Rally Mexico Preview - Citroën Junior Team set for Mexico debut

Following the wintery conditions of the Rally Sweden, the Citroën Junior Team now changes continent and surface to contest the first gravel round of the 2010 FIA World Rally Championship season. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia and Kimi Räikkönen/Kaj Lindström will drive the team’s two Citroën C4 WRCs.

Having appeared on the World Rally Championship for the first time in 2004, the León-based event features the most concentrated rally route on the calendar this year. In fact, a full 354.60 kilometres out of a total route length of only 884.58 kilometres are run competitively. Another peculiarity of Rally Mexico is that competitors will be driving at an altitude of almost 2800 metres at one point on the opening day (Ortega, SS2 and SS6). Citroën comes into the event fresh from three consecutive victories in Mexico, between 2006 and 2008. Nonetheless, the Rally Mexico will be an all-new experience for the Citroën Junior Team, which goes there for the first time.

Since making their World Rally Championship debut two years ago, Sébastien and Julien have climbed onto the overall podium (thanks to second place in Greece last year) and finished eighth in the 2009 World Rally Championship for drivers. In Sweden, their fifth place ensured that they beat several local Scandinavian specialists. So in Mexico, the French duo’s objective will be to at least equal that result.

Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström will continue their learning curve on the gravel of Mexico. Following their first rally on the snowy tracks of Sweden in February, the Finnish crew now faces a new challenge on a very different surface.

“What I love about rallying is that you have to be competitive on all sorts of different surfaces,” said Kimi. “After my experience on snow, now I’m going to find out about driving on gravel. I really don’t know what to expect, but that is all part of our learning process. I’m very much looking to driving the Citroën C4 WRC in these challenging conditions and getting as many kilometres under my belt as I can, in order to add to my experience.”

Three questions to… Kimi Räikkönen

Looking back on it now, what conclusions can you draw from your first event in the World Rally Championship with the Citroën Junior Team C4 WRC?

“The really positive thing is that we managed to cover all the stages on the Rally Sweden and we learned a lot. We could have done better overall had it not been for some small mistakes but we managed to improve our stage times as the rally went on. That was our initial objective. The second run through the stages was better for us. I also felt a big difference once I became more confident with my pace notes. With more experience, things should get increasingly easier.”

Mexico will be the first time that you drive the Citroën C4 WRC on gravel. Do you think that you will find this surface easier than snow?

“I’m really looking forward to starting the Rally Mexico. My impression is that driving on gravel should be a little bit easier for us. Or at least that’s what Marcus Grönholm told me! I reckon that we will find a more consistent level of grip on gravel. But for the moment I’m still lacking experience. I just need to get more kilometres in the car in order to get used to the Citroën C4 WRC in particular and rallying in general.”

How are you going to approach the Rally Mexico?”

My plan had initially been to take part in a test session on gravel, in order to get to know the Citroën C4 WRC a bit better on a new surface for me. But unfortunately I experienced a bit of back pain that stopped me from driving. I’ve had some treatment now but I preferred to rest before leaving for Mexico. Of course I would have liked to test the car before going, but it was important to recuperate in order to start the second rally of the season in the best possible physical shape.”

Courtesy of Citroen Racing Communication.

Source - Kimi’s Official Website

Image (c) Craig Boon

Times
01 H. Kovalainen McLaren 1:41.307 35 laps
02 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:41.501 34 laps
03 J. Button Brawn GP 1:41.541 39 laps
04 S. Vettel Red Bull 1:41.591 37 laps
05 K. Kobayashi Toyota 1:41.636 34 laps
06 S. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:41.683 37 laps
07 M. Webber Red Bull 1:41.684 34 laps
08 R. Barrichello Brawn GP 1:41.831 38 laps
09 N. Rosberg Williams 1:41.931 39 laps
10 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:41.987 39 laps
11 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:42.180 28 laps
12 K. Nakajima Williams 1:42.245 36 laps
13 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:42.278 36 laps
14 J. Trulli Toyota 1:42.409 30 laps
15 V. Liuzzi Force India F1 1:42.530 33 laps
16 F. Alonso Renault 1:42.782 29 laps
17 G. Fisichella Ferrari 1:42.932 37 laps
18 R. Grosjean Renault 1:43.021 37 laps
19 J. Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:43.022 39 laps
20 R. Kubica BMW 1:43.708 13 laps

Image (c) Bridgestone Corporation

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“There are only a few corners where you can make a difference, near the start of the lap. Then there are so many heavy braking points and slow speed corners, where stability on entry and acceleration on exit are the important factors. Going from daylight to artificial light? After two races in Singapore, it doesn’t cause a problem. The pitlane exit? In terms of its layout it’s quite similar to Interlagos, except there’s a wall instead of a guardrail.”

