F2 Insight: Williams JPH1B testing analysis
Among the many upgrades installed over the winter, the car boasts a significantly improved aerodynamic package that has increased maximum downforce by 30% and aerodynamic efficiency by 24%. To see a full technical guide of the upgraded car click here.
The aerodynamic improvements, coupled with a reduced operating weight, increased power and several other revisions, meant the car was almost three seconds a lap faster than its 2009 predecessor during testing – despite less than ideal track conditions and with further development and set up improvements to come. In the wake of that success, formulatwo.com takes a deeper look at the statistics to see how the Williams JPH1B currently matches up against last year's F2 car.
1. Lap Time
Almost immediately the JPH1B was faster than its predecessor, with official test driver Steven Kane and 2009 FIA Formula Two Champion Andy Soucek finding up to two seconds per lap straight out of the box in Barcelona. Soucek ended the day with a best time of 1m35.7 seconds, which compares remarkably to the best effort of a 1m38.096s set when F2 visited the circuit for the final round of 2009.
Similar gains followed in Portimão, with Soucek's best of 1m33.28s proving 2.157s faster than the previous best effort during 2009 winter testing. Impressively, his benchmark in the JPH1B was almost three tenths faster than the 2009 pole time for Formula Renault 3.5.
2. Track Gain
In Barcelona, the JPH1B's best time of 1:35.7s represented a gain of more than 2.3 seconds per lap. The circuit itself is approximately 2.875 miles, or 4.665 kilometers, from start to finish. The gain in lap time therefore translates to an improvement of 114 meters over a single lap – the equivalent of almost 40 car lengths.
Portiṃo yielded almost the exact same gains. At the hands of Andy Soucek the car found more than 2.157 seconds per lap Рequivalent to a gain of 105 meters, or more than 36 car lengths. On average, the F2 car improved by 110 meters per lap over both Barcelona and Portiṃo.
3. Potential Race Gains
Both races during Formula Two's finale to the 2009 season in Barcelona lasted 20 laps. At this length, the new JPH1B would finish more than 2.2km ahead of its 2009 predecessor. As the 2010 car crossed the finish line, the 2009 JPH1 would effectively be exiting Campsa, or Turn 9, more than 48 seconds behind.
In Portimão, the JPH1B's improved pace effectively translates into a lead of more than 2.1km, or 43 seconds, at the end of a 20 lap race. With race distances increased to 35 and 45 minutes for 2010, and more improvements to come, such gains could prove even more significant this season.