On Wednesday and Thursday this week, Racing Engineering joined the other GP2teams for the first test of the new year at the Circuit Paul Ricard, renewingacquaintances up and down the pitlane as they got to grips with the new version ofthe car that the team will use to compete in this year’s championship.
The principal changes for 2006 are the slick tyres, which are replacing the groovedversions from last year, as well as updated brakes and a bi-plane rear wing.Unfortunately, the first day of the test started off with a wet track, but as the suncame out the track soon dried despite the cool conditions, allowing the team tocomplete their test programme.
Before the test Racing Engineering had taken the decision to concentrate onlearning about the changes in the car and working on its general developmentrather than looking for outright speed. Despite this, Adam Carroll still managed toclaim fifth spot in the final session with a strong lap of 1:13.426, while Javier Villastruggled due to a lack of car time – his best lap was 1:15.046.
Team principal Alfonso de Orleans was pleased with his team’s progress at theend of the two day test, noting: “I think we progressed enormously, both thetechnical team and the drivers made a great leap forward. Sadly we’ve had quite afew problems with red flags – we had more red flags then I’ve ever seen ! – so thedrivers didn’t go out when they had to with the good tyres, but I think Adam did agood job by finishing fifth today. By the next test, Gary Anderson, our newTechnical Director, will have a better idea about the car, and Adam will have abetter idea about working with him, so it’s been a positive test.”
Adam Carroll was equally pleased with his first test with the team: “I’m veryhappy – I think we’re doing what we’ve got to do, which is getting through all theset up work with Gary Anderson. We tried a lot of things, and I think we made a lotof progress from the first day to the second – it was all positive. I think where weended up today was good considering the tyres had already done twelve lapswhen we did the fastest lap, and we had a lot of red flags – the tyres were almostgone, so I think the time was encouraging. We’re moving in the right direction, theteam is very good, and I enjoy working with everyone.”
Javier Villa was disappointed to have suffered some technical problems whichrestricted his running, but noted: “It was okay today, but all day we had a fewproblems. The team told me not to worry because it’s the first test, and I know itwill get better. There was a lot of difference from the tests last year because of thetyres and the brakes – the car is a lot faster, and the tyres are now a lot more likethe ones I had in Formula Three.”
