Hotline with...Jacky Eeckelaert
2011-11-24
Thanks to everyone for sending in your questions, here are Jacky Eeckelaert’ answers:
@eder_vazquez Eder Vazquez
What is your view on the arrival of Pedro de la Rosa? Will he be able to help on the design of the F112 that we’ll see in Australia?
Pedro is a driver with a great amount of experience in Formula 1 as he spent many years as a test driver at McLaren so he can bring a lot of ideas to the team. Regarding the design of the F112, at this stage of the year the basic car has been completely designed, but once it’s finished and we go testing he can give us some input on the way we develop the aero of the car. With Pedro’s experience from the McLaren simulator, which has all types of aero balance, he can probably help us in that area to see how far we can push the limit.
@eder_vazquez Eder Vazquez
In what areas specifically have Liuzzi, Narain and Ricciardo helped in the design of the F112?
They don’t help on the design of the car itself. The drivers aid us with their feedback, giving an exact description of how the car balance is in different situations on the track. We have telemetry and measure a lot of parametres but the human body is the most sensitive sensor we have in the car, more than electronic sensors. With their feedback we know where to look in the data and put a number on what they say. Their information is vital and the better the driver is, the better the feedback is.
@eder_vazquez Eder Vazquez
What parts of the F111 will be used on the F112?
Probably only the steering wheel and even that will be slightly modified because of the KERS, because we need an extra function on the steering wheel for it.
@eduardocrew_6 Luis E Ceballos
Is there already a design for the F112?
Of course there is. The model of the car exists but it is still in evolution regarding aero bits: front wing, rear wing, barge boards, floor, diffusers…they’re still in evolution. The monocoque and nose are fixed but the purely aero elements can be built in 3-4 weeks so we can wait until end of December for them. There is a model but the final product will be seen towards the end of December.
@ivanF1 ivanF1
What are the main characteristics of the 2012 car and what will change with respect to this year’s model?
The main area on which we have worked is the downforce of the car because there is big deficit in comparison to a standard F1 car. Downforce is what pushes the car to the track, increases the grip of the tyres, makes the car brake later, go faster through corners, etc. The biggest performance deficit is from aero and that is what we’re working on. We have also made changes to the monocoque such as making it higher in the front and narrower in the rear. We will also work on adapting the rear suspension to the Pirelli tyres, in order to achieve better balance between low speed and high speed corners.
Thanks to everyone for sending in your questions, here are Jacky Eeckelaert’ answers:
@ivanF1 ivanF1
Will the F112 use Williams’ 2011 gearbox with such a low differential? Or will it continue to use the 2010 gearbox?
We will use the Williams 2012 gearbox but adapted to the Cosworth engine because in 2012 Williams will use a Renault engine.
@jorgerivase Jorge Rivas E
Are you considering changing the engine supplier or will Cosworth be around for a while?
HRT signed a contract in 2010 for three years with Cosworth so they will be the engine supplier next year. I have no idea what the future holds.
@JorgHRT Jorge Viegas
If you had to choose your best moment in the team which would it be? And the hardest? With reference to the races
The best moment was the first race in 2010 in Bahrain when we had to finish the car without any testing, Karun drove his first shakedown lap in qualifying in Saturday which was a very strange situation but it was a good feeling to finally get the car out.
The hardest was Monaco 2010 when Trulli crashed into Karun on the last lap and spoiled a great race that could have finished in 12th.
@JorgHRT Jorge Viegas
Are you happy in the team? Did you ever think you would work for a Spanish team?
Yes, I’m very happy even though it’s a small team and we are on the back of the grid. We started from scratch in 2010 in the middle of a global economical crisis, so given the circumstances it was not very easy to make our way into Formula 1. Now there is a positive evolution with the new team owners so it makes me happy to progress as a team. We work more and more as a team and if things continue like this the results will be clear to see in the near future.
I never thought about working for a Spanish team but life is full of surprises. It was an opportunity that came up and I took it because I liked the challenge of starting from scratch.
@JorgHRT Jorge Viegas
How did you arrive in Formula 1? And how did the option to work for HRT come?
As a young engineer I was interested in motor racing and I started to work a bit as a freelance in Formula 3 and Formula 3000 besides doing my regular engineering job. I made some contacts in Formula 1 from that period who were interested in taking me, so that’s when I went full time in motor racing. So my career steps were quite similar to those of a driver.
The option for HRT came when in 2010 the Campos-Dallara project was frozen because they had no financing and Colin Kolles took over. He rang me and asked me if I was available. I joined on the 1st of March and two weeks later we had our first race in Bahrain, so it was all a bit hectic!
@Gelanigle Angel Iglesias
In an average top speed classification, in what position would the F111 be? Do you think this is important?
The F111 is usually around 14th,15th or 16th in the top speed classification done at each race. If you look at the cars around us, it is normally the best cars so that means that our drag level is good but our downforce isn’t. But top speed isn’t that important, for example Toro Rosso is always on top in this classification but then their lap times are two seconds slower than the top cars. Downforce is more important because if you come out quicker of a corner, you’re going to catch up the car ahead of you.
Credit: HRT Formula One Team (www.hispaniaracing.com)
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