Heidfeld ready for his GP return

In 2005, BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Nick Heidfeld missed the final five rounds of the World Championship due to an injury. Thats one of the reasons why the German is extremely motivated when the 2006 season kicks off this weekend in Bahrian.

"I'm truly anticipating my first race after my long break and I can't wait to see what the competition will be like," said Nick Heidfeld just a few days before the season opener. "It's hard to make any predictions, but my guess is that Renault and Honda will be in the lead in the opening stages of the season, possibly followed by McLaren and Ferrari. And then there will be a group of closely bunched teams, with us probably being a part of this group."

Nick and the BMW Sauber F1 Team have completed a period of extensive testing. The 28-year old was behind the wheel of the BMW Sauber F1.06 when the car made its debut on 17th January. Since then, Nick, Jacques Villeneuve and Robert Kubica have completed thousands of kilometres of testing with the newly designed car. Now, team, car and drivers will have to cope with their first practical test of the 2006 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, held at the state-of-the-art 'Bahrain International Circuit'

"The Bahrain circuit is a medium high speed track," added Nick. "It demands high aerodynamic efficiency and a good engine for the long straight. We did a lot of testing over the winter and I feel pretty confident."