10/01/2010
NEWS STORY
Organizers at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) are in talks with a number of F1 teams with a view to hosting a pre-season test.
Currently the majority of teams are scheduled to take part in four preseason test, one in Valencia, two in Jerez and the final major test in Barcelona, though US F1 has revealed that it has been given special dispensation to test at the Barber Motorsport Park in Alabama.
In previous years, unseasonable weather in Spain has caused problems and therefore, with a view to the new restrictions on testing, organizers at BIC are offering teams the opportunity to test at their facility, scene of the opening round of the season.
"We are currently talking to the teams and I am sure that many of them would be more than happy to test in Bahrain," BIC chief executive Martin Whitaker told the Gulf Daily News. "Testing outside of Europe is now banned as part of F1's cost-cutting activities. But if teams who want to come here can get the permission of their rivals, we would be glad to welcome them.
"Right now, it is still too early to say for sure," he continued, "a lot of them are not even ready to run their new cars. But we are confident we could have one or two come out to Bahrain and test before the season."
Bahrain was first used for testing in 2005, however, on that occasion only Ferrari was present. In 2006 - the last year of the tyre war and the last time Bahrain hosted the opening race of the season - Ferrari was joined by Honda and Toro Rosso while in 2007 all the teams bar Spyker and Williams attended. In 2008, only Ferrari and Toyota made the journey while last year Ferrari, Toyota and BMW were in action, the latter two teams departing the sport at season end.
"In terms of averages, nowhere else in the world can teams get the most out of a test day than here in Bahrain," said Whitaker. "Out of the 38 days of F1 testing we've had over the years, only two have been lost due to poor weather," he added, referring to the sandstorms of 2009.
"They can also start here from as early as 7.30am and test all the way until 5.30pm, while getting constant air and track temperatures. You do not get that in Europe where you're usually still trying to get the frost off the track at 11am and where there's a lot of wet weather, especially in the winter.
"We have a very good run ratio in Bahrain," he added, "and though we recognise that teams will have a long way to travel. But that will be made up for by the total track time in optimum conditions you get here."