JULY 21, 2001

Williams ready for high speed season

THE prodigiously powerful BMW Williams team believes that it has got itself into contention for victory in the series of high speed races that take the 2001 Formula 1 world championship to a close.

Ralf Schumacher, twice a winner already this season, was comprehensively the fastest man at this week's four day test at Monza as the team sorted out its preferences for Michelin tires and tested a new rear wing which is thought to be more effective in the twisting sections of circuits such as Hockenheim and Spa without hurting the team's advantage on the straights.

Next weekend's German Grand Prix will take place at Hockenheim, of which the majority of the circuit is a high speed blast with gently curving straights through the local forest. There is also the enormously fast Spa circuit for the Belgian Grand Prix, the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis where the F1 cars are flat out in top gear for longer than at any other circuit and the fast, flowing finale at Suzuka, Japan.

"We are looking back on an intensive test with two cars over four days," said Dr. Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director. "On the engine side we have been working on a lot of tasks, the main targets were improving the traction control and trying a top exit exhaust. We also supported an extensive test program on the chassis and tires."

"The test in Monza not only made possible a good preparation for the Italian Grand Prix in September, but also for the next Grand Prix in Hockenheim, where we will be facing long, engine-demanding straights, too."