SG Formula came within a whisker of its third Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup team trophy, finishing the 2009 season on the same number of points as the winner! The time has come now for the La Rochelle-based team to prepare for the future challenges: The test season kicks off!
Bertrand Péchon, who SG Formula has put in charge of the sports side of its winter testing programme, tells us what’s at stake:: “closed season testing is an incredibly important time for our team. No-one has forgotten that for drivers like Jules Bianchi and Charles Pic it all began with a session of testing at the end of 2006. Just a few months later they were both winning their first race in Formula Renault 2.0. Bianchi wowed them at Lédenon in the French championship, and one week later Pic hit the heights in Nürburgring in the Eurocup. These test sessions have a double purpose. Firstly, to assess the potential of the drivers and to train them up for their future career in motor racing.“
So, in concrete terms, how does a day of tests unfold for Formula Renault 2.0 drivers? “They come in the day before in order to properly prepare for the test session” explains Bertrand Péchon “they do the whole circuit on foot with their engineer, who gens them up on the theory on the FR2.0 racers and the techniques for driving them. They do intensive training on the brake simulator in order to improve their pedal technique, working on the fine art of balancing maximum brake pressure with full control over weight transfers as the car reaches its limits. The next day the drivers start practical lessons under true competition conditions, working with an engineer and a chief mechanic. The drivers get a lot of time at the wheel. At the end of each session of practice they get to examine their lap data with their engineer, who goes through everything point by point, noting what has gone well and what needs to be worked on. The lap data is compared to the results obtained by our benchmark drivers. We’ve had cameras on board our cars all season, and the videos provide a valuable additional resource for training. All in all, I thing we have a package from which the drivers can learn a great deal.“
These winter test sessions are aimed primarily at two categories of driver. First there are those who wish to be assessed and trained to be taken on as a team driver for the 2010 Eurocup or WEC seasons. Then there are those who want to receive training with the aim of starting in Formula Renault 2.0 in 2011. These drivers can go on to more advanced test programmes next season in parallel with their careers in Karting or start single-seater racing within the Auto Sport Academy.
Official SG Formula testing schedule:
– November 24 and 25: Monteblanco (Spain)
– November 30 and December 1: Motorland (Spain)
– December 3 and 4: Motorland (Spain)
– December 9 and 10: Barcelona (Spain)
– December 14 and 15: Valencia (Spain)
A new Formula Renault 2.0 car will make its debut in 2010 so unlike in previous seasons the test period will be prolonged beyond December. It will be possible to organise other practice days up to the start of February.
So, happy testing!
Contact : Bertrand Péchon +33 (0)6.08.35.92.28 – e-mail : bertrand.pechon@sgformula.com
SG Formula statistics :
2004 to October 2009 : 210 podium finishes, including 73 race wins, 18 « 1-2 », 4 Top 3 sweeps, 2 Top 4 sweeps, 7 team titles, 4 driver titles, 2 rookie titles, 78 pole positions.
More info at: www.sgformula.com
PR
Romain Didier / future racing commm
+33 2.47.55.67.79 / +33 6.10.65.30.16
futureracing@yahoo.fr
© Photo DPPI