Barcelona Test: Day 4: heavy rain hampers tests

By BMW Sauber F1 Team
April 17 2008

On Thursday, Robert Kubica concluded the four-day test in Barcelona. Due to heavy rain, the BMW Sauber F1 Team had to shorten its programme, although the team looks back on a successful week on the "Circuit de Catalunya". Heavy rain showers and even a thunderstorm gushed on the Mediterranean track over the course of the day.

Temperatures reached up 17 degrees Celsius. A total of eight drivers took to the track in Barcelona.

Robert covered a total of 32 laps on the 4,655-kilometre track. His fastest lap was recorded at 1:24.715 minutes. Mark Webber (Red Bull, 1:21.953 minutes) was the fastest driver of the session.

When the track dried up in the afternoon, Robert continued to work on setups and aerodynamical solutions for the forthcoming Spanish Grand Prix. When the rain set in again the team took the chance to collect more data with the car running on wet tyres.

Although heavy rain today affected the test work the team, made good progress in further developing the BMW Sauber F1.08. With Nick Heidfeld covering 203 laps (945 km) and Robert 671 km (144 laps) respectively over the four days period the engineers also collected valuable data using slick tyres according to 2009 regulations.
BMW Sauber F1 Team will be in action again in Barcelona next weekend when the 2008 World Championship enters its fourth round with the Spanish Grand Prix.