BMW Sauber F1 Team - Test in Sepang - Day 3
Program:
After some rain in the early morning the track dried out quickly but had lost some of its rubber and grip developed during the first two days of testing. After 35 laps on used tyres at 12:00 hrs an oil leak caused a fire on Nick’s car. Although he had parked the car nearby some marshals it took them a long time to extinguish the fire which caused a lot of damage. After almost four hours of repair work, the car was ready to run again but the skies opened for a downpour which lasted almost until the end of the session. Like several other teams, the BMW Sauber F1 Team has decided to extend the Sepang test for one more day. Nick will continue to drive tomorrow. The weather forecast looks encouraging.
Weather conditions: rain in the early morning, then dry, hot, humid and overcast, rain again in the late afternoon.
Temperatures: Air: 26/30°C, Track: 29/34°C
Number of drivers participating: 10
Fastest lap overall: 1:35.918 min, Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes
Nick Heidfeld:
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.07-05 / BMW P86/7 V8
Test kilometres today: 194 km (35 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:38.551 min
What else before the Malaysian Grand Prix:
The BMW Sauber F1 Team has an eventful week ahead of it leading up to the PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix. On Saturday and Sunday (31st March/1st April) the team will visit the city of Malacca. On Saturday the F1 drivers and team management will come together in the historic old town. Sunday will see demo runs on the Malacca trade fair site featuring, among others, Nick and Robert in the BMW Sauber F1.07.
Further interview opportunities for the media and autograph signing sessions will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. The drivers will also pose for photographs at 15.00 hrs on Tuesday (3rd April) with the F1.07 in front of the PETRONAS twin towers.
On Wednesday the opening of the BMW Sauber F1 Team Pit Lane Park follows. It has been set up at the far end of the park behind the PETRONAS Twin Towers. A press conference will take place there at 11.00 hrs, and the media are also welcome to attend the public opening that evening. The weekend will see test driver Timo Glock take the F1.07 for a spin in the Pit Lane Park, while junior drivers will also be in action in Formula BMW cars and stunt rider Chris Pfeiffer is promising some acrobatic thrills and spills with his BMW motorcycle.
