Have we learnt anything from the Barcelona test?

Short answer… No!

Some things we already knew have been reaffirmed;

• When it’s damp cars slide off the track.
• Pit stops without refueling are fast – sub 3 seconds
• The new teams, those that turn up in Bahrain anyway, are slower than everybody else, but not by as much as they could be.
• The Spanish love Alonso in a Ferrari.
• The whole world wants to know what Schumacher is capable of.
• The Red Bull Energy Station team do a lovely lunch – Thanks, Vielen Dank, Gracias & Merci

Some of the teams have had deliveries of components over the past couple of days, so we may see some changes tomorrow but I doubt it.

Once tomorrow is done there are only 12 days until we regroup in Bahrain for the first race of the season where I suspect 30% or more of the field won’t finish, and there may be a few surprises in store.

Lotus Racing. Barcelona day 2

A productive day for Lotus Racing as Jarno Trulli took the Lotus Cosworth T127 challenger onto the Barcelona track and completed another 70 laps. With strong sunshine and dry weather conditions, the Lotus Racing team were again first out on track and ready to begin testing, developing and improving the car.

Chief Technical Officer Mike Gascoyne gave his end of day round up; “It was a productive day in terms of set up direction with Jarno. We were able to identify some problems with the set up in the car and establish clear direction to improve it. We still have a long way to go, and a lot of time to come from the car.

“ We had a couple of minor hydraulics issues which stopped the car on track, but nothing major, so all in all it was a productive day and we’re aiming to continue in the same vein tomorrow.”

Jarno Trulli again picks up the wheel for day three of testing, and the team is looking forward to developing and progressing the car. Heikki Kovalainen then takes over on Sunday, for the final day of testing.

Lotus Racing. Barcelona day 1

76 more laps for Fairuz Fauzy on the first day of the Barcelona test marks another satisfactory day for Lotus Racing. In dry, sunny conditions the team completed all its objectives for the day and are now looking forward to seeing Jarno Trulli take over driving duties tomorrow and Saturday.

Chief Technical Officer Mike Gascoyne gave his thoughts on the day’s on track action, saying “It was a very productive day – 76 laps with no mechanical worries on the car. In the morning we conducted some engine LAMDA running which we completed successfully. We ran through a series of system set up checks, completed our first starts and evaluated a number of other control systems on the car, as well as monitoring temperatures and pressures throughout the car.

“All in all this was a successful day both on the track and we ticked off a lot of behind the scenes tasks ahead of the first race. Fairuz did a very good job today, with no mistakes, and we were able to complete our whole program.”

Jarno Trulli takes over tomorrow with more dry running ahead of the Lotus Racing team.