Giancarlo Fisichella - 17th: “This will become a sort of second home Grand Prix for Ferrari, as rising above the back of the circuit, will be the first ever theme park dedicated to the Maranello company. As for the track, I can say the nicest part is the first section with the quick corners. I think there is some chance of overtaking on the long straights, while the pit lane exit is a bit dangerous, but there is nothing that can be done to change it.

“In the second session, when the temperature dropped, the track became less slippery. In the first session, I was struggling a bit to stay on track and I had a lot of graining. We have nothing new on the car and we must try and do our best, working on its set-up.”

Stefano Domenicali: “Our main rivals in the fight for third place in the constructors’ classification are going through a very positive phase, while we are having to make a virtue of necessity, trying to get the most out what we have got to work with. However, this does not mean we will not be fighting right down to the last lap, as we are not the sort to give up that easily. As for the technical aspect of this first day of free practice, on behalf of the entire team I wish to congratulate the organizers of the Grand Prix for the work they have done: Yas Marina will become, partly thanks to the Ferrari World Park Abu Dhabi, the place to be for all racing fans.”

Chris Dyer: “It was a Friday like so many others we have experienced this season. We were able to complete our entire programme with both drivers and picked up a lot of data to analyse this evening and tomorrow, in preparation for qualifying and the race. Our race pace seems pretty good, while we are struggling to get a good time out of the car on the first timed lap, which could go against us in qualifying. As for the tyre performance, it is not yet clear, at least from what we have seen today, which will be the quickest compound to use for qualifying, so we might see some different choices to usual.”

Image (c) Bridgestone Corporation

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Bridgestone’s soft tyre took Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Heikki Kovalainen to the fastest time of the first ever day of Formula One cars running at the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Kovalainen set a time of 1m 41.307secs in the later of the two afternoon practice sessions. His teammate Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the first practice session, using the medium compound Bridgestone Potenza.

Q&A with Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development

What was significant about today’s running?
“Today was all about learning this fantastic new circuit so for the teams and the drivers it was a big challenge. As with any new circuit the grip level increased a lot through the day and we saw a big improvement in lap times. Our desert location means there was sand and dust on the track at the beginning of the day too. In the later session the track temperature dropped quite quickly after sunset, but even the coolest temperature seen was still quite warm.”

How do you expect this allocation to work over the weekend?
“We expect the track to further improve tomorrow. We are currently analysing today’s data as it is still very early to say how exactly the medium and soft will work in the race. We saw graining today, especially on the rear. There was more graining on the soft compound, as you would expect. Whilst there was good grip improvement on the racing line, off-line the track is still quite dirty so drivers need to be vigilant here. A good qualifying and race set-up will depend on how well the teams predict the grip improvement from the track.”

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Bridgestone heads to Yas Marina for the first ever Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on October 30 – November 1, where the medium and soft compound Potenzas will be exploring this exciting new 5.5 km circuit.

This is the final race of a thrilling season which began in Melbourne in March. The combination of medium and soft has been seen previously this year in Belgium and Italy.

Hiroshi Yasukawa – Director of Bridgestone Motorsport, said:
“It is wonderful for us to be ending the season at a fantastic new venue and all credit to everyone involved with the Yas Marina circuit for creating a superb new facility to be seen by millions of television viewers around the world. The Middle East is a strategically important market for us and we will be welcoming a large number of important customers and guests to this race.”

Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development, said:

What are the challenges of Yas Marina?
“This will be the first ever race meeting at this circuit so it is very much a step into the unknown. Of course, we work very closely with the circuit and teams with simulations and evaluations of the layout, and we have been working with a sample of the track surface. We will also have some data from the GP2 Asia Series test which takes place the week before the Grand Prix. In terms of expected lateral forces we can say that the circuit is similar to Valencia. The track surface is similar to Barcelona or Fuji. Our ambient temperature predictions place Abu Dhabi as being similar to Bahrain. The track is new so very dark in colour, meaning it could get quite hot. We expect to see a lot of surface evolution.”

