Sepang is a lot more representative - Rampf

In a few hours the GP weekend in Malaysia kicks-off with the first free practice session. Willy Rampf, Technical Director of the BMW Sauber F1 Team, describes the unique characteristics of the 'Sepang International Circuit' and looks back to the race in Australia.

"Melbourne was a good start for the BMW Sauber F1 Team, and we can be happy with our competitiveness in the first race of the season," Rampf comments on the season opener. "But the particular characteristics of the Albert Park circuit mean you can't read too much into how things went there, and we know that. I would say Sepang is a lot more representative."

According to Rampf, the 5.443-kilometre circuit near the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur offers an interesting mixture of diverse corners and, therefore, presents the set-up of the BMW Sauber F1.07 with a variety of different demands: "The slower sections require good grip for accelerating out of the turn, whereas high stability is essential - particularly in the combination just before the back straight," says the German. "In addition, the circuit calls for good aerodynamic efficiency, as you have to be quick along the two straights here to make the most of the overtaking opportunities. The tyres - the rears in particular - come in for a lot of punishment, as the asphalt is quite abrasive and temperatures are normally very high."