Barely a week after its encouraging test session in Barcelona in Spain, the DAMS team continued its intensive development programme for the 2008 GP2 season on the Paul Ricard circuit. Over the past two days Kamui Kobayashi and Jérôme d¹Ambrosio found themselves on familiar territory on a track on which the team had practised a couple of weeks previously.
This was the last test session before the first round of the championship on 26th/27th April in Barcelona.
Yesterday, Kamui ran into technical problems and was unable to go as quickly as he would have liked. Despite the delay in his programme, today he was able to set a time more in keeping with his hopes finishing seventh-quickest time only 0.356s off the pace setter. Jérôme was only able to break into the top 20 on one occasion.
Thierry Bouvet, chief engineer: "We concentrated on basics which should help us throughout the season. Among other things our programme was axed around preparing qualifying and race set-ups. We¹ve made a lot of progress in these areas and the pieces of the puzzle are gradually falling into place.
Unfortunately, Kamui¹s session yesterday was severely hindered by technical problems due to teething troubles with the car. In Jérôme¹s case I think we¹ve managed to put our finger on the reason for his difficulties on new rubber. Even if it doesn¹t seem to be the case in terms of performance in this session, we now know which way to go and that¹s very positive."
Kamui KobayashiDay 1: morning: 1m 13.775s 13th timeDay 1: afternoon: 1m 14.020s 19th timeDay2: morning: 1m 10.571s 8th timeDay 2: afternoon: 1m 10.418s 7th time
"Unfortunately, I ran into a number of mechanical problems. So for me anyway this hasn¹t been a great session. Even though the Paul Ricard layout requires a set-up that¹s rather different to the other circuits, it¹s very encouraging to see that we¹ve made a step forward compared to our previous performance on this track. It¹s a point in our favour. Personally speaking, I¹m now very much at home behind the wheel."
Jérôme d¹AmbrosioDay 1: morning: 1m 14.230s 20th timeDay 1: afternoon: 1m 14.482s 23rd timeDay2: morning: 1m 11.271s 21st timeDay 2: afternoon: 1m 11.104s 22nd time
"Despite our position in the overall classification we¹re making good progress, and that goes for me as well. But there are still a few details to be sorted out: for example, why can¹t I manage to improve on my performance on old tyres when I put on new rubber? We have to continue working to solve this problem, and I feel we¹re going in the right direction."
