August's Driver Diaries

01 September 08

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Friday 1st:
Two practice sessions for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Nico ends the day 10th fastest; Kazuki is 14th.

Saturday 2nd:
Nico qualifies 15th and Kazuki 17th at the Hungaroring. Both drivers then attend a dinner for Oris, which takes place in the paddock motorhome and is hosted by former F1 driver Marc Surer.

Sunday 3rd:
The Hungarian Grand Prix. Kazuki finishes 13th and Nico 14th.

Monday 4th:
With the three-week summer break ahead of them, both drivers head to the airport. Kazuki returns home to Nagoya in Japan and Nico heads to St Morritz in the Swiss Alps for some high altitude training.

Wednesday 13th:
Kazuki returns to the UK to begin his preparations for the European Grand Prix at Valencia. He spends the next few days training and using the simulator at the Williams factory in Grove.

Wednesday 20th:
Nico heads from the Alps to Roskilde in Denmark for a Philips driver day. He gives driving tips to guests at a local kart track before flying to Valencia for the European Grand Prix. Kazuki flies straight from the UK to Valencia.

Thursday 21st:
Nico’s European Grand Prix weekend kicks off with a trip to L’Oceanografic, Valencia’s world famous aquarium, where he meets and befriends two white whales!

Friday 22nd:
Two practice sessions for the European Grand Prix around the all-new Valencia street track. Nico ends the day in 12th; Kazuki is 14th.

Saturday 23rd:
Nico qualifies ninth and Kazuki 11th for the inaugural European Grand Prix in Valencia. As in Hungary, the drivers eat dinner in the paddock motorhome with some Oris guests.

Sunday 24th:
The European Grand Prix. Nico finishes eighth, scoring his first World Championship point since the Turkish Grand Prix in May; Kazuki finishes 15th after being delayed by a first lap collision with Fernando Alonso. After the race, Nico returns home to Monaco and Kazuki heads to Oxford in the UK.

Tuesday 26th:
Nico drives from Monaco to Monza ahead of AT&T Williams’ three-day test session at the track.

Wednesday 27th:

Nico completes 60 laps at Monza and sets the third best lap of the day.

Thursday 28th:
Nico’s second and final day at the test. He completes 100 laps and sets the second fastest time. Kazuki arrives at the track in time for dinner ahead of his day in the FW30 tomorrow.

Friday 29th:
Kazuki does 99 laps en route to setting the fourth fastest time of the day. He and the AT&T Williams test team then head back to the UK to prepare for the forthcoming Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

Posted at 11:09am on 01 September 08 tagged with driver diaries, nico, kazuki.