Sahara Force India Abu Dhabi Test Report

26 November 2014Spike Goddard got behind the wheel of the VJM07 today at Yas Marina for his first taste of Formula One machinery.Day Two Statistics:Chassis: VJM07-04Laps: 89 lapsMileage: 494 kmFastest lap: 1:44.944Classification: P6Spike Goddard: “I felt today went really well. The VJM07 is a massive step up from my Formula 3 car so the first part of the day was devoted to adjusting to the new machinery. The power and downforce of these cars is something on a completely different level; it was a massive shock to the system, but I got used to it fairly soon. We chipped away at the lap time in every run and in the end we got to a pretty good time and 89 laps, which is a fair bit of running. I am pretty happy about the work I did with the team and the way everyone worked with me. I'd love to keep a link with Sahara Force India: it's a fantastic group of people and I'd like to contribute and help as much as I can.”Tom McCullough, Chief Engineer:“Completing 89 trouble-free laps is a successful way to wrap up our 2014 trackside programme. Spike did a good job and really made the most of his first opportunity in a Formula One car. It’s always a big jump from Formula Three to Formula One, but he adapted quickly and gradually built up his confidence and speed throughout the test. We used the early part of the day to complete the aero work we started yesterday with several devices fitted to the car to collect further data. The rest of the programme involved some other aero and mechanical test items. With relatively few rule changes between this season and the next, the mileage completed over the last couple of days has proved valuable for exploring some design avenues for next year.”


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