Sauber rolls out new C21

Team chief Peter Sauber (centre) unveils the new Sauber Petronas Formula One car Keystone

The Swiss racing team Sauber has launched their latest racing car at a glittering event at a military base just outside Zurich.

With much spectacle surrounding the unveiling of his new C21 racing car, team principal, Peter Sauber, proved there is more to the world of fast cars than scantily clad ladies lounging on the bonnet.

This year, the team hired a male dancing group to the visible delight of the relatively small number of women. The male dancers entertained the paparazzi, Swiss personalities and hundreds of Formula One fans as they waited for the new model to arrive.

After half an hour of suspense, the C21 car finally arrived. However, it did not drive in – Formula One racing is banned in Switzerland – but dropped down from above, being lowered by rope.

But the steel-blue vehicle, which was plastered with advertisements by Sauber’s two main sponsors, Swiss banking group Credit Suisse and the Austrian drinks company, Red Bull, did not really look that much different from last year’s model, the C20.

“I admit that at first glance the car looks rather similar to last year’s model,” Sauber told swissinfo.

“But if you look closer, you will notice that the sides are higher and the headpiece is now triangular and no longer round. And if you look at the details, about 80 per cent has actually changed,” he added.

Improved aerodynamics

The technical director of Sauber’s team, Willy Rampf, said that apart from weight reduction, a low centre of gravity and a lighter chassis, the car is now more aerodynamic than its predecessor.

“Our main objective was to further improve the car’s aerodynamic efficiency,” Rampf said. He pointed out that twelve aerodynamic specialists spend about 40 weeks at the wind tunnel in Emmen every year researching ways to improve the car’s performance.

This year, the former BMW engineer has a budget of about SFr140 million, which he can invest in two small racing cars. Ferrari’s budget is three times as much – Minardi only has half as much.

New driver

Sauber has also taken another brave step by replacing last year’s star, Kimi Räikkönen, who jumped ship and joined McLaren Mercedes, with Felipe Massa.

The 20-year-old from Brazil is an absolute novice to Formula one, just like his Finnish predecessor was when Sauber hired him two years ago.

Sauber signed him on the strength of just five tests after the Brazilian won the European F3000 championship.

Earlier this month, Massa had the chance to take the new Sauber Petronas C21 for a test run in the Spanish town of Barcelona and is absolutely delighted with his new machine.

“After this first test, I am full of enthusiasm for the Sauber Petronas C21. It has more grip and is more stable than the C20, which in turn makes me more confident at the wheel,” he said.

Massa will join German driver Nick Heidfeld, who is now in the second year of a three-year contract with Sauber.

by Billi Bierling