Medium downforce in Fuji - Rampf

This weekend, the BMW Sauber F1 Team will be battling for points and positions at the Japanese Grand Prix. Willy Rampf, Technical Director of the team from Munich and Hinwil, reveals details of the set-up for the "Fuji Speedway", and expects more World Championship points in the Far East.

"After the spectacular night race in Singapore, Formula One will be returning to normality in Fuji," says Rampf. "Last year was our first race there, though it was dominated by a very wet track. However, we still managed to gather some valuable information in terms of the car set-up."

At around 1.5 kilometres long, no other Grand Prix can match the length of the start-finish straight in Fuji, on which drivers battle to overtake at approximately 350 km/h. At the same time, however, the set-up must also provide a lot of downforce in the medium-quick and quick turns. "As a result, there must be a compromise in the aerodynamic set-up," says the German. "In Fuji we will drive with medium downforce, comparable to that in Valencia. Bridgestone supplies the two medium tyre compounds, which should not pose us any major problems."

Following the turbulent race in Singapore, at which only Nick Heidfeld was able to pick up points for the BMW Sauber F1 Team while Robert Kubica fell victim to the safety car phase, Rampf is hoping to get back on the road to success in Japan: "We want to achieve a strong points haul with both cars here."