Sauber Valencia test notes 2003-01-31

Team Sauber Petronas concluded testing Valencia (Spain) today with two of the new C22 driven by both Nick Heidfeld and Heinz-Harald Frentzen . On a day when weather conditions proved frustrating Nick Heidfeld in chassis 01 covered 13 laps Heinz-Harald Frentzen in chassis 02 covered 60 laps.

Jacky Eeckelaert (Head of Vehicle Engineering):

"Our initial plan today was to test on an artificially wet track but unfortunately the weather frustrated that plan and it was decided not to continue to dampen the track in the afternoon."

"This morning, the wind was far too high and the temperature far too cold to allow us to generate decent tire temperatures so we were unable to carry out our plan of tire testing."

"We mainly switched our focus to pit stop practice and some system checks. The wet track testing was done on a different configuration of the track so that our lap times were not directly comparable with the previous tests today. Next week one part of the test team will go to Lurcy-Levis and the other part will start testing in Barcelona on Monday."

Nick Heidfeld:

"I did not do very laps today because the weather conditions were so unfavorable with low temperatures and very gusty winds. This is frustrating because we all know how important testing mileage is."

Heinz-Harald Frentzen:

"The weather conditions made it impossible to do useful tire testing during these three days. This afternoon we concentrated on pit stop and system checks. I am looking forward to going to Barcelona next week where conditions should be better. "

-sauber-