Going on the blacktop of the Ricardo Tormo track at Valencia on Sunday afternoon, Sauber naked its car for this season. BMW C29 - with a mainly sharp, high and wide front nose and a McLaren - style shark-fin engine cover up - is liveried all in white with black side pods and at present no sponsors label.Only words on the car now is the names of drivers Pedro de la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi, who posed for photographs with team boss Peter Sauber as well as new managing director Monisha Kaltenborn. Together drivers supposedly get sponsors to the Hinwil based team, including the Japanese shampoo brand Scalp-D, courtesy of Kobayashi. The 23-year-old, who debuted late, last year for Toyota, may also get Panasonic, according to assumption.
Regardless of use Ferrari's engine and gearbox, Sauber is still officially called BMW Sauber F1 Team, and the BMW short form also appeared on team clothing at Valencia on Sunday and even in tiny print on the C29's nose. But, the memorable 'S' logo, last seen former to Sauber's achievement by the departed German carmaker BMW in 2005, was also on the team outfits.
Growth of the car has seen the team construct on the skill gained last year and the upgrading in performance over the final third of the season, said technical director Willy Rampf, also present in Spain."However, the new rules banning refueling during the race and stipulate a reduced width for the front tyres have compulsory significant changes to the car's design, he said.
