Button boosted by BAR test
BAR duo Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson were upbeat following a successful test session at the Paul Ricard circuit this week.
The British pair were joined at the French track by test driver Enrique Bernoldi as the team focused on aerodynamic and tyre preparations whilst testing the latest Honda engine.
BAR have so far failed to record any points this season after both Button and team-mate Takumo Sato retired from the opening race in Australia.
The team’s misfortune continued at last weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix where Button and Davidson, who raced in place of the ill Sato, both suffered engine failures early on.
But the pair were satisfied with the progress made during two days of testing this week, despite having the programme cut short due to wet conditions.
“We tested a few new aerodynamic parts at the test this week with positive results, however I was unable to carry out any of our planned tyre testing due to the bad weather, it kept raining off and on and this interrupted our programme,” Button said.
Davidson added: “We were troubled by the weather a bit this week but I did have a very good day on Wednesday when both Enrique and I covered a lot of laps.
“I focused mainly on aerodynamic testing and was pleased with the positive results which we saw.”
Shuhei Nakamoto, the engineering director of Honda racing development, now anticipates no further engine problems as the team will look to open their account in next weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
“We’re confident that there won’t be a repeat of the engine problems that we had in Malaysia,” Nakamoto said.
