San Marino: Championship challenge back on track

By Honda Racing F1
April 19 2006

The Formula One European season gets underway in Imola next weekend with the fourth round of the 2006 FIA World Championship. After the first three flyaway races, the F1 teams return to Europe and the drivers look forward to the challenge of the more traditional circuits on the F1 calendar.

Since returning from Australia, the Honda Racing F1 Team has completed two important tests at Vallelunga and Barcelona. Covering over 3500kms in six intensive days, the team put some new aerodynamic parts through their paces and worked on the tyre warm-up issues which compromised the race performance in Melbourne. As a result, the team is optimistic that it can start to realise more of the RA106's qualifying speed in the race situation.

Gil de Ferran
Sporting Director
Honda Racing F1

"Imola represents the start of the European season and the challenge of four races in just one month. Traditionally this is the weekend when many teams target the introduction of development upgrades to their cars, which can reshuffle the order of performance established at the first three flyaway races. With this in mind, we have not stood still since Australia and have evaluated many potential improvements to both the performance and reliability of the RA106 at our tests in Vallelunga and Barcelona. Our team has traditionally gone very well in Imola, so it all looks good for us to get our championship challenge back on track."

Shuhei Nakamoto
Engineering Director
Honda Racing Development

"The countermeasure for Jenson's engine problem in Melbourne worked to our satisfaction in Barcelona and we are introducing a more powerful spec for the start of the European season."