A typical test day at Williams

The first winter tests took place a few days ago on the Barcelona circuit, and there are new sessions for the Williams team that will be added before the holiday break to wrap up the 2008 season.

The planned schedule until the closure remains very important. It will need to be respected to the minute. To truly understand what this represents, the test manager of the Grove team, Dickie Stanford, describes a typical testing day in his team.

The pre-testing phase:

The day starts very early in the morning to leave the hotel around 7 a.m. Generally, we try to be as close to the circuit as possible to minimize travel and time loss. When we arrive on site, all the technicians get to work, and each of them has specific tasks to perform before the car can operate. Breakfast is taken in our own catering services so the mechanics can go directly to the garage to check the engine and gearbox temperatures because the car cannot be started cold.

« The test engineers and I will have breakfast before preparing for the morning meeting, which lasts about an hour. The drivers arrive just before the briefing, during which we review the schedule for the day and any last-minute changes. These changes are often due to the weather, or because there was a technical problem with the car. »

« The preparation of the tires is very important since the pressures will need to be adjusted throughout the day according to the ambient temperature. Each set of tires will be prepared methodically to adhere to the testing schedule. » Continues the British.

« A technician is responsible for preparing the entire radio-telecommunication system and ensuring that the exchange of information between the engineers and the single-seater will be perfect. One hour before the start of the tests, the entire electronic system is started and tested, as well as the hydraulic system, which is called the “box-run. »

« When the cars are about to leave the garage, everyone equips themselves with their radio, and the drivers prepare. »

« Just before the start of the practice session, an official completes a lap of the circuit to inform drivers about the track conditions and also to ensure that safety measures are in place to respond to any accident. »

The testing phase:

« The team is eager to use the maximum available time on the track, which is why we take a break at the beginning of the session to check for leaks in the cars. In general, it will be back on the track 20 minutes later. »

« The program of a typical day of testing is divided into several areas. One concerns the tires, particularly the temperature and their long-term performance. A second part will focus on the aerodynamic parts but also on the efficiency of the brake cooling system. »

« Settings are very often changed on the cars. You will often hear about the setup, which means that we are able to measure and record the car’s data in order to analyze and compare it with the calculations made by our design offices. »

As many of you already know, test weeks are not aimed at performance. It’s not about showing who is the best, but about achieving the objective set by the team in the testing program: We are not necessarily seeking absolute performance, but we aim to master the car’s parameters according to the settings. Furthermore, we want to achieve mileage on new components to prove their endurance before they are validated for use in races.

The post-testing phase:

« The tests will end between 4 and 5 p.m. The drivers will attend a press conference before the debriefing session with the engineers. The mechanics, on the other hand, will embark on a long list of tasks to do on the cars, first checking their overall condition as well as all the elements tested during the day, and then they will finish by preparing the car for the next day. »

Let’s clarify if it is necessary for most testing weeks for a team to consist of three days. The goal is not only to test new parts over long distances but especially to be able to adapt to different track conditions from one day to the next.

« Numerous parts with a well-defined lifespan need to be replaced at regular intervals, such as the suspension. Technicians must analyze tire wear and take all precautions to ensure that the tires are not damaged. This method notably helps to prevent punctures and time loss. »

« The entire team along with the Bridgestone engineers gather to draft the general report of the testing session. The debriefing that follows will allow us to modify the priorities for the following day, and everyone takes note of all the actions to be carried out the next day. »

A day is well spent when each person has committed themselves to the fullest without counting the hours of work. Indeed, nowadays, performance requires not only financial investment but also human effort, and the Williams team has managed to assemble a team that works tirelessly throughout the year to position itself among the top constructors.