Sauber test report from Jerez

Jerez de la Frontera, Tuesday 16 January
Weather: cool, air max. 16°, track max. 13°
Distance: Nick Heidfeld 49 laps = 216.972 km (track 4.428 kilometres)

Team RED BULL SAUBER PETRONAS Team RED BULL SAUBER PETRONAS continued the first serious testing of the new C20 at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain's sherry region today. Nick Heidfeld handled the driving, and set third fastest time of 1m 23.43s in the morning session. This was the fastest time of the 2001 cars. Later on, Nick Heidfeld was forced to stop after the nose sustained damage running over a kerb.

Jacky Eeckelaert (Head of Test Team): "We were very pleased with Nick's speed this morning, when he set the fastest time of the 2001 cars present in Jerez, while we were working our way through a programme to evaluate the actual aerodynamic data with our wind tunnel and cfd research. We tried a number of different aerodynamic configurations, and the C20's performances very closed matched the theoretical predictions. This is very encouraging. Unfortunately, the nose wing was damaged when Nick went hard over a kerb, and we lost the remainder of the day waiting for a replacement to be sent out from Hinwil. Nevertheless, Kimi Raikkonen will continue the test tomorrow, focusing on mechanical set-up work and tyre testing."

Nick Heidfeld: "I am very encouraged by the speed and handling of the C20 this morning. The car feels really good, and we know that we are only just beginning to scratch the surface of its potential. I cannot wait to get behind the wheel again in Barcelona next week."

<pre> Name Chassis Laptime Laps O. Panis BAR Honda 1.23.09 76 L. Badoer Ferrari 1.23.25 107 N. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas 1.23.43 49 J.Villeneuve Bar Honda 1.24.77 89

-Team Sauber