Paul Ricard test summary 2006-04-05/07

The Paul Ricard HTTT welcomed this week the Renault F1 Team, McLaren Mercedes, BMW Sauber, Panasonic Toyota Racing and Red Bull Racing for a 3-day test session on the 3Esc track solution (3,818 km).

Thanks to a good weather during the three days and an average air temperature of 20°C, the five teams succeeded in completing their test programs.

McLaren Mercedes tested tyres with the MP4-21 (Pedro de La Rosa) and MP4-20 (Gary Paffett) and completed over 2,800 km in three days. BMW Sauber concentrated on tyre, chassis and brake tests with Jacques Villeneuve, Robert Kubica, and Nick Heidfeld on Friday. Heikki Kovalainen and Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella worked on tyre testing for the Renault F1 Team.

Panasonic Toyota Racing, the only Bridgestone team, concentrated its efforts on testing differents tyre constructions for the coming race at Imola. The team definitely did a great job with Ricardo Zonta and Olivier Panis since the last test session. Red Bull Racing (Wednesday and Thursday) tested new aero and chassis parts with Robert Doornbos and Vitantonio Liuzzi (Toro Rosso).

During these three days, the 5 teams and 11 drivers completed no less than 10,476 km on the Paul Ricard HTTT. The best lap time was set today by Spanish driver Ricardo Zonta (Panasonic Toyota Racing) in 1:04.157, improving the last lap record set by Heikki Kovaleinen in March 2006 on the same track solution (1:04.400).

These tests at the Paul Ricard HTTT will allow teams to be confident for the first European Grand Prix of the season on April 23rd in San Marino. Formula 1 will be present for another time at the Paul Ricard HTTT on April 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th.

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