Honda satisfied with reliability during Barcelona test session
The Honda Racing F1 Team began its on-track preparations for the 2008 Formula One season at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona this week. The three-day test sees the team’s 2007 car, the RA107, running without traction control as the new standardised electronics system is evaluated for the first time.
James Rossiter began the testing duties on Tuesday at the wheel of the RA107, which is running in the team’s interim livery of Honda Championship White. James worked through a systems check for the new electronics in the morning and continued his work through the afternoon, concentrating on longer runs. He completed a total of 69 laps.
Jenson Button joined the team in Barcelona on Wednesday and took over the testing programme in the RA107 for his first experience of the car with the 2008 electronics. He spent the early laps finding a good balance before continuing the team’s evaluation of the new system. Jenson also completed a number of race starts and ended the day with 79 laps.
Jenson continued his running on Thursday for the final day of the test. He completed the planned test programme to evaluate the new electronics system covering 96 laps.
Jenson Button “After a couple of hard weeks of physical training, it was a pleasure to be back driving again this week and starting our on-track preparations for the new season. This was the first time that I’ve driven the car with the new electronics system and it is a great feeling that you are properly in control of the car without having driver aids such as traction control. This suits my driving style so I am pretty happy with the changes to the regulations. Our focus this week was on putting mileage on the new electronics system, addressing any issues caused by its introduction and working out the optimum set-up on the car. It was a good two days and we were able to run reliably which is pleasing.”
James Rossiter “It was good to be back in the car and back testing again this week. We ran the RA107 with the new electronics system for the first time so the programme was focused on set-up changes to evaluate the software and working through a few small issues caused by the new system. In the afternoon session, we were able to put some good mileage on the car and therefore the electronics which proved productive.”
Steve Clark, Head of Race & Test Engineering “The 2008 electronics are a completely new system for the Honda Racing F1 Team, as they are for all of the teams. The engine, gearbox and chassis have performed reliably from the very first run of the week and this smooth transition is a reflection of the excellent preparation made by the team in advance of the test. We were quickly able to start tuning the new system to improve driveability for the 2008 regulations. This work will continue at the next test in Jerez and will give us a solid start to preparations for the new season when the RA108 takes to the track in January.”
