Testing at Silverstone

[j_hampton2000]

Well there's been sod all F1 testing this year at Silverstone.....some of you might be interested in this:
http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=31921

It also looks like the September F1 test might have been canned too in favour of more A1GP testing on 18/19 Sept.

Jim

[ss_collins]

Aside from the test in June you mean? and the various runs by Spyker and Williams?

[Knowlesy]

It's nowhere near as much as it was though. It used to be two major three day tests, unlimited.

This year it is one major test with the limited testing regs. Crappola.

(Williams and Spyker runouts don't count sam)

Anyhow, this really belongs in A1 GP, so....

[cos]

A1GP.com have a handy list of drivers who'll be testing at Silverstone next week; so far Mr TBA is going to have his hands full but the list will be updated as announcements are made in the next few days.

http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=31936

[Kiwi3]

I'll feel much better when there are more names and less TBA. I wonder if some of these countries are really going to turn up, like Pakistan for example (last I read Nur Ali was still thinking about it).

[cos]

Italy have named their drivers for the test - Toccacello, Bossini and Piscopo.

[spider]

Summerton is defo in for Team US...on the 29th.

[strider]

I like the fact that Brendon Hartley has been named as a driver for Team NZ. He was very impressive on his recent debut in the Zandvoort F3 Masters at Zolder.

[Kiwi3]

Brendon Hartley seems to be developing very well indeed. A future F1 hope for NZ I think.

[Francis Albert]

Originally Posted by Kiwi3

I'll feel much better when there are more names and less TBA. I wonder if some of these countries are really going to turn up, like Pakistan for example (last I read Nur Ali was still thinking about it).

Looks like Adam Khan is back for Pakistan

Link

[cos]

Adam Carroll and Ralph Firman will be at the test for Team Ireland.

[Rizweed]

Originally Posted by Francis Albert

Looks like Adam Khan is back for Pakistan

Link

thank god. now pakistanis have reason to support their country

[cos]

Here's the pretty-much complete list of who'll be testing tomorrow and Wednesday, with only Brazil yet to name anyone. Can't say I've heard much about any of the drivers Mexico has named, but interesting to see USA giving Buddy Rice a shot at driving.

A1 Team Australia
Ian Dyk
John Martin
Daniel Ricciardo

A1 Team Brazil
TBA

A1 Team Canada
James Hinchcliffe
Robert Wickens

A1 Team China
Congfu Cheng

A1 Team Czech Republic
Erik Janis
Jan Charouz

A1 Team France
Nicolas Lapierre
Jean Karl Vernay
Nicolas Prost

A1 Team Germany
Christian Vietoris

A1 Team Great Britain
Robbie Kerr
Oliver Jarvis

A1 Team India
Narain Karthikeyan

A1 Team Indonesia
Satrio Hermanto

A1 Team Ireland
Adam Carroll
Ralph Firman

A1 Team Italy
Enrico Toccacelo
Paolo Bossini
Edoardo Piscopo

A1 Team Lebanon
Khalil Beschir
Chris Alajajian
Jimmy Auby

A1 Team Malaysia
Alex Yoong
Aaron Lim

A1 Team Mexico
Juan Pablo Garcia
Arturo Gonzalez
Picho Toledano

A1 Team Netherlands
Jeroen Bleekemolen
Arie Luyendyk Jr

A1 Team New Zealand
Jonny Reid
Brendon Hartley

A1 Team Pakistan
Adam Khan

A1 Team Portugal
Joao Urbano

A1 Team South Africa
Adrian Zaugg
Wesleigh Orr

A1 Team Switzerland
Neel Jani
Sebastien Buemi

A1 Team USA
Buddy Rice
Jonathan Summerton

[Kiwi3]

Good to see Lapierre back. France should be a strong contender again, but they'll have to be good to beat Johnny Reid and Adam Carroll!

