Very productive day for Renault

Today the ING Renault F1 Team completed its second day of testing on the Jerez circuit in the south of Spain in view of the final races of the 2007 season. Nelson Piquet Jr., who was driving, continued his programme on the basis of the tests done so far this week. Once again, track conditions were ideal today and the team took maximum advantage of the situation to cover a total of 113 laps, some 500 kilometres.

Nelson concentrated on aero tests at the beginning of the session and then continued with brake testing, which the team had started yesterday. As on Tuesday he drove without any form of driver aids. In terms of mileage covered and the data recorded it has been a very successful day. The team hopes to continue in the same vein tomorrow for its final day’s preparation for the end of the season.

Nelson Piquet’s best time was 1’21.101, the seventh quickest of the day.

Nelson Piquet Jr.: “We’ve done a good day’s work on the very abrasive Jerez circuit. It did me a lot of good to be back in the car because I always like to drive as much as possible. After 113 laps I said to myself, ‘we’ve made a lot of progress as the programme’s been completed.’ We’re continuing tomorrow on the basis of today’s testing, and we hope to make another step forward and collect the maximum amount of data.”

Christian Silk, Test Chief Engineer: “We completed our programme without running into any problems with the car. First of all, we worked on the aerodynamics and then on the brakes for next year, and finally on the control systems at the end of the session. The car behaved as we’d expected it would and confirmed our predictions. Tomorrow, the aim will be to cover as many kilometres as possible, so that we can return to the factory with the maximum amount of information which will then be analysed to help us move forward.”

Nelson Piquet Jr. R27-06, 113 laps, 500 kilometres, fastest lap: 1’21.101