Team Lotus Spanish Grand Prix View 2011

CIRCUIT DE CATALUNYA, BARCELONA, SPAIN

General

Race laps: 66

Circuit Altitude (m): 129

2010 Air/track temp (˚C): 20 / 33

2010 ATM Press (HPa): 994

2010 humidity (%): 40

2010 wind (kph): NNE 15

2010 Timing

Qualify Result

P1 WEB 1:19.995 Q3

P2 VET 1:20.101 Q1

P3 HAM 1:20.829 Q1

TL best P19 TRU 1:24.674 Q1

2010 Race Result

P1 WEB 1:24.828 L62

P2 ALO 1:24.846 L57

P3 VET 1:25.176 L56

TL best TRU, P17

Quick description

Lateral track with high percentage of high speed corners

Slow-speed traction important through sector 3

Medium brake energy

Bumps at entry to T9 & braking into T10

Grip level changes depending on conditions (rubber, track temp & wind)

Typical balance issue: Us in HS T3 and T9 and traction issues in S3

1st gear not used on track Drivers usually prefer to go through T9 without downshifting

Circuit particularity - Sensitivities

Bumpiness: Medium

Engine severity: Low

Overtaking chance: Low

GBX severity: Low

Kerbs: Smooth to medium

Lat/Long grip: Lateral

RH setting particularity: None

Aero eff ratio: Low

Track grip evo during WE: High

Aero settings: High

Brake wear severity: Medium

Brake cooling necessity: Medium

Safety car history

2010: None

2009: 1st lap accident

2008: 2

Jarno Trulli, Car 21 - Chassis T128-03: "It's always good to get back to Spain. I've spent so much time at the Barcelona circuit it's like a second home to me and the whole team and even though I must have completed thousands of kms around there it's still a good challenge. It's very technical and that puts demands on the car's aero - a good aero package is one of the keys to being quick.

"Looking at the circuit itself I particularly like T9 - it's one of the quicker corners in the whole calendar and one that rewards confidence and good balance. There's not a lot of overtaking chances around the lap and we'll see if the DRS plays the same role in Spain that it did in Turkey - if it does then tracks like Barcelona will suddenly have overtaking chances and that's got to be good for the fans."

Heikki Kovalainen, Car 20 - Chassis T128-04: "Barcelona is one of the tracks where we all know every single centimetre of the whole lap. We test there so much that it usually ends up with the whole grid having teammates side by side but it's the kind of circuit where you can't hide anything at all. If you are quick there you can be quick everywhere as it's demanding aerodynamically, and if you struggle there you could have problems at a variety of circuits.

"A good lap kind of flows until you reach the last three corners which are a bit fiddly. The first sector is probably the best - T1 is a quick chicane and then turns three, four, seven and nine are all fast. You need good high-speed stability there and good grip to get the best out of the car and when you hook it all up and put in a quick time it's pretty rewarding."