Zoom Honda way off the pace again in pre-season testing

Honda continued its pre-season testing programme in Spain this week with the track activity moving to Jerez. Jenson Button recorded the fastest lap of the test for the team today (1:20.988s), some three second a lap off the ultimate pace.

Race drivers Button and Rubens Barrichello, along with test driver Alex Wurz, were in action this week as the evaluation and development of the new RA108 race car continued.

The test programme began on Tuesday with Barrichello and Wurz at the wheel. Barrichello focused on general set-up evaluation alongside race start work, covering 75 laps. On his second full test day in the new car, Wurz worked through a driveability programme completing 86 laps.

Barrichello continued his running on Wednesday with chassis set-up work and a continuation of the race start programme covering 58 laps. Button joined the team to take over the second RA108 and ran through a series of aero evaluations alongside further set-up work over 85 laps.

The final day of the test on Thursday saw Wurz back in the car alongside Button. Both drivers completed full race distance simulations with live pit stops in the morning session, before continuing set-up work in the afternoon. Wurz completed 103 laps with Button totalling 121 laps.

Jenson Button
"We have made good progress this week in understanding the car, addressing the issues that we experienced at the last test and getting the car balanced for long runs. There is a great deal of work to do over the two remaining tests before we head to Melbourne, but I am now happier in the car and have more confidence to push it to the limit."

Rubens Barrichello
"We made some good steps with the driveability this week which have given me more confidence getting on the power. The car balance has improved with progress on the ride and suspension, and I'm feeling comfortable in the car and happier with my driving position. We have some hard work ahead of us but I am looking forward to the new updates which will specifically target the areas that we have been working on over the last couple of tests."

Alex Wurz
"We spent the test this week working on reliability runs and engine driveability and I am very pleased that we have found some improvements. We also completed a full race simulation today which went very well."