Jerez Test Session: Day 4 – Barrichello tops the table with Cosworth powered engine
The second pre-season test session concluded at the Circuito de Jerez on Sunday, 13 February, 2011. On the final day of testing, Rubens Barrichello set the fastest time in his CA2011k V8 powered William’s FW33. He completed 103 laps with a fastest of 1 minute
and 19.832 seconds.
The Cosworth machine has been quickly losing its identity after it started to look ‘slow’ on the circuit compared to some heavy machinery of Renault, Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren. Last year, Team Lotus used Cosworth, but quickly replaced it with Renault
units.
Cosworth is being represented by only three buyers this year: AT&T Williams, Virgin Racing MVR-02 and the Hispania Racing, HRT F1 Team. HRT skipped the Jerez test session and will be joining in the final Barcelona test session.
Williams’ overall performance during the four days of testing was somewhat mixed. On day 1, Pastor Maldonado took the car out for the first time but only managed 14 laps and finished last on the times chart. On day 2, Maldonado crashed the FW33 into a wall
and damaged the car’s nose and rear wing, giving a big set back to the team. On day 3, Ruben Barrichello took his first taste of the car doing over 100 laps, finishing ninth in the timesheet.
On the final day of testing, the British team enjoyed a strong finish: Barrichello took the car out in the morning session and posted the fastest time of the week. The Brazilian veteran’s benchmark proved to be unbeatable due to heavy rain later in the day.
The afternoon session was focused primarily on the movable rear wing testing, and all the cars took their first taste of wet Pirelli tyres.
Meanwhile, Virgin’s Jerez test session was not one to remember; none of their driver was able to get any of the first five positions on all four days. They faced a few engine problems on day 1, managing to complete more than 200 laps collectively on all
four days. They did however, take some healthy data on Pirelli tyres for their engineers.
Cosworth powered machines have had no championship to their name; they have taken a big step forward by finished the Jerez test session on a high.
It will be interesting to see how they will do in the main events, where it matters.
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