UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > GP2 Testing: Paul Ricard

Javier Villa sets new lap record

The first test session of the 2009 season began this morning at the Paul Ricard track where the thirteen GP2 Teams gathered this week for a three-day session. It is the opportunity for the twenty-six drivers to get familiar with the 2009 update kit. If no modifications have been made to the aerodynamic configuration or suspension, the cars now benefit from a new engine.

Built on the existing engine block and crankshaft, the 2009 engine has completely new cylinder heads and top half in order to improve cooling of the cylinders and, hence, provide a substantial gain in the sustained power while reducing performance throughout the entire rev range. This will allow the teams to better use the engine power curve, and deliver an additional 25hp over the entire rev range.

All the drivers used the Bridgestone medium compounds on the 3D configuration track. It was Javier Villa at Super Nova who set the pace closely followed by Dams’ Kamui Kobayashi and Piquet GP’s Alberto Valerio.

Luca Filippi on the second Super Nova car finished fourth ahead of Pastor Maldonado at ART Grand Prix, Romain Grosjean at Barwa Campos Team, Roldan Rodriguez at the wheel of the second Piquet machine, Vitaly Petrov also at Barwa Campos Team and Andreas Zuber at FMS. Belgian Jérôme d’Ambrosio at Dams completed the Top Ten.

The twenty-six GP2 cars carried on with their testing work this afternoon at the Paul Ricard track. Spaniard Javier Villa was the fastest at the wheel of his Super Nova car. He clocked the best time in a 1:11.930 which makes him the track record holder after he bettered last year’s track record signed by Grosjean in 1:12.031.

2007 GP2 Series runner-up Lucas di Grassi was also on top form this afternoon as he finished second quickest at the wheel of his Fat Burner Racing Engineering car, ahead of GP2 Asia Series leader Kamui Kobayashi at Dams. The Top 3 was followed by sophomores Romain Grosjean at Barwa Campos Team and Pastor Maldonado at ART Grand Prix. Andreas Zuber at FMS, Luca Filippi with the second Super Nova car, Davide Valsecchi at Durango and second Dams’ Jérôme d’Ambrosio finished ahead of Telmex Arden International’s rookie Edoardo Mortara.

Didier Perrin, GP2 Technical Director commented: “We are very pleased with today’s results. They confirm our predictions regarding the gain of performance we were expecting with the new engine. Moreover, we did not suffer from any serious reliability issues. The cars completed a total of 4493 kilometres. Following the teams’ request, we will use different track configurations for the remaining testing days. Tomorrow will mainly be dedicated to aero mapping and high speed configuration on the 2A track configuration that includes a long straight. And on Friday, we will run on the 2D short track configuration which is the closest to a circuit layout that carries more delicate braking points.”

Tomorrow’s morning session will start at 9:00am, local time.

TODAYS TIMES

Morning session
Driver Nationality Team Time Laps

1. Javier Villa ESP Super Nova Racing 1:12.325 20
2. Kamui Kobayashi JPN Dams 1:12.376 22
3. Alberto Valerio BRA Piquet GP 1:12.439 25
4. Luca Filippi ITA Super Nova Racing 1:12.667 21
5. Pastor Maldonado VEN ART Grand Prix 1:12.679 19
6. Romain Grosjean FRA Barwa Campos Team 1:12.722 20
7. Roldan Rodriguez ESP Piquet GP 1:12.742 22
8. Vitaly Petrov RUS Barwa Campos Team 1:12.893 15
9. Andreas Zuber UAE Fisichella Motor Sport Int. 1:13.023 24
10. Jérôme d’Ambrosio BEL Dams 1:13.102 22
11. Dani Clos ESP Fat Burner Racing Engineering 1:13.152 20
12. Giedo Van der Garde NED iSport International 1:13.221 23
13. Davide Valsecchi ITA Durango 1:13.303 24
14. Diego Nunes BRA iSport International 1:13.500 23
15. Edoardo Mortara ITA Telmex Arden Int. 1:13.592 24
16. Davide Rigon ITA Trident Racing 1:13.766 19
17. Michael Herck ROM DPR 1:13.788 23
18. Hamad Al Fardan BRN Trident Racing 1:13.852 16
19. Sergio Perez MEX Telmex Arden Int. 1:14.035 21
20 Nico Hulkenberg GER ART Grand Prix 1:14.416 9
21. Karun Chandhok IND Ocean Racing Technology 1:14.779 5
22. Luiz Razia BRA Fisichella Motor Sport Int. 1:15.060 18
23. Nelson Panciatici FRA Durango 1:15.2

Afternoon session
Driver Nationality Team Time Laps

1. Javier Villa ESP Super Nova Racing 27 1:11.930
2. Lucas Di Grassi BRA Fat Burner Racing Engineering 35 1:12.079
3. Kamui Kobayashi JPN Dams 28 1:12.140
4. Romain Grosjean FRA Barwa Campos Team 31 1:12.262
5. Pastor Maldonado VEN ART Grand Prix 36 1:12.270
6. Andreas Zuber UAE Fisichella Motor Sport Int. 32 1:12.300
7. Luca Filippi ITA Super Nova Racing 27 1:12.481
8. Davide Valsecchi ITA Durango 36 1:12.509
9. Jerome D Ambrosio BEL Dams 30 1:12.574
10. Edoardo Mortara ITA Telmex Arden International 33 1:12.607
11. Alberto Valerio BRA Piquet GP 29 1:12.623
12. Diego Nunes BRA iSport International 41 1:12.774
13. Vitaly Petrov RUS Barwa Campos Team 12 1:12.945
14. Nico Hulkenberg GER ART Grand Prix 22 1:13.010
15. Dani Clos ESP Fat Burner Racing Engineering 31 1:13.138
16. Sergio Perez MEX Telmex Arden International 23 1:13.182
17. Roldan Rodriguez ESP Piquet GP 26 1:13.279
18. Giedo Van der Garde NED iSport International 22 1:13.342
19. Karun Chandhok IND Ocean Racing Technology 24 1:13.356
20 Davide Rigon ITA Trident Racing 37 1:13.362
21. Hamad Al Fardan BRN Trident Racing 37 1:13.477
22. Luiz Razia BRA Fisichella Motor Sport Int. 30 1:13.584
23. Nelson Panciatici FRA Durango 29 1:13.860
24. Michael Herck ROM DPR 11 1:14.480
25. Giacomo Ricci ITA DPR 13 1:14.961
26. Alvaro Parente POR Ocean Racing Technology 1 --

Written: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:05:00