12
Super Formula
Mr. Biasatti, in the first tests at Suzuka
and Fuji, the new car has already been
quicker than the older one, are you
satisfiedwith that?
«Yes, a lot, especially if we think that
these tests were the ones where the team
and drivers got in touch with the cars.
Indeed, Suzuka was actually a real
shakedown».
What are themain new news coming
from the test?What are the strongest
points and the aspects you still have to
work on?
"The strongest points are the reliability
and the speed that we saw both
at Suzuka and Fuji. We have to
congratulate Honda and Toyota because in
terms of the engines, the test days were
extremely positive. We still have some
details to fix, but it is something that
always come up in the collective tests with
all the cars on-track».
Is the car responding to its goals in
terms of performance and spectacle?
«The promoters had made specific requests
on three aspects: weight, performance and
aerodynamics, as they wanted to make
passing easier. In terms of the first two
aspects, we achieved the goals. Regarding
the overtakes, the first comments by the
drivers are positive, but we'll have to wait
for the first races to get a definitive
answer».
Regarding the safety, what are their
main characteristics?
«The SF14 is 100% compliant to the 2010
FIA Formula 1 rulebook. One of the most
well-known components are the side impact
panels on the cockpit area. They are made
of Zylon, the same material used in the
bullet-proof vests. The panels offer an
high level of safety in case of side
impact. In addition to that there are the
side, front and rear energy-absorbing
structures that have to pass the FIA-
defined crash tests. The new cars also
features the wheel retention cables like
in Formula 1, to avoid the tires to fly off
in case of crash. The tub itself must pass
several static crushing tests required by
the rules, ranging from the roll-bar to
the sides of the chassis where the fuel
tank is located».
Did you also test the SuperFormula in
the Dallara Simulator before getting
on-track?
«It was more than testing. The SF14 has
been completely designed and developed
using the Simulator. We used it to
define key parameters like the
suspension geometry, the steering, the
weight balance and the aerodynamic
behaviour. We invited two of the drivers
running in the championship,
Takuya Izawa for Honda and Kazuki
Nakajima for Toyota, to test those
parameters before we moved them from
the virtual world to the real thing,
having been integrated in the final
design of the car».
What are the indications that came
from (or that you gave to) the Honda
and Toyota personnel?
