While most of the attention is focused on a certain driver retiring this weekend, another name is making its final bow in
F1 for the foreseeable future in the shape of Cosworth, the British engine builder given one last chance to shine after Alex Wurz helped
Williams to the top of the timesheets in afternoon practice at Interlagos.
Although they have yet to see out the weekend, it is likely that Cosworth have experienced their final time at the top of the timesheets before they bid farewell for
Formula One, the stalwart of the championship having been ousted by
Toyota at Williams and unable to find a berth elsewhere.
“In what is likely to be Cosworth's final Friday practice session in Formula One for the foreseeable future, all three CA2006 V8 engines ran flawlessly today, allowing WilliamsF1 to complete their programme as planned,” said race engineer Chris Jilbert. “It's going to be an emotional weekend for Cosworth, but it's great to be topping the time sheets today.”
However, while there was a sombre mood in the Cosworth quarter of the Williams team garage, one man was especially happy with his day's work, particularly as it is potentially the final time he will have to undertake the ‘third man' role within a team.
Indeed, Wurz ended his final session as a test driver on a high, the Austrian claiming the fastest time of the day around the Brazilian circuit and bringing a close to a total of six years playing the supporting role before he steps back up into a race seat for 2007.
“It's the end, no more Friday driver role for me,” he beamed. “I'm really pleased that I had such a good last lap. In fact, if I can squeeze some laps like that out of the car next year, where there are no mistakes and everything was fine, I will be very happy.
“The work we did today was good; we completed our usual tyre tests as well as some set-up comparisons and brake work. Now we need to get our heads together with our engineers to make sure we have a good package for tomorrow's qualifying and the race on Sunday.”
