Jos looks back to a successful shakedown

Published on 19 February 2003 by Huub Rothengatter

We just spoke with a delighted Jos Verstappen, he reviewed todays' successful shakedown with the new Minardi PS03. "It went well. I am very positive about the car. It is only a shakedown and in the beginning we have to be careful because we can't drive to the limit. The car feels very good, I am very happy with the engine, it sounds right that is certain."

Jos driving the first miles with the new Minardi

Jos started at about 10.30 this morning with his first outing. Due to some minor software problems the car stalled several times and he only managed to do 5 laps until lunch at 1pm. After the break, at about 2 o'clock everything improved. At the end of the day Jos had driven about 25 laps. His fastest lap was 1.01.10, as far as it means anything. "Those are not times Michael Schumacher does on this track, but this is an unfair comparison. We are trying out our new car on its first outing." Jos explains. Didn't you try anything out? "Further into the afternoon when the car was getting better, we increased the speed but I have not used anything more than 90-95% of its potential." according to Jos. "The only thing we did was: drive some laps, go back in, fine tuning and adjusting and out again for a few more laps. We have worked all day to find a setup that worked. We drove with full fuel tanks and hard compound Bridgestone tyres. We don't have any information from the tyres. The people from Bridgestone will inform us later with the conclusions of todays' experiences."


The brandnew PS03 is a " gud'un "

Minardi and Jos have learnt a lot today, so Jos tells us. "It means that the car will be able to go faster tomorrow. We have worked on the traction control, the differential and how the gearbox is keeping in comparison to the engine. This data will be analysed tonight and that information will be the starting point for tomorrow morning when it will be Justin's turn to drive the PS03."



Tomorrow Justin will be doing his first laps with the new car. Next week Minardi will probably have another 2 testing days and Jos will be part of that of course. No doubt he will push the car as far as he can (or is allowed to).