Hungary: It is time now for a final push

By Phil Huff (19/08/2003)
August 19 2003

Bridgestone Motorsport is all set for this weekend's round of the FIA Formula One World Championship at the newly revised 4.381km Hungarian circuit, on the outskirts of the country's capital Budapest.

After a welcome break in the normally relentless schedule of a 16-round calendar, Bridgestone's team of tyre engineers and fitters are ready and raring to get back into action this week after a season that has so far been hard fought. The Hungarian Grand Prix will pose its own unique challenges for a tyre manufacturer and Bridgestone and its teams have chosen the specifications for this slow circuit with care as drivers will be in need of extra grip and heat durability from their Bridgestone tyres.

Hiroshi Yasukawa, Director of Motorsport, said "We start our final rundown to the end of the season now. Bridgestone's engineers have been working hard back in Japan making sure our developments efforts have been continued but the three week break in the schedule has given everyone on the race team a welcome opportunity to recharge their batteries and there is definitely an air of determination in Bridgestone. The Hungarian Grand Prix comes at a crucial point in the calendar and it is time now for a final push to ensure we fulfil our role in assisting our teams maximise their potential."

Approximately 1,400 tyres have already begun their journey to the Hungarian circuit outside Budapest where low grip, high temperatures and circuit changes are all significant factors.

Hisao Suganuma, Technical Manager of Bridgestone Motorsport commented "The Hungarian circuit is probably the second slowest on the F1 calendar with perhaps the second smoothest track surface. This combination means Bridgestone will be bringing tyres from the softer range to search for that extra grip. The track is also twisty and undulating and grip performance will be an issue there. We normally expect quite hot weather so the tyres need to be able to cope with high temperature track conditions. The specifications for Hungary were decided based on recent results and of the specifications we are taking, there will be several new specs not yet raced before. Also to be taken into consideration, are the recent track modifications which I think will have reduced the average speeds even further. Certain sections have been resurfaced, the first corner is now almost a hairpin and part of the last section has been altered from a high speed corner to a 90 degree turn. In all, it is approximately 400 metres longer. We will require good consistency in hot conditions from our Bridgestone Potenza tyres, good grip and the ability to change direction.