Zoom Kubica and Heidfeld expecting a good drive

Nick Heidfeld can hardly wait to get behind the wheel of his BMW Sauber F1.08 and guide it round the street circuit situated in the heart of the Spanish city of Valencia.

"I am always very pleased when a new racetrack is added to the calendar, and I am particularly excited about Valencia," said Heidfeld in the run-up to the race.

"It will be a real city course, insofar as it is right in the city centre, unlike the circuits in Melbourne or Montreal. In terms of charm and requirements, the Monaco Grand Prix is the closest thing to the race in Valencia," the German continued. "I like the contrast between the historic and futuristic buildings. I am looking forward to the weekend."

Teammate Robert Kubica is a big fan of city circuits and is delighted that two more of these tracks have been added to the race calendar this year, in the form of Valencia and Singapore. The Pole is excited about the Formula One debut of the venue which serves as this season's European Grand Prix.

"I am very much looking forward to Valencia, as I am a big fan of street circuits in general," said Kubica, who enjoys the challenges of the undulating, varied tarmacs.

"When you make a mistake, you easily run into barriers," he explained, assessing the dimensions of the new circuit. "Valencia will not be a complete street circuit. There will be lots of run-off areas for safety reasons."

In order to be quick around the streets of Valencia, the BMW Sauber F1.08 will need a solid basic set-up and good driveability before looking into precise tweaking.

"The lap time improvement has to be gained step by step. You cannot drive in too wild a style. You must also approach the ideal racing line gradually," elaborated Kubica. "It is very important to walk the track before driving it the first time, in order to get a feeling for the surface and the layout."

D.B. © CAPSIS International