[PDF] Press release: Bahrain Grand Prix [http://www.lifepr.de?boxid=101541]

1. F1Team
BMW Sauber F1Team
Bahrain Grand Prix
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24 – 26 April 2009
th
4 of 17 World Championship races
Preview.
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Munich/Hinwil, 19 April 2009. The caravan moves swiftly on: this weekend sees the fourth
race in the FIA Formula One World Championship, held in the desert kingdom of Bahrain. It
was here in 2008 that Robert Kubica gained the first pole position for the BMW Sauber F1
Team.
Robert Kubica:
“I am looking forward to going to Bahrain. Overall I really like the track, although it is not really
challenging. The Bahrain International Circuit has a couple of long straights and three
characteristically low-speed corners that require heavy braking. Wind can play an important
role in Sakhir as it influences the balance of the car. Also, the wind blows sand onto parts of
the track, which leads to changing grip conditions. Luckily we had the chance to test the
F1.09 car in Bahrain in February, although weather conditions were unstable and windy then.
Last year we performed quite well in Bahrain – after securing pole position in qualifying I
managed to finish the race on the podium.”
Nick Heidfeld:
“I enjoy driving in Bahrain. I like the modern complex and the circuit. The section from the fifth
to the penultimate corner is particularly well designed. This time I’ll be again arriving quite
early to allow time for my fitness training. It will be interesting to see what the weather brings.
Usually the climate in Bahrain has been very pleasant, but we’ve also had incredible heat, and
during winter testing there was a huge sandstorm. In 2008 there was a concert by Akon after
the race, which I also remember well.”
Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
“In Bahrain we aim to bring the first major overseas stint to a positive end. It also marks the
end of the second set of back-to-back races within five weeks. We look back on the previous
Bahrain Grand Prix with satisfaction: in 2008 Robert gained his first ever pole position with the
BMW Sauber F1 Team, achieving another milestone. After our appearance in Shanghai we
are now heading for another region that is important to BMW. For us as a manufacturer in the
premium sector the Middle East is also a very significant market.”
Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering:
“The Bahrain circuit demands a compromise when it comes to aerodynamic set-up. On the
one hand the many slow corners require a high level of downforce, while on the other the
exceptional breadth of the track encourages the drivers to overtake, which means we can’t
leave maximum speed out of the equation. With the low-speed corners, traction and brake
Media contact
balance play a major role. Brake wear on this circuit is particularly high, especially in the turn
Jörg Kottmeier
+49 170 5666112
after the start-finish straight and in turn 4. At night the wind regularly sweeps sand onto the
joerg.kottmeier@bmw.de track. Generally conditions improve as the day goes on, but tyre wear can nevertheless be
Hanspeter Brack fairly high on account of the sand. That is an important factor for the race strategy.”
+41 79 7701819
hanspeter.brack@
bmw-sauber.com
Heike Hientzsch
+49 172 6209904
bmw@heikehientzsch.de
Benjamin Titz
+49 179 7438088
benjamin.titz@bmw.de

2. F1Team
BMW Sauber F1Team
Facts and figures:
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Circuit/Date Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir / 26 April 2009
Start time (local/UTC) 15.00 hrs / 12.00 hrs (14.00 in Central Europe)
Lap/Race distance 5.412 km / 308.238 km (57 laps)
Corners 9 right-hand and 6 left-hand corners
Winner Felipe Massa, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro,
2008 1 hr 31:06.970 min
Pole position Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber F1 Team,
2008 1:33.096 min
Fastest lap Heikki Kovalainen, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes,
2008 1:33.193 min
Data 2008 Full-throttle percentage: 63%
Top speed: 309 km/h
Longest section at full throttle: 14 sec / 1,050 m
Gear changes per lap: 58
Tyre wear: medium
Brake wear: high
Downforce level: medium
Driver Robert Kubica Nick Heidfeld
Birthday 07.12.1984 10.05.1977
Place of birth Krakow/Poland Mönchengladbach/Germany
Nationality Pole German
Residence Monaco Stäfa, Switzerland
Marital status Single Partner Patricia Papen,
daughter Juni, son Joda
Height 1.84 m 1.67 m
Weight 72 kg 59 kg
F1 debut 2006, Budapest 2000, Melbourne
GP starts 43 155
Pole positions 1 1
Wins 1 -
Podium places 8 12
Fastest laps - 2
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Best placing 4 (2008) 5 (2007 und 2008)
Points total 120 204
Points 2009 - 4

3. F1Team
BMW Sauber F1Team
BMW Sauber F1 Team
Founded 01.01.2006
Locations Munich (DE) and Hinwil (CH)
F1 debut 2006, Melbourne
GP starts 56
Pole positions 1
Wins 1
rd nd st
Podium places 16 (6 x 3 / 9 x 2 / 1 x 1 )
Fastest laps 2
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World Championship 5 (2006), 36 points
nd
placings 2 (2007), 101 points
rd
3 (2008), 135 points
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5 (2009), 4 points after 3 GPs
Season 2009:
Robert Kubica Nick Heidfeld
Qualifying Race Points Qualifying Race Points
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Australian GP 4 15 - 11 10 -
accident (grid 9)
th th nd
Malaysian GP 8 DNF - 11 2 4
(half points) (grid 6) (grid 10)
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Chinese GP 18 13 - 11 12 -
(grid 17)
History and background:
2009 marks Formula One’s sixth appearance in Bahrain. The modern circuit is located south
of the capital Manama and belongs to the municipality of Sakhir.
Since gaining independence from Britain in 1971, the Kingdom of Bahrain has been an
independent Arab Emirate. The country covers a total of 665 square kilometres spread
across 33 islands off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The capital Manama is on the main island
(578 square kilometres).
Bahrain has been an oil supplier since 1932 but resources are now dwindling. The
processing industry, along with rich natural gas fields and international banking, have gained
in economic significance.

4. F1Team
BMW Sauber F1Team
Schedule for group interviews at the weekend:
Thursday:
13.30-13.40 – Robert Kubica - TV
13.40-14.00 – Robert Kubica – print media
13.30-13.50 – Nick Heidfeld – print media
13.50-14.00 – Nick Heidfeld – TV
14.00-14.10 – Christian Klien – TV
14.10-14.30 – Christian Klien – print media
15.30-15.35 – Mario Theissen – TV
15.35-16.00 – Mario Theissen – print media
18.00-18.30 – Willy Rampf – by prior arrangement only
Friday:
16.40-16.50 – Robert Kubica – TV
16.40-16.50 – Nick Heidfeld – TV
Saturday:
16.45-17.05 – Robert Kubica – print media
17.05-17.15 – Robert Kubica –TV
16.45-16.55 – Nick Heidfeld – TV
16.55-17.15 – Nick Heidfeld – print media
17.30-17.35 – Mario Theissen – TV
17.35-18.00 – Mario Theissen – print media
Sunday:
After the end of the race Kubica, Heidfeld, Theissen and Rampf will be on hand in the Team
area.
Involvement in the FIA press conference means the group interviews will be cancelled on the
relevant day.
Media website www.press.bmw-motorsport.com
www.press.bmw-
Team website www.bmw-sauber-f1.com
www.bmw-sauber-