Toro Rosso unveils important aerodynamic upgrades on the STR6 at Spa-Francorchamps
August 25 2011
The summer holidays are over. Formula 1 retakes its cruise speed this weekend in a legendary circuit, Spa-Francorchamps, track that will host the twelfth round of the 2011 Wworld Championship. Toro Rosso has chosen this track to unveil two crucial aerodynamic modifications on the STR6: a new exhaust system and a revised DRS. Both have been designed to improve performance in qualifying trim.
Formula 1 visits this weekend one of its most spectacular circuits, Spa-Francorchamps, which sets the start of the second half of the 2011 season. The Belgian GP is expected to be be very important for most of the teams, which are bringing here their biggest aerodynamic developments for the remainder of the championship. Toro Rosso will be no exception, and has brought to the Ardennes forests two substantial modifications on the STR6 designed to increase performance in qualifying, the team's 2011 Achilles' heel.
The first and foremost concerns the DRS. To increase speed in qualifying trim, where this mechanism may be used freely, the technical staff reviewed the rear wing used until Hungary. This was one of the main changes demanded by Jaime Alguersuari, who was used to losing precious hundredths of a second on the straights, sometimes decisive for the progress in Q2.
The second gain comes from the exhaust, which has been completely redesigned and validated in the aerotest undergone this summer in Italy. Engineers and drivers are set to evaluate the gains of this new system on Friday.
As far as race is concerned, Alguersuari will try to score points for the first time on the Belgian circuit, a milestone already achieved last year but lost eventually as a result of a sporting penalty. However, the Spaniard is following a faultless line in the last four races, which have seen him in the top ten in three occasions.
To achieve this goal, Jaime will have to deal with the management of the Pirelli tires, which are expected to once again be a key point. The compounds chosen for this GP will be the medium (prime) and soft (option), among which the Italian manufacturer expects a time differential of more than one second per lap.
The Belgian Grand Prix starts on Friday following the schedule of the European races.
GP SCHEDULE
Friday
FP1: 10:00 to 11:30
FP2: 14:00 to 15:30
Saturday
FP3: 11:00 - 12:00
Qualifying: 14:00
Sunday
Race: 14:00
THE PRECEDENT: BELGIAN GP 2010 (SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS)
Free Practice:
FP1: 16th (2'04.250, 16 laps)
FP2: 14th (1'50.682, 25 laps)
FP3: 17th (1'47.981, 18 laps)
Qualifying: 13th (Q1, 13th: 1'58.944; Q2, 13th: 1'48.267)
Race: 13th
Fastest lap: 1'51.576 (9th)
JAIME ALGUERSUARI STATS AT SPA
Races: 2
Races completed: 1
Withdrawals: 1
Best race: 13th
Best qualifying: 13th
Credit: Jaime Alguersuari (www.jalguersuari.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment