Honda positive over Barcelona modifications

Honda motorsport chief Yasuhisa Arai says the engine manufacturer is confident about modifications it will introduce in Barcelona next week.

The first test at Jerez was the first opportunity for the 2015 McLaren-Honda to run on track, but reliability issues limited Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button to six laps each on the opening two days. While there was improvement during the second half of the test, McLaren managed just 79 laps in total throughout the week.

Arai admits the first test did not deliver the mileage Honda had hoped despite realistic expectations, but he says there is optimism about what can be achieved in at the second and third tests at the Circuit de Catalunya.

“We’d anticipated there would be issues - this is a test, after all,” Arai said. “But the difficulties we faced [in Jerez] were more than we’d expected, so we weren’t able to get the running time we’d ideally wanted.

“There’s now an incredible amount of positivity within the organisation. We’ll return to the track in Barcelona - with some modifications - and will be stronger at the next two tests.”

The second test takes place from February 19-22, while the final pre-season test runs from February 26-March 1, with both taking place at Barcelona.

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