Williams are well on course to debut their 2012 car, the FW34, at the first pre-season test in February.
Technical director Mike Coughlan revealed that the rear-suspension and chassis are nearing completion, with private crash tests having already taken place in early-December.
“All of the rear-suspension has been completed,” confirmed Coughlan. “The first chassis is completed with a second one not far behind, and we’ll shortly start our FIA crash test programme, and all of those tests have been passed already in private testing.
“We now have a fully-defined car that will be used for system checks, it has a reasonable improvement in downforce [over the FW33] and will carry all of the systems that will enable us to go to the first test and be launched. Our aim is then to have an upgraded car for the final pre-season test.”
Williams hope to have a completed car, albeit in its basic form, by mid-January, before debuting it on track in Jerez between February 7th and 10th, gradually developing it before the season opener in Australia.
“The car is slated to be delivered to the race shop in mid-January and we’ll be ready to go to the first test in early February,” he continued. “The aim is that by the end of January, all the parts that can possibly have been verified have been, and the track testing is purely a verification of that work.
“There should be enough mileage on the major parts so that if the car stops on track with a fundamental problem, it comes as a surprise. Other than that the testing will focus on improving reliability and the overall aerodynamic performance of the car.”
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