Renault Jerez test notes 2006-12-15

The Renault F1 Team concluded today its final test session before the end of the year. It was once again a busy week for the French team: thanks to an excellent reliability on both cars - which enabled the team to easily complete its programme -- Heikki Kovalainen and Giancarlo Fisichella covered over 2 500 kilometres.

The objective this week was clear: the Renault drivers had to evaluate the reliability level of the new 2007 gear box and also to continue working with Bridgestone in order to understand the wear of behaviour of the new envelops and their impact on the R26 set-up. Both cars this week were equipped with the new gear box and the team was satisfied with its reliability.

Today, Giancarlo Fisichella and his young team mate remained focused on tyre testing in order to evaluate the wear of the new envelops through long runs. Both drivers were able to complete their programme with no major problem. This session provided the team with interesting data. It also gave the French team a foretaste of the Bridgestone tyres behaviour. At the end of the day, with 200 laps covered, Heikki Kovalainen set the second-fastest laptime in 1:19.573 and Giancarlo Fisichella is P3 in 1:19.801.

Giancarlo Fisichella:

"This was a good conclusion to a productive session. The data we gathered will definitely help us for our work in 2007. I am now more comfortable with the new tyres. I am quite satisfied with our week."

Heikki Kovalainen:

"It's been a good day for me today and my results seem interesting. Everybody worked hard once again today. We need to analyse the data in order to be ready in January to start testing with the new car. These last sessions gave us a good view on different areas such as the tyres and the new gear box".

Christian Silk, Chief Test Engineer:

"We had a good final day of testing. We completed lots of miles once again and the gear box seems very reliable up to know, which is always quite satisfying for a new part. Everybody worked hard these past few weeks, we are on schedule and we are now ready to start working on the new car."

-credit: renault