Costa Blanca Mountain Walkers

Cheste F1 testing Wednesday 2nd February

- roving reporter- John Price

7 intrepid souls turned out for the inaugural CBMWs trip to Cheste, near Valencia, for the 2nd day of testing at the Ricardo Tormo circuit for the F1 teams for this coming season. Sadly, Alastair dropped out at the last minute due to a flooded house in the UK needing some attention.

The weather was glorious, the viewing areas right in the thick of it (above the pit lane, then at the bend at the end of the pit lane straight) and the smell of fuel and the reverberating noise got the adrenalin moving very quickly. Let down a little by the refusal to allow us in with our flasks of coffee, so Irish Pedro had to go back to the cars with them.

9 teams in all turned out, the fastest of the day being local favourite Fernando Alonso; Vettel being the fastest the previous day.

New liveries and new models were out on track from some teams, together with some drivers new to F1 but just out of F2, so raring to look good.

Being able to watch the cars go all the way around the circuit was ideal, as at some tracks you can only see part of the circuit.
A banana break was somehow missed but lunch was taken just after the Mercedes of Rosberg packed up & the lights went red. Fortunately the drivers did not pack up for a typical Spanish lunch and carried on throughout the afternoon.

A great day was had by all but as we had a longish drive back, there was no beer at the end. Can´t wait now for the season and for next year´s testing.