so he should be, a fast car, 2 very quick drivers, one who i rate very highly (Nick), next year could be good for the teamBMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen says the team should be proud of its accomplishments this season.
With just the final round in Brazil remaining, the Hinwil-based squad has already almost trebled its points score from 2006 and secured the runner-up position in the constructors’ championship after McLaren’s ‘spygate’ penalty.
“For the BMW Sauber F1 Team this has been a successful season,” said Theissen.
“We can be proud of what we have achieved, both in terms of our development work over the winter and the pace of development during the season.
“In our two start-up years we have reached our target each time.
“In 2007 we started out from fifth place in the world championship – with 36 championship points earned in our debut season.
“Fourth place with a clear points increase was a firm commitment, third place an option.
“It was very gratifying to be able to see ourselves as the third-strongest team right from the start and to shore up that position in virtually every race.
“An administrative decision even handed us second place on a plate, but that really doesn’t mean anything to us as we know there are still four cars that are faster than ours.
“Our aim is to beat them out on the race track.”
The team’s drivers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica are looking to end the year on a high note after a disappointing Far Eastern double-header in which both suffered an unusual amount of technical gremlins.
Heidfeld is a fan of the twisting Interlagos track.
“For me, the circuit in Sao Paulo is one of the best of all,” he said.
“It is challenging, both in terms of driving skill and physically.
“It's an anti-clockwise track and the straight is actually a long sweeping curve that puts your neck muscles under real strain.
“Then there’s the bumpy surface.
“The best sections come after turn three.
“Turn five, which is an uphill double right-hander, is one of my favourites.
“I took my first podium finish in Interlagos in 2001 after coming third. That’s something you never forget.”
Kubica, who was on course for a possible podium finish in China until hydraulic problems intervened, is aiming to score points next Sunday to confirm sixth place in the drivers’ standings ahead of Renault’s Heikki Kovalainen.
“Of course we are looking forward to Brazil,” he said.
“We will try our best, and then everything we do once we get back to Europe will be new as we will be working for next year.
“The track itself is very bumpy and quite tricky.
“There is a big uphill section after the last corner where last year we were losing a lot of speed, especially in the race, so I hope we can do better this year.
“Though the 2006 race was not bad, I only finished ninth, and this year I want to score points in the season’s finale.”
Technical director Willy Rampf added: “After two rather mixed-bag grands prix, we want to pull out all the stops again for our last race and see out a very successful season on a positive note.”
also, seeing Robert survive the horror shunt in canada and then drive a stellar race at magny cours makes me happy
best of luck 2008 (although i hope Honda produce a decent car or Jensons off)
