Renault kicks off hot Jerez test

The ING Renault F1 Team began its final test before the August break in sweltering conditions today in Jerez. The first of the three days saw Nelsinho Piquet at the wheel of chassis R27-06, conducting a limited programme on a circuit that was inevitably lacking in grip on the first day of running.

The primary objective for the day was to accumulate mileage on the low downforce package to be used at the race in Monza in September. It was essential to complete this mileage to approve the components prior to testing in Monza in late August, but it meant Nelson was running in a configuration that was far from ideal given that the Jerez circuit usually demands high downforce. During the afternoon, he conducted a short, basic set-up programme but as is usual during the hottest part of the day, his lap-times where significantly slower than in the cooler morning conditions.

Nelsinho Piquet: “The main goal for today was to put the necessary mileage on the parts for Monza, and we managed to do so. As usual on day one of the test, the circuit conditions were quite poor, and the track was rubbering-in all the way through the day, making it hard to get a good feel for how the car was handling. I am driving again on Thursday, by which time the conditions and car balance should have improved a lot.”

Christian Silk, Chief Test Engineer: “We planned quite a limited programme for our opening day of testing, given that circuit conditions are usually poor and that we have to count our mileage very carefully under this year’s testing mileage restrictions. Nelsinho completed the necessary running to approve the Monza aero package, and then conducted a short set-up programme. Heikki will be driving tomorrow, when we will begin running with our latest aerodynamic developments in order to optimise the set-up of the car for the next two races.”

Nelsinho Piquet, R27-06, 68 laps, 298 km, best lap: 1:22.537