Busy week for Nakajima and Rosberg
The AT&T Williams team have completed their first on-track tests of the interim FW29B car in preparation for their 2008 campaign. A two car test, Nico Rosberg was joined by Kazuki Nakajima, the young Japanese driver in the cockpit for the first time as a Formula One race driver.
Although seasonally cold, weather at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona remained dry, allowing the team unhindered progress for the three days. In anticipation of 2008's revised regulations which have standardised electronic control units (ECUs), the team's drivers spent the three days evaluating and carrying out systems checks on the FW29Bs.
Despite countless red flags while the field accustomed themselves to running without traction control, Nico and Kazuki covered over 2,100 kms this week, with Nico registering 191 laps and Kazuki 270 laps.
On the third day of testing, Nico recorded the 8th fastest time of the day with a 1:21.820, recorded on lap 19 out of 69, while Kazuki's fastest lap of 1:23.039 on lap 120 out of 127 put him in 13th place on the time sheets.
Dickie Stanford, Test Team Manager, Williams F1: "Our last day in Barcelona delivered another productive session for Nico and Kazuki, with Kazuki covering considerable mileage despite numerous red flags. The pair finalised systems checks to complete our scheduled development work for this week. Jerez will be our next destination in the first week of December for the final test of the year."
