Bridgestone Motorsport has been testing this week for the first time with all four of its F1 teams for 2006: Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, MF1 Racing, Panasonic Toyota Racing and WilliamsF1. For the two newcomers to Bridgestone, Toyota and WilliamsF1, the test at the Spanish circuit of Jerez has provided them with their first opportunity to run Bridgestone development tyre test programmes, having used the previous Barcelona test to learn how their cars and tyres work together and to establish a baseline for car set-ups.

Bridgestone Motorsport Test Operations Manager Kaz Hamamura commented today: "This week signifies the real start to our winter test programme. Having all four teams working alongside each other at the same venue and running similar tyre test programmes is an important point for us. They are all working through their programmes of the same Bridgestone tyre constructions and compounds and once we have completed the test, at the end of next week, we should have a good idea of the overall development direction for the next phase of the programme."

While Bridgestone's teams will all test the same tyres, Hamamura is aware that making direct comparisons between the teams is unwise. Elaborating, he said: "We are not making direct comparisons because the teams are running a mix of new, interim and old chassis and different specification engines too. So our main aim is to focus on tyre performance and not a comparison of lap times."

"We are systematically working through our tyre programmes with each team and although we cannot draw any conclusions until the end of next week, we have some good early indications on both the construction and compound side. However, it is important that we keep cross referencing our data so that we can gradually begin the process of accurately refining our tyre selection. The teams have been disturbed by quite a high number of red flag periods but we have been helped by the good weather this week, giving us consistency of data."

Hamamura concluded that: "There is a lot of work to do yet but we are also looking forward to conducting our first simulated wet weather test on Sunday as wet tyre development is just as important as dry tyre development. We did have some rain in Barcelona but it was too cold so Sunday will be our first proper wet tyre evaluation opportunity with all four teams."

Three of Bridgestone's teams (Ferrari, MF1 Racing and Toyota) will continue the winter test programme tomorrow, Saturday, before also being joined by WilliamsF1 on Sunday for a Bridgestone wet tyre test. Ferrari and Toyota will resume testing activities at Jerez on Tuesday (December 13) with Ferrari due to run for four days and Toyota three days. WilliamsF1 will also run for three days from Wednesday (December 14) to Friday.