Zoom A golden points-scoring opportunity for Bourdais in Valencia?

Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Bourdais is expecting Formula One's inaugural race on the new urban circuit of Valencia to be something remarkable. After inspecting the Spanish venue, the Frenchman returned impressed.

"They did a good job," Bourdais said. "The asphalt is very nice. It's a modern circuit but with walls right on the track. There are areas where we cannot commit a mistake, the blind corners most notably."

Sunday's European Grand Prix should offer quite a show, he predicted: "It's going to be spectacular."

Bourdais' assessment is not based solely on first-hand scrutiny; simulation work performed at Toro Rosso headquarters - although modest in comparison to higher-budget teams - also added to his positive evaluation of the track.

"We do not have a simulator like other teams, but we have simulation tools," he explained. "For example, we know which gear ratios we will have to use and we studied on-board videos as well."

With many expecting the Safety Car to make one or more appearances during Sunday’s race, Bourdais is hoping for a situation which will allow him to steer his STR3 into the points zone.

So far Bourdais has only scored once this year, taking two points in Melbourne at the conclusion of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix last March.

Daniel BASTIEN
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