| This weekend, the fourth round of the 2007 | | | | earn myself a few more points in the coming |
| Formula One season will culminate at the Circuit | | | | weeks," he says. Like Heidfeld, Kubica also thinks |
| de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. The 2007 | | | | that the revision of the track affects every team. |
| Spanish Grand Prix is on its way and teams and | | | | "Like all the Formula One teams we know the |
| drivers are getting ready for the race on the 13th | | | | Barcelona track very well thanks to all the testing |
| of this month. The practice session for the said | | | | we do here. However, the circuit has been |
| race is already over and the result shows how | | | | changed since last year," he continues. |
| strong the team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is. | | | | The driver claiming the distinction to become the |
| During the first practice session, F1 newcomer | | | | first Polish to drive for a Formula One team has |
| Lewis Hamilton who is driving for McLaren came in | | | | these thoughts about the revisions and how his |
| first juts ahead of teammate Fernando Alonso. | | | | team can adapt to it: "The last two corners are |
| During the second practice session, Alonso, racing | | | | not as fast as they used to be, and that will |
| in his home country finished first while Hamilton | | | | affect car set-up. We have done some more |
| settled for fifth. | | | | testing in Barcelona in the lead-up to this year's |
| While McLaren is expected to once again show | | | | race. Here, it was important to go the right way |
| good performance for the race tomorrow, team | | | | and find the ideal balance for the car. We have a |
| BMW Sauber looks struggling with Robert Kubica | | | | lot of data at our disposal and I think we can be |
| placed fourth in the first practice session and did | | | | quick from the start." |
| not make the top ten during the second session. | | | | Sharing Heidfeld's view of the newly revised |
| BMW Sauber's other driver, Nick Heidfeld, did not | | | | track, Kubica said: "I like the track, but I'm afraid |
| make the top ten during the first practice session | | | | that the new corners have taken away some of |
| and only managed an eight place after the second | | | | its charm. Fast corners with high downforce are a |
| practice session. | | | | real treat in a Formula One car. But now the two |
| Recently, Heidfeld talked about his performance | | | | high-speed corners have been replaced by a tight |
| during the tests. "All the teams have used the | | | | chicane, where you are only doing 60 or 70 km/h. |
| time leading up to the first race of the European | | | | We used to hit 260 km/h through that part of |
| season for development work," says the German | | | | the track. This change to the track means less |
| driver. "The test in Barcelona was also important, | | | | fun, but greater safety." |
| although the weather was pretty poor. The | | | | Helping these two drivers get the bets out of |
| extensive testing carried out here means that all | | | | their cars is Technical Director Willy Rampf. The |
| the drivers know the track like the back of their | | | | change made to the track is one of the factors |
| hand." | | | | that Rampf is considering concerning his duty. |
| The Swiss-based F1 driver talked about the circuit | | | | "The modifications to the last two corners have |
| they will be racing on come race day. "It's a fast | | | | significantly decreased the speed of the cars |
| circuit and has some nice corners. The fact that | | | | through this section of the circuit, and this has |
| this is now the home GP for the world champion | | | | somewhat reduced the previously very high loads |
| has made it much more attractive. Additional | | | | on the left front tire," he said. This information is |
| grandstands were built for the 2006 race, and | | | | just one of the many data that the team has to |
| they filled up as well. Racing in this kind of | | | | take into consideration in planning their strategy |
| atmosphere is great for all the drivers, not only | | | | for the race. Rampf is visibly certain that they will |
| Fernando. The track layout has been modified - | | | | have a good race. "In testing we tried out various |
| the new section is less exciting, but safer. Now | | | | new aerodynamics and chassis components, as |
| I'm hoping for another good result for my 30th | | | | well as modifications to the car's electronics - and |
| birthday," he shares. | | | | these have yielded very promising results. I'm, |
| Recently, the track was revised to encourage | | | | therefore, approaching the race in confident |
| overtaking which will make the race more exciting. | | | | mood," he said. |
| To protect the drivers from injuries and crashes, | | | | Indeed, the team should have a strong showing in |
| the track is made safer to complement the | | | | the race as Toyota has set their eyes on the |
| safety features of F1 cars including their brakes | | | | third spot that BMW occupies as of the moment. |
| and protective bodies. | | | | Currently, team BMW Sauber has 18 points to |
| Heidfeld's teammate, the Polish Robert Kubica, is | | | | their credit. Meanwhile, Nick Heidfeld is ranked |
| clearly excited on the chance to once again race | | | | number five in the driver's championship with 15 |
| in a European track. "I'm looking forward to | | | | points. Robert Kubica, on the other hand, is |
| getting started in Europe again and am aiming to | | | | ranked eighth with 3 points after three races. |