WILLIAMS-TOYOTA FW31 DEBUTS IN PORTUGAL
Oxford, UK and Portimão, Portugal, 19 January 2009. The Williams-
Toyota FW31, the team's 2009 season race car, made its track debut at the
Algarve Motor Park circuit in southern Portugal this morning at the first official
Formula One test of the year.
After completing 17 laps this morning in the hands of AT&T Williams' test
driver, Nico Hülkenberg, the team was satisfied with initial progress. Technical
Director, Sam Michael, said, "This morning has been full wet, but the weather
hasn't really affected what we wanted to do, because our goal has been to get
the car out on track, check all the systems work, be sure parts aren't touching
each other, nothing is burning, and that's all proved to be okay. It would be
good to get some dry running, and the weather should allow this later in the
week. In terms of first impressions of the car, we of course haven't spent any
time on set-up or performance work yet, that'll all come later, but so far the car
is running fine."
The Williams-Toyota FW31 is the first major clean-sheet car design for perhaps
30 years, driven by a wholesale change in Sporting and Technical Regulations.
The new Sporting Regulations are intended to increase car reliability and
further reduce costs, while the changes to the Technical Regulations have
three objectives reducing the role of aerodynamics in the car's performance,
making overtaking easier and keeping lap times in check. These changes
have had significant implications both on the appearance of this season's race
car and in shifting its performance baseline.
Sam Michael reflected, "The changes in the aerodynamic regulations are the
most profound and will have the most impact on lap time. There are many
immediate visual changes, but also many smaller reductions around the car
through new regulation wording and exclusion zones. Starting at the front, the
front wing end plate design has changed as the interaction with the front tyre is
completely different, and important to control. There are no longer large barge
boards although we managed to squeeze a small one in. The engine cover
no longer has the traditional chimneys and louvers on top for cooling, and that
has forced a higher and wider exit at the rear in order to provide an effective
exit for hot air. Of course the re-introduction of slick tyres is another significant
change as it has an influence on the overall dynamics of the race car. Finally,
of course, the introduction of KERS is another aspect to the technical picture
for the year ahead."
Michael went on to explain how the changes in aerodynamic rules, which see
a much reduced rear wing geometry and conversely, a considerably wider
front wing profile, with the front wing flap angle adjustable by the driver in the
cockpit, would be the competitive focus for all the teams for much of the year
ahead. "Aerodynamics is likely to be the key to the first two thirds of the season
ahead," he said, while rating the change to slick tyres as another significant
rule change for 2009. "Finding the optimum weight distribution to optimise tyre
performance will also be a high priority going into 2009 and KERS will be the
next contributor to race performance. " Michael confirmed.
The introduction of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) in 2009 is
not an obligatory element of the regulations, but may provide an opportunity
for teams to gain competitive advantage. The amount of energy that can be
recovered and used may increase in future regulations, but the level set for
the technology's introductory year, set against considerations of weight and
reliability, make the initial advantages less than gains to be achieved through
aerodynamics and mechanical dynamics.Sam Michael contextualised this
view, saying, "KERS in 2009 could be worth between 2/10ths and 3/10ths of
a second per lap. However, once aero performance converges, KERS could
start to become a greater performance differentiator and if the regulations give
more scope to the technology, it could be worth anything up to a second a
lap and it will be needed to win Grands Prix. The key decision for us with our
system is to carefully balance the potential performance advantage with our
ambition to improve an already strong reliability record from last season."
Nico Hülkenberg, the first of the AT&T Williams team drivers to experience
the FW31 felt confident in the car's abilities, but naturally reflected on the
difference from its predecessors. "Straight away the new car feels okay, I feel
comfortable in it and for a new car, we have also had a trouble-free morning
technically, which is important. Of course everyone will want to know how it
compares to the 2008 car and what the impact of the rule changes are from a
driver's point of view. In truth, I cannot say too much after a few laps, because
the track is 100% new to me, I have never run here and also it is pretty wet,
so I have no baseline for comparison if we were at Jerez or Barcelona in the
dry, I could be a little more specific. But the important thing for today is simply
to make sure we run through all the checks of the basic systems on the car
and confirm everything is working as it should. So far that is the case and we
can be happy."
As the AT&T Williams team took to the track in Portimão, the results of its
commercial activities over the winter were apparent. The team has renewed
or upgraded over ten partners since last summer when Philips confirmed that
they were upgrading their partnership with the team. With the whole of Philips'
Consumer Lifestyle division now party to the partnership, Philips' branding
appears on the front-facing rear wing and on the FW31 sidepods.
Dominic Reilly, the team's Head of Marketing, commented, "Philips has
demonstrated, through its excellent track record of sponsorship execution,
that their Formula One engagement has made a real difference to the bottom
line. As a consequence, Philips have upgraded from the Shaving Division to
the whole of its Consumer Lifestyle group. In consideration of this, Philips will
have substantially increased livery on the 2009 race car."
Since announcing this new agreement in late 2008, a further nine agreements
with existing partners have been signed, including Allianz, PPG, Oris, MAN and
the recent announcement of another upgraded and extended agreement with
Randstad, who now become one of the team's senior partners as confirmed
last week.
Adam Parr, Williams Chief Executive said, "We are very grateful for the
loyalty and steadiness of purpose of our partners. We never take anything for
granted, but our 2009 and 2010 budgets are in place thanks to the support of
our partners as well as the increased revenues from FOM and the work being
done by FOTA and the FIA to reduce costs. It is now our responsibility to make
sure that our partners and the many other people who support the team enjoy
a return on that investment."
Turning to the prospects for 2009, Frank Williams said, "It will be a very
interesting year ahead. The new aero rules mean a different approach to the
cars in a number of areas. However, by the time we get to Melbourne, I would
expect the usual suspects to still be dominating the top two positions. More
importantly, I hope Williams will have made a significantly large step forward
with the FW31."
-credit: williams
