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Miroslav Sanytrák | 11.4.07 | Aktuality
BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX PREVIEW
9th APRIL 2007
Formula One travels from the Far to the Middle East for the last of the season’s opening rounds of long haul races with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. The Gulf State of Bahrain provides the location for round three of the Championship, at the island’s Sakhir circuit sited south-west of the capital, Manama. In only its fourth year, the Bahrain International Circuit is a wholly unique desert venue. The race comes just a week after a promising demonstration of race pace but a poor finish to the Malaysian Grand Prix. The AT&T Williams team are therefore hoping to improve their performance with points in the desert.
Nico Rosberg
I can’t wait to go to Bahrain. I really like the track and we did well there last year,
it also suited me when I drove there in GP2 the year before. I hope we will
continue our current momentum, at the moment we have the speed, especially
in the race, but I think we might have to work hard on set-up during Friday’s
practice sessions, particularly due to the nature of the Bahrain track. I expect a good weekend and we must succeed in achieving what we missed out on in
Malaysia. I will be spending the few days between the two races with my
parents, who arrived in Bahrain last Thursday, and it will be good to spend some
time just relaxing before the weekend.
Alex Wurz
I’m looking forward to Bahrain. I like the circuit and last year we produced good
lap times there so I think it suits the car as well. The only thing we have to
overcome is that we didn’t test there over the winter so we will have a bit of
catching up to do on Friday but I don’t think it’ll be a problem. We have a new
aero package for the race that I tested at the Malaysia test a couple of weeks
ago. It worked well so I’m optimistic that we will get the cars into the top ten if
everything goes ok. That has to be our target for this weekend.
Sam Michael, Technical Director, Williams F1
Two years ago, when the Bahrain Grand Prix was held in mid-April,
temperatures reached 43oC on this hot and dry circuit. Weather conditions
play a considerable part over the weekend, particularly as wind direction
and strength can change significantly from day to day. The extreme
variables will all have to be taken into account for set-up direction. It is a good racing track, with two or three overtaking opportunities around the
lap, which always makes the race interesting.
With the three long straights, which will see top speeds of around 320kph,
and slow speed corners, aerodynamic efficiency is well rewarded at
Sakhir. Brake wear is also a consideration as Bahrain is typically one of
the hardest circuits on brakes.
After an encouraging third row grid position in Malaysia, but a disappointing race result, we are going to Bahrain with the target of
getting more points. Our understanding of the tyres has improved and this
is helping us to get more performance out of the FW29. Pitstop strategy
will be interesting, as a variety of strategies were used in last year’s race.
Williams set the fastest lap of the race last year, set by Nico during his
Formula One debut.
Bahrain International Circuit
One of the most unique destinations on the calendar due to its
geographical location, the imposing desert backdrop significantly
influences track conditions over the Grand Prix weekend at Sakhir. The
blowing winds intermittently blast desert sands onto the 5.412km circuit
which inevitably pose certain challenges for all but the leading driver as
they pursue their counterparts and their cars are faced with air infused
with damaging sand particles. As such, the sand dictates a necessity for heavy duty air filters to prevent the
blocking of air cooling inlets, an essential requirement but one which must not compromise aerodynamic
efficiency. Grip levels are another casualty of the sand and are reduced when sand settles on the track making
all but the racing line dangerously slippery.
The track is a complex mix of 15 slow and medium speed corners connected by three high speed straights, the
fastest of which will see the cars peak at 320kph at the end of the pit straight going into turn one. With the
lowest cornering speed registered at just above 100kph at Sakhir’s turn five, and taken in first gear, the number
of extreme braking events is high so brake preservation is paramount. Due to the extensive, high speed
stretches, each lap will demand a full throttle percentage of 62%; combined with the braking, cooling and sand
variables, engine reliability will be a considerable factor in the race’s outcome. A circuit built to house 50,000
spectators, the fourth race in Bahrain will undoubtedly deliver another exciting Formula One Grand Prix.
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