The new Embassy Racing WF01 prototypes got their first taste of the track yesterday, making their first appearance as completed cars at a deserted Snetterton.
The team’s usual impeccable planning and preparation for the test was marred by the dismal weather, with torrential rain and strong winds hitting most parts of the UK, the team braved the conditions to get in a full days testing.
So, the cars were certainly very pleasing on the eye, but how were they on the track?
Well, great actually.
By mid-day Warren Hughes, Joey Foster and Jonny Kane had had a run out in car 46 with initial feedback being extremely positive.
Warren Hughes gave his first impressions of the car:
“At the moment I am just getting a feel for the car and unfortunately that is all the weather will allow us to do at the moment too. It’s a good thing in a way because we aren’t pushing the cars too early which allows us to see the niggles that need sorting. I felt very comfortable in the car but performance wise it’s hard to tell too much at this stage.With the weather, we have to be cautious but I think we will learn a lot more in Germany next week.”
Warren started the day in car 45 and managed three laps before discovering a slight problem with the car’s gear change. Unfortunately the fix caused a few of the team to miss a much deserved lunch, but by the afternoon both cars were once again out in tandem.
Joey Foster who was driving an LMP2 car for the first time at the test was extremely pleased with his drive in the car.
“There were a few minor glitches with the car which you would expect during the initial shakedown but the conditions were far from ideal. That said I was pleased with the car in general and although I did notice a massive weight difference from the Formula 3 I was driving last year I still felt quite confident in the car.”
Typically over the lunch hour with most of the team in the track’s restaurant, the weather cleared up and hopes were raised of a dry afternoon which would allow us to push the car a little bit more. Those hopes were soon dashed when the team returned to the pit as the heavens opened and the winds increased. Surprisingly, the teams most positive testing was achieved in the afternoon.
Jonny Kane was also pleased with his first stint in a WF01.
“I was fortunate to get the best of the weather whilst out on the track and I can see there is the makings of a really good car there. There was a slight problem with the brakes in that they weren’t hot enough and not responding as quickly as we would like but that is what today is all about, finding out the little glitches like that and getting them perfect for the start of the season. Seeing the car completed and out on the track I have a very positive feeling about the season.
Even with the dismal conditions, attending Team Principal Jonathan France deemed the day a massive success.
“Despite the weather we have achieved exactly what we wanted to today and it has been a great platform for us to be able to do some more rigorous testing at the Nurburgring in a few days time. There is work to be done in the meantime though in refining the cars to be able to see what they can really do in Germany. The day certainly whetted everyone’s appetite for the coming season in more ways than one.”
