, rather irregular.

McLaren Mercedes tested tyres of MP4-21 for Imola with drivers Pedro de La Rosa (412 laps) and Gary Paffett (285 laps).

Panasonic Toyota Racing team concentrated its efforts on new Bridgestone tyres for the coming Australian Grand Prix. With Ricardo Zonta, who celebrated his 30th birthday last Thursday, Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli and Olivier Panis have taken over from one another testing in the second Panasonic Toyota Racing single-seater.

BMW Sauber tested with Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld concentrating on aerodynamic set-ups and Michelin tyres.

Heikki Kovalainen accumulated three tyre testing days at the wheel of the Renault F1 Team R26.

The teams and their drivers completed not less than 8204 Km on the Paul Ricard HTTT.

Heikki Kovalainen, test driver of Renault F1 Team, set the overall best lap time in 1:01.400 on the 3Esc track solution (3,818 km), accumulating the highest number of laps (466 laps - 1779 km).

Overall the teams and drivers succeeded in completing their test programs, mostly focusing on tyre evaluation for the coming Australian (April 2nd) and San Marino (April 23rd) Grands Prix.

F1 will come back to the Paul Ricard HTTT on April 5th to 7th for another private test session programmed on the same track solution.

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