Williams Valencia test summary

Valencia test -- 14-20 January 2002
The BMW WilliamsF1 Team concluded a productive non-stop seven day test in Valencia this afternoon, the second stage of an intensive pre-season programme. The test, conducted by both team drivers, Ralf Schumacher & Juan Pablo Montoya, as well as both official test drivers, Marc Gene and new recruit Antonio Pizzonia, and was the last before the team's 2002 car, the FW24, is scheduled for its shakedown on January 25th at Silverstone.

As in Barcelona the previous week, the test programme was conducted with a combination of 2001 season and interim chassis to run BMW's new engine, the P82, as well as associated gearbox and drivetrain updates. Assessment of the new powertrain was conducted in tandem with extensive Michelin tyre testing in a variety of conditions, and a range of subsidiary component testing including braking and electronic control systems.

Sam Michael (Chief Operations Engineer, WilliamsF1): "Since January 7th, it's been a really intense programme in Spain, which is set to continue in Barcelona as of next weekend, so all credit really to the entire team both at the circuit and those supporting us back at Grove and Munich for making it so productive. We encountered some problems at the start of the week, but all of the small niggles were quickly ironed out and the drivers managed to clock up substantial and invaluable mileage.

"We have focused our attentions on reliability running of the major components that are new to the car for 2002, as well as committing extensive energy to assessing Michelin's new compounds and constructions. By today I am happy with both the performance and reliability we have been able to achieve."

Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
"A seven day test needs a massive input of resources, which makes it nearly impossible to keep all three cars running all day for this long. Therefore it is even more pleasing that we managed to get through to most of our programme. As before in Barcelona,

"we generated a lot of information about the new engine from the test, things one simply can not learn while running the machine on the test bench. Considering these high demands and the richness of information we generated, it was good, and now we have th e benefit of five days without testing to work in Munich."

-williams-