After Suzuka, Jordan Grand Prix is heading directly to Shanghai, China, to prepare for the final round of the 2005 FIA Formula One World Championship. Tiago Monteiro, Narain Karthikeyan and Nicolas Kiesa are eagerly awaiting to go to the Shanghai International Circuit, a track they are not familiar with and where corners have been constructed to be technically challenging and where mistakes will be easy to make. There are also a couple of very heavy braking points that should also make racing interesting and may create some good passing opportunities. Another important factor to take into consideration is the weather: although September is the month when Shanghai moves out of its rainy season; some showers can still be expected.
Narain Karthikeyan: "Once again this season, I will have to learn a new circuit as I have never driven in Shanghai but this will also be the case for my team mates. At least we will be on equal terms. In my opinion, the circuit seems quite modern and has different challenges to the other tracks we have been to this year particularly the last race at Suzuka. To drive a race in China will be a great experience and I am impatient to get there. Besides, with India being not too far, a lot of Indians fans are expected to come and support me. I will do my best to have a good result in the final Grand Prix of the season"
Tiago Monteiro: "Shanghai will be the last race of the season. The year went so quickly; it seems it was only yesterday that we started at the Australian Grand Prix. It would be great to finish on a high note. As Japan, Shanghai will be a new track for me so I will spend most of the Friday learning the layout as well as focusing on our normal programme. From what I have seen, it looks amazing and some corners seem to be challenging. There also some opportunities to overtake so it should be an exiting race. I am looking forward to seeing it as well as the city."
Nicolas Kiesa: "China is a circuit I have never been to so it will be quite difficult as I will have to learn yet another circuit. I have looked at a lot of data and it seems to be not too tricky to learn but the difficult bit is that the track is very varied. I will have to wait until I am there to see how it really is. My job will be mainly the tyre choice for the team for the weekend. I have tried to learn the track playing on a video game, however, I prefer to walk a few laps on a circuit than play for two hours. The video game just enables me to know when it turns right or left but walking on the circuit shows me what kind of asphalt, kerbs and alterations there are. I get much more information from walking than playing games and I feel much more prepared when I go out on my first lap."
Dominic Harlow Chief Race & Test Engineer: "Shanghai is one of the stand out new circuits on the F1 calendar with this being only our second visit here. Turn 1 is a very challenging corner getting ever tighter and tempting the drivers to turn in too early, and turn 13 is vital to a good laptime, with the drivers and engineers attempting to counter the understeer that this 180deg. corner creates to get a good exit onto the long back straight. The circuit offers the chance to vary wing level to optimise laptime and top speed, and the smooth surface allows a range of set-up options. This will be our last race with the Toyota V10 engine and we are already looking forward to our winter test program with their new V8. Whilst we will probably miss the sound and performance of the V10, for a while at least, it will be a great technical challenge for the team to get the most out of the new package in preparation for 2006."
