BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM - EUROPEAN GRAND PRIX - PREVIEW

Reinvigorated after the brief summer break, the BMW Sauber F1 Team is looking
forward to the Formula One debut in the Mediterranean port of Valencia, the
first of two street circuit premieres this season. The second is the night race
in Singapore at the end of September.

Although Valencia possesses a permanent race track - the Circuito Ricardo Tormo
- it was decided that, rather than upgrading it to Formula One standard, a
course running through the city and along the harbour would be used instead. A
backdrop of bobbing yachts may be reminiscent of the Monaco Grand Prix, but the
circuit is more in keeping with modern requirements and does not emulate the
confined conditions found in the Principality. There are several sections where
the F1 cars are expected to reach around 300 km/h. The Formula 3 and GT races
held on the last weekend of July served as a 'dress rehearsal' for the
forthcoming Grand Prix.

There was no opportunity for Formula One testing in Valencia, so the BMW Sauber
F1 Team has prepared with the help of simulation. Based on the circuit data,
the anticipated ideal line was plotted with the aid of a computer program,
while lap times were simulated in varying vehicle configurations. For the
mechanical set-up, the weight distribution as well as spring and damper
settings were determined, and based on the calculated speeds, the gear ratios
were also fixed. Taking downforce levels and track characteristics into
account, the lap simulation was able to establish the extent of brake wear, and
on this basis the brake materials and cooling requirements were determined.
Grip levels of the asphalt surface and tyre wear, on the other hand, can only
be verified on location.

Valencia has long cast off its former image of an industrial port city and has
emerged as one of Europe’s cultural metropolises. The Marina of Spain’s
third-largest city, with a population of around 850,000, has been transformed
into a stylish and fashionable complex on the back of the America's Cup held
there in 2007. The F1 circuit leads across a bridge that links the North and
South Marina. On the south side, the cars drive along the quayside, past the
historic fish market and towards the suburb of Grao. They then briefly follow
the course of the River Turia before braking into a hairpin bend, following
which the route snakes back towards the waterfront. After a series of S-bends,
the cars take a left turn and enter the start-finish straight, bringing them
back to the harbour and home, the team garages being set up in the port
buildings.

Nick Heidfeld:
I'm always pleased when a new race track turns up in the calendar, and I’m
particularly keen to experience Valencia. It will be an authentic street
circuit in the sense that it runs through the town centre, unlike the Melbourne
or Montreal tracks. In terms of its charms and challenges, the Valencia race
will probably come closest to the Monaco Grand Prix. I really like Valencia,
which I’ve visited many times, of course. We do a lot of testing on the
permanent race track in Cheste and we’ve rolled out our new Formula One car in
Valencia on several occasions. The first few metres in a brand-new car are
always a very special experience.

Early this year I spent a few days in Valencia with my family between the
rollout and the next test. We had a great time, went to the beach, and in town
there’s a dried-out riverbed that has nature parks and playgrounds. That was
very nice, especially for the children. Valencia is also a great place for
shopping and eating out, needless to say, and I love the contrast between its
historic and futuristic architecture. I'm looking forward to the weekend.

Robert Kubica:
I am very much looking forward to Valencia as I am a big fan of street circuits
in general. They are very demanding as they are often bumpy and the street
surface changes. When you make a mistake you easily run into barriers. Anyway,
Valencia will not be a complete street circuit. There will be lots of run-off
areas for safety reasons. The FIA puts a lot of effort into safety, which is
good.

On a street circuit it is of major importance to have a good basic set-up which
is easy to drive. The lap time improvement has to be gained step by step, you
cannot drive in too wild a style. Also, in terms of the racing line you have to
approach this gradually. It is very important to walk the track before driving
it the first time to get a feeling for the surface and the layout.

Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
The short summer break after the race in Budapest has benefited everyone. Now
we are embarking on the remaining three European races and four overseas GPs
with renewed vigour. Our aim is to continue on from the good results of the
first half of the season. We still have a few arrows in our quiver and we aim
to land one or other hit.

The European Grand Prix around the port area of Valencia is new to the
programme this year. We are very much looking forward to the race and the city,
particularly as BMW has some close associations with Valencia. The Formula BMW
Racing Center there serves as the training site for our up-and-coming young
talent in the Formula BMW series around the world. Valencia is by tradition the
venue for rolling out our new F1 car, and beyond that city races always make
for a unique atmosphere. We await the new circuit with keen anticipation.

Willy Rampf, Technical Director:
Valencia is a new venue in the calendar and as such poses a particular
challenge, not least because it's a street circuit. Not that it's a slow one –
the drivers will be exceeding the 300 km/h mark on the fastest section. With
the help of our simulation programs we are in a position to reliably calculate
the required downforce levels in advance as well as brake wear and gear ratios.
That means we will start out with a good basic set-up.

If you compare Valencia with Monaco, you’re talking about two street circuits
but with very distinctive characters and very different challenges for the
cars. In Valencia we will be racing with a lot of downforce, but not with the
maximum that Monaco demands.