Winds in Valencia slow BMW team

With gusts reaching 70 km/h, the weather again called for changes in the scheduled BMW F1 team's test program. In the morning Nick Heidfeld concentrated on system checks for the new BMW Sauber F1.09. In the afternoon the engineers' focus switched to collecting more data on the car's mechanical components. "Although the test had to be interrupted once when the wind blew some debris over the track, I managed to do some long runs in the afternoon," Heidfeld said. "I finished the day with some race start simulations on different tire compounds."

BMW Sauber's Managing Director Walter Riedl added: "After Tuesday's shakedown in Valencia we went on to complete four days of testing. Covering a total of 1,887 km, the new BMW Sauber F1.09 was running without any noteworthy problems, which meant we were able to carry out a comprehensive test program on each day. At first it was a matter of testing the individual systems, after which we focused on set-up work. We managed to collect a great deal of data and have already made initial progress. Although the strong winds made testing difficult during the last two days, we benefited from the fact that the track was dry throughout and outdoor temperatures were higher than during our tests in December, which meant we were able to glean some valuable insights concerning the tires as well. We have already used the 2009 version of the V8 engine with its rev limit of 18,000 rpm, as well as employing KERS. Overall we are very happy with the testing, particularly with regard to the high reliability of the new car. Now we are naturally very keen to see where we stand in terms of the competition, but we will have to wait for the next test to gain a first impression."