Jerez testing 2015

[The_Abyss]

After a fantastic time earlier this year at the Jerez tests (http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18578163) I've decided to go again in January and repeat the experience. Very relieved and pleased that Jenson will be there! Is anyone else from here going and want to meet up? EasyJet have flights to Seville next year, making the trip a little easier.

Testing last year was brilliant, perhaps made a fair bit better by the introduction of the V6 engines and Renault's testing woes. But the atmosphere in Jerez was a lot of fun - incredibly low key relative to a race weekend and great access to the teams, if not the drivers. In our hotel this year we had Williams, Marussia and Pirelli, and they were very happy to enjoy a few beers out in the evenings.

If anyone else is going and wants to meet up, just shout. I'm flying out on Saturday and returning on Wednesday, skipping the 4th day of testing.

 

[The_Abyss]

Flights there and back were under £80 total when I booked a few days ago. The sky's the limit on hotels, but the town doesn't go into crazy price meltdown like other places do when it is a proper race weekend - there are some spartan yet clean hotels available for around £80 a night and what appear to be decent B&Bs for around £60 a night. The hotel we stayed in last year was about £130 a night.

Tickets for testing this year were 10 Euro for limited access and 20 Euro for full track access (only about 2/3 of the track is actually accessibly anyway). Crowds were in the tens of thousands on days when Alonso was testing, and there was a great atmosphere. Track facilities are what you would expect on a race weekend but just far fewer of them. So, food and beers are readily available, and of course the merch stands are there too but we found that they were just dumping last year's gear at not so knockdown prices.

 

[The_Abyss]

Yep, that is true. I went to the Barcelona grand prix this year and it was generally ok. Monaco the year before was ok too. However, the last year at Istanbul was another matter - there it was very much a case of take every tourist for every single penny they have. Then lend them some more and start again.

Part of the difference for me is that for races I take the other half and we stay somewhere nice and get good seats. I slum it a bit more on my own, and of course the tickets are relatively much cheaper. Plus, if you're lucky, you get to meet the teams

 

[The_Abyss]

A quick, albeit excited, update: I'll be writing up a report on the comparison between a testing weekend and a race weekend for F1 Fanatic following the Jerez test.

Very excited, as it gives an even better reason to go to the test. Hopefully it'll be good enough to get published

 

[The_Abyss]

The Renault engine cars were out in Jerez last year, but normally for just one or two laps before heading back in. This short clip of JEV was fairly typical of all their runs, and shows just what a great recovery they made over the season