Toro Rosso Jerez test summary 2006-12-13/15

The Cosworth crew made the engine shut-down at the end of today's test last considerably longer than usual, as the final day in Jerez also signalled the final day of testing for 2006 and therefore the last day a Scuderia Toro Rosso car will run in anger powered by the last V10 to race in Formula One to date.

There were other unusual features about the day, in that Tonio Liuzzi was the quickest of the Toro Rosso drivers, except that he set his time in a Red Bull Racing car, as we loaned him out for the day. Running on all three days was guest tester and reigning Champ Car Champ, Sebastien Bourdais.

Of the three drivers to run in the STR1 here in Jerez, the Frenchman actually set the fastest time. Bourdais is not exactly an F1 rookie, although, when he arrived in Jerez on Tuesday, it was exactly four years to the day since he had lasted tested a Formula 1 car, here in Jerez in fact.

On Thursday, a mechanical failure saw Scott Speed leave the track and although nothing was broken, his hand hurt enough for him to withdraw from today's testing after a handful of laps. "Luckily, after two days acclimatising himself, Sebastien was up to speed and was able to complete our final day's programme," explained Chief Engineer, Laurent Mekies.

"On the technical front, we were again concentrating on a familiarisation programme with the Bridgestone Potenza tyres. They were the same as those we tried last week. The stable weather meant we were also able to try major changes to car set-up with a view to understanding how these were affected by tyres, while also evaluating new brake materials."

Wednesday
Tonio Liuzzi: 64 laps, Best lap 1:21.833
Sebastien Bourdais: 79 laps, Best lap 1:22.512

Thursday
Tonio Liuzzi: 40 laps, Best lap 1:21.498
Sebastien Bourdais: 77 laps, Best lap 1:21.505
Scott Speed: 21 laps, Best lap: 1:22.424

Friday
Sebastien Bourdais: 101 laps, Best lap 1:21.258
Scott Speed: 15 laps, Best lap 1:23.315

-credit: toro rosso