[Francis Albert]

just noticed there is live timing for the test!

http://www.a1gp.com/Multimedia/LiveTimings.aspx

[cos]

Morning times:

1 FRANCE 1m 10.531s
2 IRELAND +0.136s
3 SWITZERLAND +0.378s
4 NEW ZEALAND +0.494s
5 INDIA +0.554s
6 SOUTH AFRICA +0.559s
7 NETHERLANDS +0.657s
8 BRAZIL +0.926s
9 MALAYSIA +0.970s
10 GERMANY +0.992s
11 AUSTRALIA +1.047s
12 ITALY +1.082s
13 USA +1.096s
14 CHINA +1.342s
15 GREAT BRITAIN +1.756s
16 PAKISTAN +1.865s
17 LEBANON +1.960s
18 PORTUGAL +2.019s
19 CANADA +2.019s
20 CZECH REPUBLIC +2.280s
21 INDONESIA +3.496s
22 MEXICO +3.499s

[JamesRamone]

Not that i dont appreciate the info you have already given, but any idea who was in the car when those times were set?

[flexible-flyer]

Originally Posted by JamesRamone

Not that i dont appreciate the info you have already given, but any idea who was in the car when those times were set?

lapierre, carroll, jani, reid and karthikeyan in the top 5 cars. not sure about the rest though

[Kebab]

GB look like they'll finish the 2nd session in 2nd place ... not bad, but you'd hope we'd be top (after how we ended last season).

[cos]

Today's times:

1 SOUTH AFRICA 01m 10.484s
2 FRANCE + 0.047s
3 GREAT BRITAIN + 0.075s
4 IRELAND + 0.183s
5 SWITZERLAND + 0.189s
6 GERMANY + 0.390s
7 INDIA + 0.398s
8 NEW ZEALAND + 0.541s
9 NETHERLANDS + 0.585s
10 MALAYSIA + 0.853s
11 BRAZIL + 0.864s
12 USA + 0.961s
13 AUSTRALIA + 1.094s
14 ITALY + 1.129s
15 PORTUGAL + 1.188s
16 CHINA + 1.389s
17 INDONESIA + 1.536s
18 CZECH REPUBLIC + 1.680s
19 CANADA + 1.742s
20 PAKISTAN + 1.912s
21 LEBANON + 2.007s
22 MEXICO + 2.854s

Zaugg set the best time, Jarvis took over from Turvey for the afternoon, hence GB's leap up the timing sheets. Buemi and Jani both had a go for Switzerland but Jani was quickest. Firman takes over from Carroll tomorrow.

Not many cars in full new liveries yet by the looks of things, France, GBR, South Africa still running mostly-white machines today.

[SRPhoto]

I normally Marshal at Oulton Park and Anglesey although I have done the F1 at Silverstone on a few occasions. I am looking to visit as a spectator for the A1 testing tomorrow and have a few questions....

Can spectators get to most of the circuit (unlike the F1)?
What circuit configuration is used this weekend?
Any suggestions for good spots to take photos from?
For the F1 I enter at Start/Finish from marshals campsite, is the normal gate?

Thanks in advance.

[JurekB]

Originally Posted by SRPhoto

Can spectators get to most of the circuit (unlike the F1)?

Nope it's the same as the F1 test although I think the paddock is open in the morning in which case you should be able to escape to the infield.

Originally Posted by SRPhoto

What circuit configuration is used this weekend?

International

Originally Posted by SRPhoto

Any suggestions for good spots to take photos from?

Anywhere around Luffield assuming you can focus through the fence. On the exit of Luffield there is a disabled viewing area which allows you to get right up to the fence. A very popular spot for F1 testing but there was no one about today. Also if you are on the infield there is an area where you can shoot as the cars come out of Bridge and break for the left hander. You are viewing from above the fence here so it's not a bad spot.

Originally Posted by SRPhoto

For the F1 I enter at Start/Finish from marshals campsite, is the normal gate?

I think the only gate open is the main one by the car parks.

[SRPhoto]

Thanks for the info.

[Kiwi3]

Would be good if A1GP could publish what drivers are setting what times....I know it's a country vs country team competition but still it is interesting to assess the merits of various drivers, something we can't do if they only publish times on a team basis.

[Kebab]

Turvey wasn't given new tyres, Jarvis was ... main factor for the time difference, I think.