Brawn GP extremely pleased with good first test
Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello headed the field in testing at the Circuit de Catalunya today, replicating the feat of team-mate Jenson Button yesterday. Back at the wheel of the BGP 001 car for the fourth and final day of this week’s programme, Rubens brought the team’s first pre-season test to a successful conclusion.
Once the heavy fog which delayed the start of running around the Spanish circuit cleared, Rubens successfully ran through a full 66-lap race distance with pit stops and using both compounds of the Bridgestone Potenza slick tyres. The car proved reliable once again with Rubens setting competitive lap times over the three stints. The afternoon saw Rubens complete a series of qualifying simulations during which he set the fastest time of the week - a 1:18.926.
The team will resume testing in Jerez on 15 March for a final three-day test before the start of the 2009 Formula One season at Albert Park in Melbourne on 29 March.
Rubens Barrichello: “I’m very pleased with the mileage that we have achieved today and the completion of another full race distance. The qualifying exercises were also very useful in enabling the team and I to get fully up to speed and ready for Melbourne. The car has proved fast and reliable throughout the week so we go to Jerez feeling positive and pleased with the results of our first test outing.”
Ross Brawn, Team Principal: “We are extremely pleased with the inaugural test of the BGP 001 car in Barcelona this week. The team made a very late start to our pre-season testing programme with only seven days in which to run the car before the first race in Melbourne, therefore our focus has been on reliability and achieving as much mileage as possible. Both of these aims have been successfully achieved this week. That the car has run so reliably ‘out of the box’ is a tribute to the strong team that we have at our factory in Brackley and they have done a great job during a very difficult period. The car is performing to our expectations and the feedback from Jenson and Rubens has been positive with both drivers completing full race distances. We have three further days of testing in Jerez next week to complete our preparations for the first race and I look forward to seeing how the car progresses from here.”
