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Jaime
Alguersuari undertook driving duties during
the first two days of the four day test at
Barcelona (above) before handing the Toro
Rosso STR5 over to team mate Sebastien Buemi. |
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Yesterday in
Barcelona Sebastien Buemi wrapped up Scuderia Toro Rosso's
pre season testing programme with the new Ferrari-powered
STR5 which has covered more than five-and-a-half thousand
kilometres as the team gears up on track for the new season.
The new single-seater is significant in that it is the first
car to be built by Toro Rosso in-house since the former
Minardi F1 team was bought up by energy drinks giant Red
Bull. Yesterday Buemi posted a best time of 1:22.135 at
Barcelona after covering 87 laps, which left him ninth
fastest out of the twelve cars on track and more than a
second-and-a-half off the fastest time of the day which was
posted by Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes).
In fact the pre
season testing for the Faenza, Italy-based team added up to
a total of 5,746 kms, with Buemi accounting for 2,441 kms
and his young Spanish team mate Jaime Alguersuari weighing
in with the other 3,305 kms. While the Swiss driver had an
extra day in the cockpit, the discrepancy is due to
Alguersuari getting the better of the poor weather
conditions that have blighted the official winter test
programme.
"I am pleased
with my two days here in Barcelona," said Buemi after
wrapping up the team's programme at Barcelona yesterday.
"[On Sunday] we
concentrated on doing a scan of various mechanical set-up
options as well as some aero work. Overall, I think we are
in good shape and now I’m looking forward to the first race
to see where we stand compared to everyone else."
"Just two
weeks from today, we will be racing in the Bahrain
Grand
Prix," commented Toro Rosso Team Principal Franz Tost
yesterday, "It will be Scuderia Toro Rosso’s first ever race
with a car designed totally in-house. Thanks to an intensive
and effective programme through 2009 and the enormous
efforts of all our staff and suppliers we were able to get
our car out on schedule and I want to thank them for a job
well done. Because the car was ready on time, we have made
the most of the 15 days of testing, during which STR5 has
enjoyed excellent reliability. We therefore managed to
complete a very respectable mileage with both our drivers,
despite the bad weather at the two Jerez tests. It was also
important that both Jaime and Sebastien completed a full
race simulation here in Barcelona. It means we can arrive at
the Sakhir circuit reasonably confident as far as
reliability goes. We have also seen that our two relatively
inexperienced drivers have learned a lot from these test
days and that they have been diligent over the winter in
their physical preparation. Never before, in its five year
history has Scuderia Toro Rosso gone into a season so well
prepared. It just leaves the big question – how fast will we
be? And the answer to that will have to wait at least until
after qualifying and the race in Bahrain."
Scuderia Toro Rosso Test Details, 28/02/2010;
Circuit: Circuit de
Catalunya – 4.655 kms; Driver: Sebastien Buemi; Chassis:
STR5 - 02; Best time: 1:22.135, 88 laps.
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