|
Sports / Motor Racing |
Williams abandon Barcelona test after wing problems(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-03 11:00 LONDON - Williams abandoned a Formula One test in Barcelona on Saturday after deciding they needed to do more in the factory to resolve a front wing problem with their new car. Japan's Kazuki Nakajima crashed into the barriers on the first day on Friday, with the driver emerging unhurt. Although Nakajima and Germany's Nico Rosberg resumed on Saturday, Williams decided that the problem had not been completely fixed and decided to end the test a day ahead of schedule. "We had a reliability issue with the front wing at Barcelona," a spokesman said. ""We could not implement an appropriate short term solution so we decided to return to the factory to address it in time for the Jerez test in just over a week's time." Former champions Williams had recorded some impressive times with the new Toyota-powered FW30 car in previous tests in Spain this month. Toro Rosso drivers Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Bourdais led Saturday's timesheets at the Circuit de Catalunya after the Ferrari-powered team decided to simulate qualifying conditions with the cars running on a low fuel loads. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, last season's overall runner-up, was third quickest despite the Briton's afternoon ending early due to a problem with the transmission. Honda's new car was again at the slow end of the timesheets, with Briton Jenson Button completing 58 laps with a best effort more than two seconds off Vettel's fastest. |
|