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The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a special weekend for Ferrari, as the Maranello company has several strong links to this event: Mubadala is the investment company of the government of Abu Dhabi, a shareholder in the company and a sponsor of the team. Another team sponsor, Etihad, is also the title sponsor of this race. Additionally, the Yas Marina circuit is located on the same island that is home to the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park. It is due to have its official opening next year and this coming Thursday at 10.30, Ferrari S.p.A. vice-president, Piero Ferrari will attend a press conference, when the roof of the park will be unveiled, featuring a large Prancing Horse logo. Interest in Ferrari and the Scuderia is already very high in the Gulf and on Wednesday afternoon, both Kimi Raikkonen and Giancarlo Fisichella will be in neighbouring Dubai, for the official opening of a new Ferrari store, which will be the largest of all the Ferrari stores in the world.

The track itself is interesting and unusual, starting with a couple of fast corners, with very slow turns leading into two very fast straights, followed by a twistier section, which is very reminiscent of the Singapore track. Finding the correct balance for the car will therefore not be a straightforward task. Although this circuit is near the sea, sand on the track surface asphalt - which incidentally is provided by Ferrari partner Shell - could also cause problems, in terms of its affect on grip and on the need to protect components from its abrasive properties, especially on Friday, when cars take to the track for first practice and it will also depend on what the wind is doing at the time. KERS should be very useful here, given the track layout features fast straights following on from slow corners, which is the typical scenario where a power boost can give a significant advantage. Although it does not present a specific technical difficulty, the pit lane is certainly interesting and innovative as it include a tunnel that takes cars from one side of the track to the other, as the entrance is on the right hand side and the exit on the left.

After Singapore, this will be the second race to be run under floodlights. The local start time of 5pm means that approximately the first forty minutes should take place in daylight, however any risk of the drivers being dazzled by the setting sun will be counteracted by the artificial lighting. This three hour delay compared to a normal Grand Prix start also means that the intense heat, with temperatures in the mid-thirties and a high level of humidity in the middle of the day, should also be less of a problem, while for the mechanics, working conditions will be helped by the fact that the garages are air-conditioned.

As has been the case throughout this fascinating season, tyres will play a key role and in Abu Dhabi, teams will have a choice of Bridgestone’s soft and medium rubber, marking a return to the use of two adjacent compounds. While it is fair to say that the F60 is no longer an obvious candidate to produce a race win, those who like to bet based on happenstance might wish to consider that this tyre combination is the same as that available in Spa and Monza, where Ferrari took a win and a third place respectively. However, this should not be seen as any sort of guarantee of success!

The Bahrain Grand Prix has featured on the calendar for six years now and this additional Middle East race means that interest in Formula 1 and motor sport in general is growing in this part of the world, as proven by the fact that all tickets are already sold out. This will also be a special end of season for both our drivers, as Kimi Raikkonen is leaving the team after three years and Giancarlo Fisichella will take on the role of official test and reserve driver for the Scuderia after this weekend. The Italian experienced the Yas Marina circuit on the simulator last week and his avowed aim will be to end his short stint as a Ferrari race driver in the points, because although the titles are decided, the team is still determined to end the year third in the Constructors’ classification, in which it currently stands fourth, one point behind McLaren.

The first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is also the last GP in red for Kimi Raikkonen, who will leave the Scuderia after three successful years. Before the race Chairman Montezemolo wanted to thank the Finnish driver for his contribution during his stay at the team. “Kimi entered the history of the Scuderia, winning one World Title in his first year with Ferrari and he contributed decisively to conquer two World Titles in the Constructors’ Championship in 2007 and 2008,” Montezemolo said. “He has always been an honest boy, transparent and loyal and we will always remember him with joy. I’m glad that I can be here with him and the team on the occasion of his last GP in this particularly difficult year. Let’s hope we can gain a good result.”

The Emirate will host the last race of the 2009 Championship on the Yas Marina circuit, not far from the future Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the theme park from the Prancing Horse. The structure extends on over 200,000 square metres and will host more than 20 attractions, such as the fastest rollercoaster in the world. Passengers will experience almost the same forces as in a F1 single-seater with speed of over 200 km/h and G-forces of a maximum of 4.9G. The theme park is built under license from Ferrari by Aldar Properties PJSC an will offer fans and families an incredible insight in the Ferrari experience and in the world of Italian style. The roof has been presented with a press conference by Ferrari Vice Chairman Piero Ferrari and is shaped like the bodywork of a road-going Ferrari with the biggest Ferrari logo in the world on its roof (65×48.5 of surface).

