The unbannered Sauber C20 takes its first shakedown laps Thursday at Fiorano. Nick Heidfeld snapped off nearly 60 laps in his new mount at Ferrari s private Fiorano test track while the team s newest driver Kimi R ikk nen ran a handful of laps in the afternoon. Heidfeld had managed a few test passes on Wednesday while R ikk nen spent the day in last year s C19 getting acclimated to the Fiorano track. Thursday, the test went full-bore with no problems. We have also focused on the new aerodynamic rules governing the design and placement of the front and rear wings.
Weight reduction is also one of our priorities.
It is fair to say that the car is a completely new development. The test car will run without sponsorship livery at Jerez, due to Sauber s desire to announce its 2001 sponsor package at the public unveiling. The test season will continue the day after the launch as Heidfeld and R ikk nen will go to Barcelona from Jan. 25-27.