Bridgestone expect excitement at Hungarian Grand Prix
As the 2010 Formula One season reaches the home stretch, every race takes on increased sentimental value for Bridgestone tyres.
The Japanese manufacturer is bowing out of the sport as the sole tyres supplier at the end of the season - to be replaced by Pirelli - and the Hungarian Grand Prix will be the last time the Bridgestone rubber is laid down by an F1 car at the Hungaroring for the foreseeable future.
Hirohide Hamashima, director of motorsport tyre development for Bridgestone, said: “The Hungaroring is a challenging circuit even though it is one of the shortest on the calendar.
“We expect to hear a lot of discussion about the track surface at the beginning of the weekend, as the circuit is not used as much as some, so the surface is quite dirty for the first sessions. We can expect to see some graining on Friday because of this.
“The ambient and track temperatures are often very hot here, but as the surface is quite smooth and there are no very high lateral forces we don’t expect overheating to be too much of an issue if the tyres are managed well.
“Finding the maximum traction through the last corner is very important as it enables a good top speed on the short straight, leading into the first corner, where there is the main overtaking opportunity on the circuit.
“This is a track where Bridgestone came very close to winning a race in our first season in the sport, so we hope we see a good race in our final visit here.”
Alex Kapadia, Operations Team
Number: Z8037079
Reg: NKF419