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There are many expectations as far as the Yas Marina circuit is concerned, but it’s difficult making any predictions, because we’re racing there for the first time. As far as we can see the organisers have done some great work and the circuit seems to me very interesting and challenging. Furthermore there will be a very special challenge, given the fact that we’ll start the race in sunlight, while it will end with artificial lights: this will definitely add some suspense.

As I wrote before, it’s time for me to say good-bye to the guys at Ferrari after three years together. I’m proud of the things we achieved, especially the Drivers’ Title in 2007 and the Constructors’ title in the same year and in 2008.

This season the car wasn’t as competitive as we wanted, but at least we managed to win one race and we gained a certain amount of points. Let’s hope we can conclude the season with something nice to be remembered!

Image (c) Bridgestone Corporation

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Stefano Domenicali, Ferrari team principal: “First and foremost, on behalf of the entire team, I want to congratulate Jenson Button and Brawn GP for winning both world championships today. I am particularly pleased for an old friend like Ross. As for us, obviously we are very disappointed, because today we had the chance to extend our advantage in the constructors’ classification, but we have ended up one point down. What happened on the opening lap penalized Kimi heavily, as he had to restart from the back of the pack. It’s a shame, because today, our driver could match the pace of the best and could certainly have been fighting for a place on the podium: once again he delivered a great drive. After yesterday’s qualifying, Giancarlo started from the back row and faced a difficult race: he tried his best, but he could not get into the points. Now, we look forward to the final Grand Prix of the season at the new Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. There, we will have to do all we can to bring home a third place finish in the championship, which we are very keen to do and I am sure that all of us, drivers and team, will do all in our power to try and reach this target.”

Chris Dyer, Ferrari chief engineer: “A very disappointing race for us. Yesterday already, Kimi had done a fantastic job, obtaining a good grid position and today, he did it again, climbing up from the back of the pack, all the way up to sixth place after the accident with Webber, which meant he had to pit to change the front wing. At this moment, his race was compromised, which is a real shame. With Kimi, we chose to use the soft tyre first and given how things went, it was the right decision, but then we had to use the hards, as the first part of the race would be very long. Giancarlo was stuck in traffic in the first stint and then, when he had a clear track, his lap times were reasonable. At the start of his second stint, when he was on the soft tyres, his pace was better, but then towards the end, he suffered with graining. Now we will do all we can in Abu Dhabi, to recover the third place that slipped from our grasp today.”

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Webber used a medium-medium-super soft tyre strategy in a dry race to finish ahead of Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber F1 Team) and Lewis Hamilton (Vodafone McLaren Mercedes). Pole-sitter Rubens Barrichello finished eighth.

Button’s fifth position gives him an unassailable lead in the drivers’ championship while the Brawn GP Formula 1 Team sealed the 2009 constructors’ championship.

Hiroshi Yasukawa – Director of Bridgestone Motorsport, says
“Well done to Mark Webber and Red Bull Racing for Mark’s second win today and many congratulations to Jenson and Ross and all of the team for winning both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in such fantastic fashion. The story of Brawn GP is an amazing one and many millions of people around the world have seen such an exciting race that definitely added something fascinating to the sport. These were tremendous achievements. We always see exciting races here and enjoy the fabulous atmosphere created by the Brazilian fans. It’s been a long and hard fought season and we are proud to be the Official Tyre Supplier to this great sport.”

Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development, says
“Once again Interlagos gave us some surprises, and a thrilling race. Most people expected more rain today, but the race was dry. Many people thought that the super soft Bridgestone would not be durable, but it worked better than predicted. Heidfeld used it at the start and Raikkonen used it twice without major issue. After so much rain yesterday the track was very green so we saw a lot of surface improvement through the race. Lap times were quite slow as the surface was still not at its best, especially in sector two. Well done to Webber, who drove a very controlled race for Red Bull, Kubica and BMW Sauber who used a good strategy for second, and Hamilton and McLaren who showed good patience for third. We are investigating Barrichello’s tyre, as it appears that a puncture caused air loss. It was sad to see Barrichello and Vettel’s championship hopes dashed but well done to winners Jenson Button and Brawn Grand Prix for such well deserved wins.”

Image (c) Bridgestone Corporation

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