Arrows' Pace Is For Real.
The Arrows team has moved to deny speculation that it was running underweight at last week's Barcelona test, after rivals were sceptical of the fast times produced by Jos Verstappen and Pedro de la Rosa.
Rumours abounded that the team was trying to impress potential sponsors by outpacing the likes of McLaren and Jaguar at the test, but Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw insists that there was nothing underhand with the display.
"We did these times on soft tyres and with very little fuel," he admitted, "but the car had ballast to bring it up to the legal weight limit."
The Arrows team has moved to deny speculation that it was running underweight at last week's Barcelona test, after rivals were sceptical of the fast times produced by Jos Verstappen and Pedro de la Rosa.
Rumours abounded that the team was trying to impress potential sponsors by outpacing the likes of McLaren and Jaguar at the test, but Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw insists that there was nothing underhand with the display.
"We did these times on soft tyres and with very little fuel," he admitted, "but the car had ballast to bring it up to the legal weight limit."
Although the majority of its rivals refused to believe that Arrows may be challenging more than the midfield this year, one designer did have the grace to admit that the team may have a chance.
"They have obviously made a big step forward," he admitted, "The car looks a good, neat, quick little car, although they are obviously running it light on fuel and with new tyres to set the times.
"I think they and Sauber will surprise a few people."
Arrows returns to the Spanish circuit this weekend to continue its development programme before officially launching the new A21-Supertec on Monday 28 February back at its Leafield base.
