McLaren completes busy Barcelona test
It was a busy final pre-season test week for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team at the Circuit de Catalunya. The team has been concentrating on long runs to prepare for the season opener at Australia. Next week, the Woking-based outfit will conduct a straight line test at Menorca before flying to Melbourne.
Martin Whitmarsh “As is always the case at the final full test of a winter season, it has been a busy week for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team in Barcelona. Our engineering team placed high expectations on the team from a programme perspective, and the improving weather conditions during the three days has enable the team to complete all the requirements. Today the focus on track was similar to yesterday with a concentration on longer runs. Both the test and race teams were present in Barcelona, with the latter completing their process of familiarisation with the MP4-23. This included race simulations, qualifying runs and pit stop practices as we make our final preparations for the start of the 2008 season. With the cars leaving the McLaren Technology Centre for Australia on Thursday 6th March, we are taking the opportunity in the early part next week to conduct some final straight line aerodynamic work in Menorca. Prior to this we have covered approximately 14,275 test kilometres over 21 days of intensive development. The pace of work on the test track and back at base in Woking, Brixworth and Stuttgart has been outstanding, and it will continue at this rate building up to and during the season.”
Laps run today: Total – 190
Laps run in total at test: Total – 492: Lewis – 263 / Heikki – 229
Kilometres covered today: Lewis – 480km / Heikki – 405km
Kilometres covered in total at test: Total – 2,290: Lewis – 1,224km approx / Heikki – 1,066km approx
Total Test Kilometres Covered with the MP4-23:
Lewis – 5,553km approx over 15 days
Heikki – 6,309km approx over 18 days
Pedro – 2,213km approx over 6 days
Gary – 200km approx over 1 day
Best lap time today: Lewis – 1m22.011 at 11:15 / Heikki – 1m21.309 at 16:56
